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Best Practices for DevRel Professionals

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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.

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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

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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.

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Optimizing Your LinkedIn Profile

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1. Profile Photo

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

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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).

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3. Headline

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

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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.

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5. Experience

Add relevant DevRel, community, or content experience.
Mention:
  • Talks given
  • Blog posts written
  • Projects contributed to

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Content Strategy for DevRel on LinkedIn

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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

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Tips

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

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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)

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Do’s and Don’ts

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Do

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

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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)

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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.

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Sample LinkedIn Profiles to Check Out

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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.