697: What is DevRel with Salma Alam-Naylor

In this podcast episode, Scott Tolinski and Wes Boss are joined by guest Salma Alam-Naylor to discuss the role of Developer Relations (DevRel). They emphasize the significance of DevRel in serving the community and enhancing the developer experience. The conversation delves into various topics including the transition into DevRel, the parallels between coding and music, marketing to developers, the importance of dogfooding, authenticity in DevRel, measuring its value and success, entering the field of DevRel, selecting the right platform for content creation, challenges faced in DevRel, speaking at conferences, keeping up with web development trends, and the nostalgia for the early internet era. This episode offers valuable insights and guidance for developers interested in DevRel, drawing on the expertise and experiences of the guests. Takeaways • DevRel is an outward-facing role that serves the community by creating educational content and improving the developer experience. • Authenticity is crucial in DevRel, as it involves speaking developers' language and understanding their problems. • Marketing to developers requires understanding their preferences and finding innovative ways to connect without being overly promotional. • Dogfooding and real-world experience in DevRel are important to understand and promote the product effectively. • Building authentic connections, being a legitimizer, and working with products that have broad appeal are key elements in DevRel. • Burnout and content quotas are challenges in DevRel, and focusing on creating valuable content beyond product promotion is important. • Measuring engagement and success in DevRel requires specific metrics depending on the industry and department, but quality over quantity is vital. • To succeed in DevRel, active engagement, communication, and building a strong network are crucial. • Experimenting with different platforms and finding what works best for individual content creation is important in DevRel. • Clarifying expectations and providing resources and support are essential for DevRel professionals to offer value. • Speaking at conferences provides networking opportunities and a sense of community, but it comes with challenges and sacrifices. • Staying up to date in web development involves practical application, problem-solving, and not getting overloaded with excessive content consumption. • Preserving the history of the web and appreciating its roots are important for future generations. • The early days of the internet evoke nostalgia for a less commercialized and more clever and mysterious web.