Why am I writing this?
I want to help my mum, siblings, cousins, relatives, neighbors, etc. to understand what do I do for a living with some relatable examples, which is why in this blog we will take a closer look at what DevRel and Community Management are, and why they are so important.
Whether you are a tech-savvy individual or someone who is not familiar with the industry, we will explain these roles in an easy-to-understand way, using relatable examples that are relevant to our daily lives. By the end of this blog, you will have a better understanding of the crucial roles that these positions play in shaping the technology that we use and depend on every day. So, let's dive in and explore the world of Developer Relations and Community Management!
Introduction
Have you ever heard of Developer Relations or Community Management? These are two critical roles in the tech industry that are often overlooked but play a vital role in making sure that technology meets the needs of users and communities. But what exactly do these roles entail, and why should you care about them?
Software development is a complex process that involves many different skills and roles. Two important roles in this process are Developer Relations (DevRel) and Community Management. These roles help to build strong relationships between software developers and the wider community, ensuring that software is created and used in the best possible way.
First things first, what is a Community?
A community refers to a space(virtual or in-person) where users that are in the same industry or use a certain software product can connect, collaborate, and exchange ideas with each other. The community aims to facilitate communication and learning among its members, and to provide a platform for networking and problem-solving.
Here are some examples of Product communities that are helpful for their users or new-comers in the industry to join and grow in:
Salesforce Trailblazer Community: Salesforce is a cloud-based CRM software that helps businesses manage their customer relationships. The Trailblazer Community is an online forum where Salesforce users can connect with each other, ask and answer questions, share best practices, and learn about the latest updates and features of the software. Professionals who work in Customer relationship roles join this community.
HubSpot Community: HubSpot is an inbound marketing and sales software that helps businesses attract and engage customers. The HubSpot Community is a platform where HubSpot users can connect, collaborate, and learn from each other. The community offers a variety of resources, including discussion forums, educational content, and user groups. Marketing professionals or people who want to learn more about marketing join this community.
Shopify Community: Shopify is an e-commerce platform that enables businesses to create and manage their online stores. The Shopify Community is a forum where Shopify users can connect with each other, ask and answer questions, share tips and tricks, and learn from experts in the field. Professionals and Business owners who have online businesses join this community.
Overall, B2B SaaS communities are valuable resources for businesses that use SaaS products, as they enable users to learn from each other, solve problems together, and stay up-to-date on the latest trends and developments in their industry.
Now, what is Community Management?
Community Management is the process of building and maintaining a strong community around a software product or service. This involves engaging with users, responding to their feedback, and creating opportunities for them to interact with each other. Community Managers are often experts in communication, customer service, social media, content creation, event planning, and analytics.
For example, imagine you are a user of a popular software tool. You have some feedback about the tool, but you're not sure how to share it with the developers. A Community Manager can help you by listening to your feedback, passing it on to the developers, and helping you connect with other users who might have similar feedback. By working closely with a Community Manager, you can feel heard and valued as a user, and you can be part of a community that supports and helps each other.
More Examples:
A city government creates a new mobile app that helps residents access public services like trash pickup, street cleaning, and water conservation. They hire a Community Manager to engage with residents and community organizations, moderate feedback and bug reports, and provide training and support to ensure that everyone can use the app to improve their quality of life.
A healthcare technology company creates a new platform that allows doctors and patients to communicate and manage healthcare remotely. They hire a Community Manager to work with doctors, nurses, and patients to create user groups, provide support, and gather feedback to ensure that the platform is meeting the needs of everyone involved.
How does Developer Relations(DevRel) factor in?
DevRel is all about building relationships between software developers and the wider community. This means understanding the needs and desires of the community and working with developers to create software that meets those needs. DevRel professionals are often experts in technical knowledge, content creation, public speaking, social media, documentation, product marketing, event marketing, and reporting.
For example, imagine you are a software developer working on a new app. You want to make sure that the app is useful and enjoyable for your users. A DevRel professional can help you understand what your users need and want from the app. They can also help you create content to explain the app's features and benefits, and promote the app on social media and at events. By working closely with a DevRel professional, you can create software that meets the needs of your users and builds a strong relationship between you and the wider community.
More Examples:
A company that provides home automation products releases a new system that allows customers to control their lighting, heating, and appliances with their voice. They hire a DevRel professional to work with senior citizens and people with disabilities to ensure that the system meets their needs and is easy to use. The DevRel professional creates tutorials, speaks at senior centers, and provides support to ensure that everyone can enjoy the benefits of home automation.
A car manufacturer creates a new electric vehicle that is powered by a complex software system. They hire a DevRel professional to work with car enthusiasts and tech-savvy customers to gather feedback, create instructional videos, and provide support to ensure that customers can fully understand and use the features of the car's software.
Why are companies hiring us?
DevRels and Community Managers are important for companies because they help to build strong relationships between software developers and the wider community. This creates a cycle of feedback and improvement that leads to better software and happier users. By understanding the needs and desires of the community, developers can create software that meets those needs and builds a loyal following. By engaging with users and creating a sense of community, developers can create a supportive environment that encourages users to use and promote their software.
In conclusion, DevRel and Community Management are two important roles in the software development process that help to build strong relationships between developers and the wider community. By working closely with DevRel professionals and Community Managers, developers can create software that meets the needs of their users and builds a loyal following. If you're interested in learning more about DevRel and Community Management, there are many resources available online to help you get started!
In case this blog didn't help, here's a video that might!
Here's Jono Bacon exlaining DevRel and Communities. Jono is a leading community and collaboration speaker, author, and podcaster. He is the founder of Jono Bacon Consulting which provides community strategy/execution, workflow, and other services. He previously served as director of community at GitHub, Canonical, XPRIZE, and OpenAdvantage. His clients include Huawei, GitLab, Microsoft, Intel, Google, Sony Mobile, Deutsche Bank, Santander, HackerOne, Mattermost, SAP, FINOS Foundation, The Executive Center, data.world, Creative Commons, and others. He is the author of ‘People Powered: How communities can supercharge your business, brand, and teams’ and The Art of Community, a columnist for Forbes and opensource.com, founder of the Community Leadership Summit, founder of Conversations With Bacon, and co-founder of Bad Voltage. He is an advisor to AlienVault, Moltin, data.world, Mycroft, Open Networking Foundation, and Open Cloud Consortium.
Make sure your relatives read this. Thanks for hearing me out! ❤️