Beginner's Guide to Devrel

Overview

In this blog, I have shared my knowledge about Devrel. I have included roles, myths, facts, and a general roadmap to becoming a Devrel. As a Devrel enthusiast, I wanted to explore this field and learn about it and share it with other folks who are interested.

So now let's get started!!

What is a DevRel?

"DevRel" is short for "Developer Relations".

DevRel also known as Developer Relations or Developer Advocacy, is a role that exists in developer companies that target the developers' markets. DevRel helps to educate developers and get people into the community to contribute.

Developer Relations is a field that focuses on building and maintaining positive relationships between a company and its developer community.

A "DevRel" is the person in charge of establishing and maintaining these relationships. They are like a bridge between a company's engineering team and its external developer community. They work to understand the needs and challenges of the developer community and help to facilitate communication and collaboration between the developers and the company.

You can think of Devrel in the middle of marketing, engineering and product teams.

Types of Devrel

Community: Community DevRel, also referred to as a community builder, focuses on planning events, running live streams, managing community socials, and responding to community feedbacks.

Content: A content DevRel is also known as a developer educator and the responsibilities are writing blogs, making videos, designing courses and roadmaps, and speaking at events or conferences.

Product: A product DevRel is a person who deals with development as well as educating the community, the responsibilities are creating development docs, coding examples, working on integrations, and improving the overall product.

Different DevRel Engineers have different roles, some experienced developers are a combination of two or more. The objectives of developer advocates are to build a community that is scalable, sustainable, and aids in the growth of products, as well as to inform others with roadmaps.

Why is DevRel effective?

DevRel became a high priority since initially, developers were not the target audience for the advertisements. As a result, they wouldn't benefit from the goods and services one developed. The use of marketing ensures that one's goods and services are distributed to the intended audience. Marketing efforts are meaningless if developers are not reached.

Importance of DevRel

DevRel emphasizes developing a relationship with the developer that is based on trust. When a developer selects a particular service, they continue to use them for many years. Since learning a talent can take years, it can be challenging to switch from one product to another right away. As a result, a lot of judgment goes into the decision-making process. They have peace of mind knowing they made the right decision because of DevRel.

DevRel ensures that the services that have previously drawn developers' attention or have already gained their trust do so in a mutually understandable language.

Many devrels maintain blogs, social media accounts, forums and communities. They additionally communicate with one another through messaging platforms or in their local networks. DevRel wants to ensure that the services it promotes are discussed in these discussions.

Roles of a DevRel

What a DevRel does:

Content creation (Videos, Blogs, Technical Articles): One of the key responsibilities of a DevRel professional is to create and distribute content that promotes the company's product and platform and attracts developers and customers. This content can include technical articles, tutorials, videos, sample code, and other resources that help developers learn about and get started with the product. DevRel professionals also use their content to educate developers on new features and functionality, share best practices, and address common pain points and challenges. By providing valuable and engaging content, DevRel professionals can help to build a strong and supportive developer community and drive the adoption of the company's product.
Conferences, Hosting or participating in developer events, such as meetups, hackathons, and online forums.
Building and managing a community of developers around a specific technology or platform.
Collecting feedback from developers: A DevRel professional is often responsible for building relationships with developers and engaging with them to gather feedback and insights. The role of DevRel involves serving as a bridge between the company's development team and its external developer community. In addition to collecting feedback, DevRel professionals may also provide support and resources to developers, advocate for their needs and interests, and help to foster a thriving developer ecosystem. The goal of DevRel is to ensure that the company's product and platform are meeting the needs and expectations of its developer community and to create a positive and productive relationship between the company and its developers.
They create Roadmap Strategies including feedback gaining, working towards a proper goal or creating the product better, and having knowledge about other competitors in the market.
Troubleshooting technical issues and providing support to developers: Developers may encounter challenges or encounter bugs when working with the company's product, and DevRel professionals are there to help them resolve these issues as quickly and effectively as possible. This can involve providing technical assistance, troubleshooting advice, and guiding developers through the process of fixing any issues they may be facing.
Being the Face of the Company.
Presenting the product of the company to other developers in Events and Conferences.
Demos and talks about the product.
Creating a buzz for the product in the market.

What are some must-haves in a DevRel?

You should have technical knowledge: You could highlight some of your side projects or previous engineering experience for this. To understand development, DevRels must understand programming concepts and must have development skills.
Good at building communities: You can show any examples in which you assisted in creating a group, community, or organization for this talent. It might be for school, open source, internet communities, or something else.
Good Communication skills: An Individual with good communication skills has a higher chance of building communities.
Content creation skills: You can show off your Twitter spaces, Podcasts, YouTube videos, Threads, and blog posts. If you don't have any of these, I will suggest you start creating some content.

Let's talk about technical knowledge

It's not a matter of what language or what tech stack you are using, it's that you can learn or grasp the technologies, learn them and help communities with this super power of coding. A person who has good technical skills has a higher chance of becoming a good Devrel.

Why am I emphasizing on technical skills? because Devrel should know about the product of the company, which means that a devrel needs a good amount of technical knowledge as well.

As a Devrel you will be having interactions with the development/engineering team on regular basis. So without a technical background, It will be a hard time for you.

Having a good experience in development increases your chances of being a good devrel. A good way is to contribute to open source. ;)

While DevRel professionals don't need to be experts in the company's product, they should have a good understanding of the technical aspects of the product and be able to provide technical support to developers.

Why communities?

DevRel professionals are experts at building and nurturing communities around the company's product and platform. They use various channels, such as social media, forums, events, and other online and offline platforms, to connect with developers and foster a sense of belonging and engagement.

DevRel professionals are skilled at networking and connecting developers. They help to facilitate connections between developers, promote collaboration and knowledge-sharing, and create opportunities for developers to learn from one another.

DevRel professionals also act as an advocate for the developer community and represent their needs and interests within the company. They help to ensure that the company is making decisions that are in the best interests of developers and that the product is meeting their needs and expectations.

An engaged and satisfied developer community can serve as brand ambassadors and help to spread the word about the company's product. They can share their experiences and knowledge with others in their network and encourage others to adopt the product. By building a strong and engaged developer community, DevRel professionals can improve customer satisfaction and loyalty. Developers are more likely to recommend the product to others and continue using it if they feel a sense of connection and support from the community and the company.

Myths about Devrel

DevRel is just about organizing events: While events can be an important part of DevRel, the role is much broader and involves a range of activities, including content creation, community building, technical support, and advocacy.
DevRel is only for large companies: DevRel can be beneficial for companies of all sizes and stages of growth. Smaller companies can benefit from having a dedicated person to build relationships with their developer community and provide support and resources to developers.
DevRel is just marketing: While DevRel can overlap with marketing, the role is focused on building and nurturing relationships with developers, providing technical support, and advocating for their needs and interests within the company.
DevRel is not a technical role: While DevRel professionals don't need to be experts in the company's product, they should have a good understanding of the technical aspects of the product and be able to provide technical support to developers.
DevRel is not a strategic role: DevRel can have a significant impact on the company's product development and success. By building and nurturing relationships with the developer community, DevRel professionals can provide valuable feedback and insights that inform the company's product strategy and help to drive the adoption and usage of the product.
DevRel is easy: While DevRel can be a rewarding role, it can also be challenging. DevRel professionals need to have strong interpersonal and communication skills, be able to navigate complex technical issues and have the ability to build and nurture relationships with developers.
DevRels are free all the time: While DevRel professionals may enjoy their work and find it fulfilling, it is still a job and can have its challenges and difficulties, just like any other role. So "No, DevRels don't have much free time".
DevRels earn a lot and do nothing: The compensation for DevRel professionals can vary depending on the company and the role, but it is not accurate to say that DevRel professionals earn a lot and do nothing. DevRel professionals are responsible for a range of activities, including community building, content creation, technical support, and advocacy, and they need to be strategic, organized, and efficient to be successful in their role.

Benefits of becoming a Devrel

Builds a Personal Brand
Collaboration skills and Cooperativeness
Enhanced Leadership skills
You get lots of swags
Good work-life balance
More remote job opportunities

Roadmap to becoming a Devrel

It is not possible to have a particular roadmap for becoming a devrel as they do a lot of things in their job role, However here are some steps to follow to increase your chances of becoming a Devrel in the future:

Gain technical expertise: A strong foundation in technology and development is essential for success in Devrel. Consider developing expertise in the technology your company's product is based on or in a related field.
Build good communication skills: To get started with DevRel you have to start with communication. Start sharing your learnings and experiences publicly and start helping others with code or no code and start getting involved in the community and be active on socials
Build good writing skills: Well-writing skill is the foundation of DevRel
Get involved in the developer communities: Join online forums, attend developer events, and participate in open-source projects to gain exposure to the developer community and build your network
Build a portfolio: Create content, such as blog posts, presentations, and videos, to demonstrate your expertise in development and communication skills.
Seek opportunities to lead or speak at events: Participate in hackathons, speak at local meetups, or organize your events to build your leadership and speaking skills.
Apply for DevRel positions: Look for DevRel positions at companies that align with your interests and goals. Consider reaching out to DevRel professionals in your network for advice and guidance on getting hired in the role.
Continue to develop your skills: DevRel is a dynamic field and it's important to stay current with the latest trends and technologies.

This roadmap is a general guide and may vary depending on the company and the specific DevRel role. However, the key is to gain technical expertise, build your writing and communication skills, get involved in the developer community, and continuously develop your skills and knowledge over time.

Questions that come to mind

Should a fresher apply for a Devrel role? Answer: First gaining proper development knowledge, writing skills, and good communication skills and then applying is a good idea. If an individual has experience in some company or development or open source contribution then the chances of their career growth in devrel are very high. Open source is a great way to help you become a good devrel intern.
Having some knowledge about a wide range of technologies or Having deep knowledge about some specific technology What to choose? Should we focus on different things at the same time or not? Answer: It's better to focus on one thing at a time, be it full-stack development or DevOps or any other. There are multiple fields in Tech and Hype is immense so it's better to focus on learning one thing at a time and have a good amount of knowledge about it. Again open source is a good way to help you gain deep knowledge and apply those learning in real-world projects.

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Conclusion

If you know how to code, learning to become a DevRel is the best move you can make right now.

Communities require leaders who can help them develop and add value for others. To become a DevRel, you don't need a big social media following; instead, you need a passion for community.

Recap:

Learn to code
Build connections
Join communities
Create content
Contribute to Open source
Start public speaking
Keep learning

Thank you for reading this blog :)