In this episode, I had the pleasure of discussing what founders need to know about DevRel with Eric Zietlow.

We covered everything from the purpose and impact of DevRel, through to building an effective DevRel team, how to compensate them, and how to set them up for success.

Eric Zietlow is formerly Director of Developer Relations for Chia Network. He’s one of the most experienced DevRel leaders in the space, with a wealth of knowledge and insights into the challenges and strategies involved in building effective DevRel teams.

Eric Zietlow introduces himself and explains that DevRel is about bridging the gap between engineering and users and bringing technical understanding to the community.

Eric defines DevRel as the department that connects engineering teams with users. He emphasizes the importance of conveying technical information while maintaining user engagement. He also describes DevRel as a two-way street, facilitating feedback from the community back to the engineering teams.

We discussed the challenges of quantifying the impact of DevRel. Unlike engineering or sales departments, where metrics like bugs fixed or sales leads can easily be measured, DevRel's value is often more qualitative. Eric likens DevRel to "oil in the engine" of a company, facilitating smooth operations across departments rather than directly driving metrics.

We talked about how DevRel is often confused with marketing due to their overlapping roles in building relationships and engagement. However, Eric points out that DevRel is more niche-focused, targeting developers specifically, whereas marketing is broader and involves product promotion to various audiences.

The conversation covers the skills needed for a DevRel role and how companies should approach hiring for this position. Eric suggests hiring individuals with a technical background rather than those who started in marketing or non-technical roles. He emphasizes the need for practical experience and enthusiasm for the project.

Eric explains that a significant part of DevRel is advocacy, both for the users (external) and within the company (internal). He discusses the misconception that DevRel is primarily about documentation and clarifies that the role focuses more on advocating for the needs of the community and ensuring the product development aligns with user needs.

Eric discusses the importance of engaging with the community and being present at events. He stresses that the value of DevRel is not in the number of attendees at an event but in the quality and engagement level of those attendees.

Eric mentions how the industry moved from using the term "developer evangelist" to "developer advocate," reflecting a shift in focus from merely promoting technology to building relationships and providing real value to the community.

We discuss the difficulties in hiring qualified DevRel talent, particularly in the crypto space. He mentions that there are only a limited number of experienced DevRel professionals, and finding someone with both technical expertise and the necessary soft skills can be challenging.

We talk about the role of...