Understanding the Role of a Developer Evangelist

The role of a developer evangelist is to promote and advocate for a company’s products within the developer community. As more companies focus on developers as a target audience, roles like Developer Evangelist, Developer Advocate, and Developer Relations have grown in demand. Understanding these roles and their differences can be challenging, especially if you're new to this world.

In this article, I’ll clarify the role of developer evangelists in a company, their day-to-day responsibilities, how to become one, and tips for hiring developer evangelists.

Where Does a Developer Evangelist Fit In?

Traditionally, developer evangelism has been a sales or marketing function, often responsible for driving leads and moving prospects down the marketing funnel. However, more recently, developer evangelism has become part of a broader developer relations organizational unit. This structure includes specialized teams of developer evangelists working alongside support and experience teams.

Organizations use developer evangelists in various ways, and the terminology can differ. Some companies prefer the term "Developer Advocate" to be more clear and welcoming. Regardless of the title, the essential role remains the same: promoting and supporting the company’s offerings to developers.

Developer Evangelist vs. Advocate vs. Relations

To understand the distinctions between Developer Evangelism, Advocacy, and Relations, I asked my network for their perspectives. Here are some insights:

• Developer Evangelism: Focuses on outward-facing activities like conferences, meetups, and public presentations. They promote the benefits, use cases, and sales enablement of the product.
• Developer Advocacy: Involves connecting 1:1 with the community, gathering feedback, being the first customer, and creating helpful content.
• Developer Relations: Encompasses both evangelism and advocacy, ensuring a holistic approach to engaging with the developer audience.

Companies structure these roles based on their specific needs, and the responsibilities often overlap. The job titles are less important than getting the work done effectively.

Responsibilities of a Developer Evangelist

The day-to-day work of a developer evangelist varies widely but typically includes:

• Speaking at conferences
• Attending and running events
• Writing blog posts
• Recording videos
• Overseeing developer social media presence
• Announcing new features to the public
• Providing feedback to the product team

While these responsibilities overlap with those of developer advocates, evangelists focus more on outward, public-facing efforts. Despite their marketing and communication role, they need to be technical to build trust within the developer community.

Becoming a Developer Evangelist

To become a successful developer evangelist, you need a combination of technical expertise, communication skills, and a positive attitude.

1. Technical Experience: Most developer evangelists have strong generalist skills in technology and have worked as software developers for at least five years. Specializing in specific areas like Kubernetes or data warehouses can give you an edge.
2. Communication Skills: Learn to write technical content and speak in front of developers. Start by writing on your blog and speaking at local meetups. For more professional experience, consider writing for platforms like Hire a Writer.
3. Positive/Helpful Attitude: A can-do mentality is crucial. You’ll face pushback from users, but maintaining a positive attitude and focusing on providing help is key to success.

Hiring a Developer Evangelist

Hiring a developer evangelist can be challenging due to the limited number of qualified candidates. Here are some tips to help you find the right person:

1. Broaden Your Search: Look beyond the United States and Western Europe. Developers worldwide are fluent in English and comfortable working with foreign companies. Also, consider candidates with non-traditional backgrounds like product management or consulting.
2. Set Clear Expectations: Be specific about the role’s responsibilities. Define whether it's a sales or marketing role, the level of autonomy, and the guidance and mentorship available.
3. Competitive Compensation: Expect to pay a salary comparable to senior developers or higher. If your budget is limited, consider working with a B2D marketing agency like HAW to create technical content.

Developer Evangelists

Developer evangelism is a crucial part of marketing to developers. Whether you call it evangelism, advocacy, or relations, having dedicated professionals focused on building awareness and advocating for your product is essential. If you're looking to enhance your technical content and developer outreach, consider the role of a developer evangelist in your strategy.