8 Real World API Strategies and The Keys To Their Success

At ProgrammableWeb, we see the full gamut of examples of how APIs are being created and implemented to generate business advantage. Our extensive API directory lists over 14,000 public APIs that developers can use to build new products and business workflows.

API providers that are successful all have one thing in common: They all actively engage with their developer communities in order to build a strong ecosystem of partners and developers who are extending the value chain of their API strategy.

In this research report, ProgrammableWeb’s Mark Boyd has looked at the growth patterns of eight of the most successful API providers to identify what strategies have helped them gain the most traction. Our research is one of a kind and uses a unique methodology that taps into available open data sources to identify proven industry best practices.

Of course, this research wouldn’t be possible without a large number of supporters and collaborators, including representatives from the eight API providers themselves. I’d like to thank those who provided initial feedback on this study when Mark presented an initial overview of the study and some preliminary results at ProgrammableWeb’s API conference in the UK. We would also like to especially thank SimilarWeb for granting us access to its extensive website statistics analysis tool, which has helped us track API engagement consistently across the studies presented here.

This effort is a part of a new content agenda for ProgrammableWeb, and we look forward to sharing more products and industry deep-dives with you as we document the successes and best practices in the burgeoning API economy.

David Berlind, Editor-in-Chief, ProgrammableWeb