What is DevRel?
Tags: devrel
Published: 2022-06-22 18:48:27

---
title: What is DevRel?
published: true
date: 2022-06-22 18:41:32 UTC
tags: DevRel
canonical_url: https://www.tessakriesel.com/what-is-devrel/
---

_DevRel is an abbreviation for Developer Relations._

> Developer Relations is enabling a developer to be successful with your product, while aligning with your corporate goals.  
>   
> _- Quoted in [Developer Relations: How to Build & Grow a Successful Developer Program](https://www.devrelbook.com/)_

### What is DevRel? Slide Deck

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[Download Slide Deck Template](https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1zRpQ9jcenlCF82pqb2Aj_yUS8aOnAR26H9rafXP34FM/edit?usp=sharing)

## Business Impact of Developer Relations Programs
- Drive awareness & strengthen reputation
- Increase developer adoption & retention
- Capture feedback & drive product innovation
- Enhanced support & developer satisfaction
- Increase sales & revenue
- Increase code & open-source contributions
- Strengthen technical recruiting pipeline

> To the community, I represent the company. To the company, I represent the community. I must have both of their interests in mind at all times.  
>    
> - _Ewan Dennis, quoted in_ [The Business Value of Developer Relations](https://www.persea-consulting.com/book)

## Developer Relations is an Information Valve

![DevRel Information Valve](https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/ArohSpGxzpZU0TueqP-8iMLoE7qRSwEvCg01Y8iPqaI-sZy0rfMkoYNgXtTRFlbrso1fQISiWwz7I1rZGMyf81PghJTuMlDrN-E8dm8oo6-uKG4ys_AW2pw_46AklEUVP0uW2A3Xmws3aFc8E0Q2tg)
_Page 14 in Developer Relations: How to Build & Grow a Successful Developer Program_

## Developer Relations Framework

Around the core of “Developer Experience” there are three main areas of practice:

- Developer Marketing
- Developer Education
- Developer Success

Community plays a role in all of it

![DevRel Framework](https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/1Y-q-iGbpy-8CcJy_owc9xl8LOgCBNDYdTI2wueq98ZOcIJwOzQiKp_fL6TgaFahaIojqZaeHKO-wkJUjUWhGya0YWcdSw1gr4nCRxsE-VLxF7eo9rSS6pa4WQMnZR-z0JTvoNHtK1ULn9_dYKVt4w)
_https://github.com/Apress/Developer-Relations/blob/main/devrelframework.png_

### Developer Experience

Also known as DX, is the equivalent of User Experience for developers. DX includes interactions with product, developer hub, and documentation. DX works closely with Product.

**Programs & Activity Involvement**

- Documentation
- Documentation Landing Pages
- Getting Started Guides
- Code Samples
- Tutorials
- Learning Resources
- Experience with Product & Signup
- Reference Guides
- Changelog
- Product Roadmap

**Key Roles**

- DX Engineer
- Technical Writer
- DX—Manager, Director, etc.

### Developer Marketing

Developer Marketing is outreach activities & engagement intended to drive awareness for developers to discover & evaluate your product & programs.

**Programs & Activity Involvement**

- Content Marketing
- Blogs, Code, Presentations, Audio, Video, the list goes on.
- Developer Hub
- Community Engagement
- DevRel Partner Program
- Thought Leadership
- Conferences & Events
- GitHub Maintenance
- Engagement with developers
- Driving DevRel Qualified Leads

**Key Roles**

- Developer Advocates
- Developer Outreach Manager
- DevRel—Manager, Director, etc

### Developer Education

Also known as DevEd. Developer Education is critical for developer adoption & retention. It includes the activities across DX & Marketing that provide content & learning resources in various formats. It’s mostly a crossover between these two functions.

**Programs & Activity Involvement**

- Content Strategy — every content piece written should be education over promotion
- Workshops
- Tutorials
- Learning Resources
- Training
- Certification Programs

**Key Roles**

- Developer Advocates
- DX Engineers
- Technical Writers
- Curriculum Engineers

### Developer Success

Developer Success provides support to developers as they go from initial registration to building & adopting your product. This isn’t a separate team, but more of an overlapping function & developer stage.

**Programs & Activity Involvement**

- External Community Engagement
- Internal Developer Engagement
- Office Hours
- Use Cases
- Developer Support
- Feedback Programs
- Any resources they need to adopt your product

**Key Roles**

- Developer Advocates
- DX Engineers
- Technical Writers
- Curriculum Engineers
- Support Staff

### Community

DevRel programs require a vibrant community to succeed. The point of a DevRel program is to engage, serve, & nurture the developer community, internally & externally. Community doesn’t just mean a forum, it’s a methodology, a way to operate.

**Programs & Activity Involvement**

- Community Forum or Platform
- Company-hosted Events
- Meetups & User Groups
- Hackathons
- Community Engagement (Externally)
- Syndication & Listening
- Community Member Contributions
- Beta Groups & Feedback Programs
- Superfan or Ambassador Programs
- Project or Code Showcases

**Key Roles**

- Developer Advocates
- (Technical) Community Builder
- Community Engineer

## How We Cultivate a Community

Community is a group of people that share a common interest. Members then share a sense of identity with you.

1. Learn their Language
2. Create the Space
3. Provide Quick Wins
4. Continually Listen
5. Solve their Problems
6. Engage with Everything
7. Pass them the Mic
8. Turn them into Decision-Makers
9. Share Your Secrets
10. Bring them Together
11. Welcome them to your Family

* * *

### What is DevRel? Slide Deck

Download a Google Presentation with this content outlined in a beautiful format to present to your team or stakeholders.

[Download Slide Deck Template](https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1zRpQ9jcenlCF82pqb2Aj_yUS8aOnAR26H9rafXP34FM/edit?usp=sharing)

## Credits

_Research, Graphs, & Quotes captured from:_

- [Developer Relations: How to Build & Grow a Successful Developer Program](https://www.devrelbook.com/) by [Caroline Lewko](https://twitter.com/CarolineLewko) & [James Parton](https://twitter.com/jamesparton)
- [The Business Value of Developer Relations](https://www.persea-consulting.com/book) by [Mary Thengvall](https://twitter.com/mary_grace)