Best Practices for DevRel Professionals

Overview

Your LinkedIn profile is more than a digital resume, it’s your personal billboard. In Developer Relations (DevRel), having a strong personal brand can open doors, build trust, and attract opportunities. This guide walks you through best practices for setting up and maintaining a professional and engaging presence on LinkedIn.

Table of Contents

  • Why LinkedIn Matters in DevRel
  • Optimizing Your Profile
  • Content Strategy for DevRel on LinkedIn
  • Engaging with the Community
  • Do’s and Don’ts
  • Tools & Resources
  • Sample LinkedIn Profiles
  • Summary

Why LinkedIn Matters in DevRel

  • It’s often the first place people check after hearing your name.
  • Recruiters, event organizers, and other devs are watching.
  • It helps grow your credibility, especially if you’re writing, speaking, or building in public.

Optimizing Your LinkedIn Profile

1. Profile Photo

Use a clear, friendly photo. Smile. No logos, no distractions.

2. Banner Image

Add a banner that shows what you do or something related to DevRel (e.g., speaking at a conference, your blog logo).

3. Headline

Avoid “Unemployed DevRel Enthusiast.”
Use something like:
Developer Advocate | Writing @ DevStuff | Speaker | Helping Devs Build in Public

4. About Section

Tell your story:

  • What do you do?
  • What do you care about?
  • What value do you bring?

Example:
I’m a Developer Advocate focused on helping engineers build better tools and grow their careers. I create content, speak at events, and build community around open source. Let’s connect and build cool stuff together.

5. Experience

Add relevant DevRel, community, or content experience.
Mention:

  • Talks given
  • Blog posts written
  • Projects contributed to

Content Strategy for DevRel on LinkedIn

Post Ideas

  • Behind-the-scenes of your work
  • Speaking gigs or event recaps
  • Tutorials or explainers
  • Short tech tips
  • Hot takes or opinions on DevRel trends

Tips

  • Be consistent (1–2x/week is fine)
  • Use simple language
  • Tell stories (they get better engagement)

Engaging with the Community

  • Comment on posts from other DevRel folks
  • Share posts from your org and add your thoughts
  • Join conversations (hashtags: #DevRel, #DeveloperAdvocate, #BuildInPublic)

Do’s and Don’ts

Do

  • ✅ Be honest about your journey
  • ✅ Engage with others’ content
  • ✅ Share both wins and lessons

Don’t

  • ❌ Copy-paste AI content with no edits
  • ❌ Ghost-post (only post your stuff, never engage)
  • ❌ Ignore your DMs (you never know who’s reaching out)

Tools & Resources

  • Shield Analytics – Track your LinkedIn metrics
  • Canva – Create LinkedIn banners
  • Taplio – LinkedIn content assistant
  • DxMentorship – Developer Relations Mentorship Program you can join to gain the skills, confidence, and industry connections you need to excel as a Developer Advocate.

Sample LinkedIn Profiles to Check Out


Summary

Your LinkedIn is your DevRel storefront. It’s where you show what you know, what you’re working on, and how you engage with others. Keep it real, consistent, and valuable — and it will work for you even when you’re offline.