How to Be Present in the Dev Community with Margo McCabe, Head of Developer Relations at HarperDB
Aug 10, 2023
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Margo McCabe, Head of DevRel at HarperDB, talks about the importance of interacting with the community and building trust as a DevRel. They discuss selecting developer influencers, tracking the success of decentralized content, building a developer community, the value of in-person events, and technological innovations like chatbots.
Companies should provide a variety of resources for developer education, catering to different learning styles and preferences.
DevRel teams should focus on building genuine and long-term relationships with the developer community, providing value and fostering trust.
Developers, even with a small social following, can have a significant impact as influencers, and companies should collaborate with them to create content and drive adoption of new technologies.
Deep dives
The Importance of Diverse Resources for Developer Education
Developers have different learning styles and preferences, so it is crucial to provide a variety of resources for their education. This includes traditional documentation, tutorials, live coding sessions, and video demonstrations. Companies should prioritize understanding the needs and preferences of developers and constantly seek feedback to improve their educational offerings.
The Value of Organic Relationship Building in Developer Relations
Developers appreciate genuine and organic relationships rather than sales-driven approaches. DevRel teams should focus on building long-term connections with the developer community by providing value, being transparent, and being a resource. By engaging authentically with developers and being available across various platforms, DevRel professionals can establish trust and foster a sense of community.
The Impact of Developers as Influencers
Developers, even with a small social following, can have a significant impact as influencers. Their expertise and technical knowledge make them credible sources of information and recommendations. Companies should collaborate with developers, leveraging their skills and experiences, to create content and tutorials. These influencers play a crucial role in sharing knowledge and driving adoption of new technologies.
The Significance of In-Person Events in Developer Community Building
In-person events play a unique and valuable role in building developer communities. They provide opportunities for developers to meet face-to-face, network, and have organic conversations outside of the formal work environment. In-person events foster relationships, create serendipitous encounters, and allow for a deeper sense of connection among community members.
The Need for Diverse Learning Options and Continuous Adaptation
Every developer has their own preferred way of learning. Companies should offer diverse learning options, including tutorials, videos, documentation, and live coding sessions, to cater to different learning styles. It is crucial to constantly adapt and refine educational resources based on developer feedback and needs, ensuring that the learning experience remains engaging and effective.
In this episode of The State of Developer Education, Jon is joined by Margo McCabe, the Head of Developer Relations and Customer Success at HarperDB. They delve into the importance of how DevRels interact – both online and in person – with the rest of the community and how developer influencers play a role in that very interaction.
Are you making sure you’re not constantly upselling to them? Have you built trust among the community? How do you tow the line between selling and simply being present? These are all things you need to consider when being a DevRel.