Content Creation for Developers

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Learn how to create and share professional web development content to expand your reach, advance your careers and establish expert status. This talk will tech you how to share your knowledge effectively through blogs, videos, and social media posts, helping you stand out and connect with others.

This talk has been presented at C3 Dev Festival 2024, check out the latest edition of this Tech Conference.

FAQ

Engaging content uses storytelling, anecdotes, and examples. It provides actionable insights, practical tips, and thought-provoking ideas. Clear, concise language and the use of visuals also enhance engagement.

Creating technical content helps developers share their knowledge, become experts in their field, and even land dream jobs. It also aids in personal branding, community building, and skill development.

Benefits include gaining recognition, building a personal brand, opening career opportunities, improving communication skills, and establishing thought leadership in your field.

By teaching others through content creation, developers deepen their own understanding of subjects, improve their communication skills, and practice explaining complex concepts.

Developers can create technical articles, tutorial videos, and share open source projects. They can also share quick tips, project showcases, and personal experiences.

By sharing projects, asking for feedback, and interacting with other developers, content creators build connections with like-minded individuals. These connections can lead to career opportunities and collaborations.

Personal branding helps developers establish a strong online presence and showcase their expertise. It differentiates them from others and can attract job offers, speaking engagements, and consulting gigs.

Yes, even beginners can share their learning journey. Their content can be more relatable to others who are just a step behind, and teaching others helps solidify their own understanding.

Focus on quality and consistency. Create content regularly, even if it's simple tips or project updates. Use templates and plan your content to stay consistent without overwhelming yourself.

Start by knowing your audience and creating content that would have been useful to your past self. Use catchy headlines, make content engaging, and provide actionable insights. Share your work across social platforms and engage with your audience.

Adrian Hajdin
Adrian Hajdin
18 min
15 Jun, 2024

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Video Summary and Transcription
Today's Talk discusses the importance of technical content creation for developers, including the benefits of becoming a technical content creator and the personal growth it offers. It emphasizes the value of sharing knowledge and experiences through articles, videos, and open source projects to gain recognition and respect from the community. The Talk also provides tips for creating engaging technical content, sharing it across social platforms, and staying connected with the developer community.

1. Introduction to Technical Content Creation

Short description:

Today, I'll be talking about technical content creation for developers and why it's important. Becoming a technical content creator can help you share your knowledge, become an expert in your field, and even land a dream job. Putting yourself out there may be challenging, but the experiences and opportunities it brings are invaluable. I'll share tips based on my own journey as the voice behind JavaScript Mastery, where I teach aspiring developers through practical approaches. Creating online content allows you to share your ideas, skills, and experiences while showcasing your passion. Developers can create content through articles, videos, and open source projects, gaining recognition and respect from the community.

Hi there, it's Adrian here, and I hope you're doing great. Today I'll be talking about technical content creation for developers. Now you might be wondering, content creation? Nuh-uh, I'm not an influencer, but I'll need you to trust me here. Becoming a technical content creator was the best decision I've ever made, especially for my career. And by the end of this talk, I'll try to get you to understand that content creation is not only about showing off your skills, but also about sharing your knowledge, becoming an expert in your field, and maybe even landing a dream job, all while having a great time doing it.

And putting yourself out there is not simple. People who do are often judged for deviating from the norm. But one thing I can tell you for sure. If you do manage to step out of your comfort zone, your future self will thank you for all the experiences, skills, and opportunities that you now possess. And let me give you some background so you know where the tips in this talk are coming from. I'm the voice behind JavaScript Mastery, where I share my journey and teach aspiring developers to code through practical and project based approach. I am one of 73 developers out of more than 100 million developers worldwide that has been awarded a GitHub Star, a recognition directly by GitHub for recognizing our open source work and teaching other developers. We currently have more than 1.3 million followers across all platforms. YouTube being the biggest one, followed by Instagram, our newsletter, LinkedIn, and X. We work with some of the largest dev companies out there like Docker, Cloudinary, AppRite, Streams, Sanity, Payload, and more. And all of that was made possible because I started sharing my journey online. And throughout my talk, I'll share things I wish I'd known when I was getting started. So let's dive right into it.

Content creation is all about sharing engaging and helpful information. But why is this so important? Well think about it. We're looking at our screens 24-7. Whether we're developing apps on our Macs, checking out our social media on iPhones or iPads, or just watching Netflix on TV. We're searching for something to pique our interest. So why not be on the other side? Why not create instead of consume? See creating online content isn't solely for entertainment purposes. You're also sharing your ideas, skills, and experiences. It's like having your own little corner of the internet to show what you're passionate about. And when we, developers, create content, we typically do it in the form of writing technical articles, making tutorial videos, or sharing open source projects. We shout, hey, look at me, I'm great at this coding stuff. And you know what happens? People start paying attention. Suddenly, other developers say, wow, this person really knows their stuff.

2. Benefits of Technical Content Creation

Short description:

Technical content creation helps us become leaders in our field and gain recognition from hiring managers. It's important to be truly knowledgeable and passionate about the topics we share. I'll share how to start immediately and build your skills further.

And hiring managers, oh boy, they get excited, thinking, hey, we want this coding expert on our team. Just because they saw your posts online. It's like having a giant neon sign above your head that says, hire me, I'm something else.

But it's not just about getting a job. Technical content creation also helps us become leaders in our field. People will start looking up to you when you constantly share your knowledge and ideas. They will come to you for advice. They will want to learn from you. And before you know it, people will start calling you a rockstar, unicorn, ninja, or whatever other crazy term there is for exceptional developers nowadays.

Now here's a mandatory disclaimer. You can't just pretend to be an expert if you're not one. There are already enough self-proclaimed gurus online. Be truly knowledgeable and passionate about the things you share. And if you're not an expert yet, later in the talk, I'll tell you how to start immediately and use that to your advantage to build your skills further. That's how I started. And remember, it was the best decision I've made in my career.

3. Additional Benefits of Technical Content Creation

Short description:

Putting yourself out there through technical content creation has numerous benefits. It helps establish a strong online presence, showcase your expertise, and connect with like-minded developers. It also allows you to position yourself as a thought leader, build a community, and create career opportunities. Additionally, it contributes to skill development and enhances your understanding of the subject matter. Sharing what you know, even as a beginner, can be valuable to others and help you solidify your learning.

Besides a job, a salary, and a status that comes with it, putting yourself out there has even more benefits, like personal branding through establishing a strong online presence and showcasing your expertise. Think of your favorite online personality. They have a unique voice, right? That's their work and content doing the heavy lifting. Believe it or not, there are personalities even in the engineering space. From Elon Musk of Tesla and Tim Berners-Lee of the Internet, I guess, to Linus, the creator of Linux, they all have their unique voices. Your content can help you stand out, show off your skills, and connect with like-minded developers.

Another benefit of content creation is thought leadership. By positioning yourself as an authority in a specific field or technology, we can position ourselves as thought leaders by sharing forward-thinking ideas or deep dives into specific technologies. It's about being the person others turn to for insights on the latest tech trends or complex problem solving. You might even become an in-demand consultant in your field while doing this.

Let's also talk about community building for a sec, through connecting and collaborating with other devs and sharing knowledge. You know that warm, fuzzy feeling you get when you hang out with your friends? Well, creating content is like building your own little community. When you share your projects, ask for feedback, or chat with other developers, you build connections with people who share your interests. Some of these connections might even help you in the future, whether connecting you to a hiring manager or joining you to build a SaaS startup. The possibilities are endless. But by default, sharing content online will provide countless career opportunities, opening doors to speaking engagements, freelance and full-time jobs, and even consultant gigs. Companies love hiring developers when they actually show what they can do instead of just talking about what they can do. When you share your work, you're sort of forcing yourself to create really good stuff that's worth showing to everyone. And being active in the community and building a strong personal brand can make a huge difference. I often hire developers that showcase their projects because it shows me they're actually doing stuff.

But maybe the biggest benefit of starting your technical content journey is skill development, improving your coding knowledge, social skills, presentation skills, interpersonal communication, and more. Because by putting your code into words, whether it's writing a tutorial, explaining a concept in an article, or even just talking about your project on Twitter, you're not only teaching others, but you're also teaching yourself. Because to teach others, you need a deep understanding of the subject. And this is exactly how I began my journey too. While I was still learning, I realized that teaching others was the best way to solidify my understanding. And here's the beauty of it. Even if you're at the beginning stages of your learning, don't underestimate the value of sharing what you already know. Others who are just a step behind you will often find your explanations more approachable and more relatable than those of an expert. So don't hesitate to share your journey online, even if you're still learning. Mastering the art of explaining complex concepts is a challenging skill.

4. Personal Growth Through Content Creation

Short description:

Content creation helps you step out of your comfort zone and grow as a developer and as a person. It improves important skills like communication, sharing knowledge, and leading discussions in your field.

And content creation simply improves that ability. On another note, many of us tend to be introverted, which means we're more comfortable working on our own rather than interacting with others. But when you start creating content, like articles or sharing your projects online, it pushes you to step out of that comfort zone. And that's a good thing because it helps you grow not just as a developer, but as a person too.

Think about it, when you're putting yourself out there, you're practicing important skills like communication and sharing knowledge in a way that others can understand. Over time, you become better at explaining things, talking to people, and even leading discussions in your field. So by stepping out of your shell and sharing what you know, you're not just becoming a better developer and someday a better leading developer, but you're also becoming a more confident and skilled individual.

5. Creating Engaging Technical Content

Short description:

Know your audience and tailor your content to their interests. Craft catchy headlines to attract clicks. Use storytelling and examples to engage your audience. Provide valuable insights, tips, or ideas. End with a takeaway or call to action. Break the content into digestible chunks with clear language. Incorporate visuals to enhance storytelling.

So everything I've talked so far explains why I think it's important to start creating technical content online. But now let's switch over to how. How can you get started doing this? And how can you get all the great benefits that I mentioned?

First of all, know your audience. Understand their needs, interests, and pain points. Tailor your tone, language, and topics to match their interests. But what if you don't have an audience yet? Well, create content for your previous self. Ask yourself, what content would you like to have had access to a week, month, or a year ago? And create it. That'll help you choose the right topics. Selecting relevant topics will keep your content valuable and interesting to your audience, establishing you as a trusted authority in your niche.

Now even if your content is the best out there, it's not worth anything if no one clicks on it. So craft catchy headlines. I'm not talking about clickbaits, but having a compelling headline is critical because it determines whether someone clicks on your content or not. Typical stuff like lists of top X numbers, use of strong action verbs, numbers, and intriguing phrases that provoke curiosity or promise benefits always works.

So now that you have the topic and the people have clicked on it, make it engaging. Use storytelling, anecdotes, and examples to captivate your audience. I'm not talking about children's stories. Rather, incorporating personal stories, case studies, or even hypothetical scenarios that illustrate your points. This makes the content more relatable and memorable. But above all, provide value by offering actionable insights, practical tips, or thought-provoking ideas. Each piece of content should offer something valuable, be it knowledge, a solution, open-source codebase, or entertainment.

Think about what will make your content stand out. Make sure that every article ends with a takeaway or call to action, giving readers a sense of how to apply the information. Because providing value helps build trust and authority and it encourages repeat visits and increases the chances of your content being recommended to others. So always ask, what will the reader gain from this? And once you've got them there, keep it simple and readable by using clear and concise language and break the content into digestible chunks. No one likes to read a block of text like this. So break it into manageable subheadings, bullet points, numbered lists, bold keywords, highlight any important information, and improve the scannability of your content. Remember, content that's easy to read and understand retains readers longer and makes the information more accessible. Adding directly to that, also incorporate visuals. That will help you enhance the content with images, graphics, or even videos. Because visuals are not just decorations, but essential elements of storytelling.

6. Sharing and Engaging with Technical Content

Short description:

Explain complex information effectively. Use tools like Canva, Dali, or Midjourney. Share your content across social platforms. Tailor the message for each platform. Start by sharing something you've learned every day. Use templates with a personal touch. Write articles or blogs about new learnings or interesting concepts.

They can explain complex information quickly and appealingly. It can increase retention of information, make complex data understandable, and make content more shareable.

You can use tools like Canva, Dali, or Midjourney. And finally, share your content across your social platforms, engage with your audience, and encourage interaction. You can also incorporate some SEO best practices to improve organic reach. Doesn't hurt. And tailor the message for each platform. So on Twitter, it's typically a bit shorter, on LinkedIn a bit more longer, Instagram typically has images, YouTube videos. You know that stuff.

But just by sharing your content across your socials and engaging with people that comment on it should give you some initial traction to your technical content creation journey. So we've talked about some tips to help you become a more professional content creator. When you're just starting out, don't put too much pressure on yourself to be flawless. Just get your content out there. Quality and consistency are the key. So make sure that your content is good, but also make sure that it is consistent. And there are various ways not to be too harsh on yourself. And one of them is to simply write about something you've learned every day and share it as a Twitter thread or a LinkedIn post. It's totally okay to post even if it's something as basic as maybe centering a div in CSS. Because remember, somebody has yet to center their first div. The key is to learn and to get better at doing so.

Here on the screen, I've prepared a couple of general templates that you can use with a personal touch. Like sharing a quick tip, or maybe even sharing your thoughts on a coding book or a video that you've read or seen. You can do something similar on LinkedIn too. Sharing a cool project you've done, technologies that it uses, features it has, maybe even with a quick video demo. And I would recommend also including some obstacles you've encountered while building it and how did you overcome them. Those are a few very easy and actionable ways to get started. Another way is to start by writing articles or blogs. Whenever you learn something new or come across an interesting concept, pen it down and turn it into words to share with others. It doesn't have to be a traditional or lengthy article. Just pour your thoughts onto the page and share it with the world.

7. Sharing Experiences and Staying Connected

Short description:

Consider making vlogs to share what you've learned. Share content whether starting or experienced. Start somewhere and keep going. Be real and honest while staying professional. Stay accountable, curious, and keep going. Tag me and reach out with questions.

And if you have a good microphone, like even a very cheap one, or maybe using your phone as a mic will be enough. Consider making small vlogs where you share what you've learned. You can share them on LinkedIn or maybe even start sharing something on YouTube.

One thing I want to say is that you can share content no matter whether you're starting Or even better, if you are an already experienced developer working in a company because then you have even more actionable insights that you've experienced on your day to day in your job. And of course, if you're not tied by the NDA, you can maybe share about your experiences. Trust me, many would like to learn from you.

As I said, there's many things you can share and there are many ways to share it, but the key is to start somewhere and keep going. Remember, don't get too caught up in likes and comments in the beginning. Focus on the process of learning and improving. Always be real and honest in what you write or record. Put your feelings into words and tell great stories while still being professional. Also, try to avoid sounding like Chad JPT. Nobody likes to read that. Stay accountable, stay curious, and keep doing your thing. Trust me, it'll pay off.

And if you actually do take my advice and start sharing your journey, tag me on socials and I'll follow along. If you have any questions, you can reach me on LinkedIn, Twitter, email, or literally everywhere else. Thank you for sticking until the end of this talk and have a wonderful day.

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When TestingJavaScript was released, and I got that paycheck, I realized that I didn't need my PayPal salary anymore. I could just focus my daytime on teaching and give my evenings back to my family, which was a nice trait.
Apart from that, how has teaching impacted your career? Earlier I mentioned that pretty much all of my jobs came because I was perceived as an expert. After the first job, where I was an intern and then converted into full-time, I never applied to another. I worked for four different companies, and they wouldn't have recruited me if they didn't know who I was and what I was doing. My content is how they knew who I was — I just made it easy for them to find me. Teaching made that impact. It made my career. 
We talked about React and Remix. Are there any other open-source projects that you'd recommend keeping an eye on or contributing to?I have some myself. React Testing Library is probably the biggest one that people are familiar with. And if React isn't your jam, then other framework versions of the testing library. 
React Query is also really popular. If you're using Remix, you don't need it, but if you're not, I strongly advise using React Query cause it's a stellar, fantastic library, and Tanner Linsley, the creator, is a stellar and fantastic person. 
What pieces of your work are you most proud of? Probably the biggest thing I've ever done is EpicReact.Dev. It has helped tens of thousands of people get really good at React, improve their careers and make the world a better place with the skills that they develop. My whole mission is to make the world a better place through quality software, and I feel like I've done that best with Epic React. 
There are things that I've built at other companies that are still in use, and I'm proud of those cause they've stood the test of time, at least these last few years. But of everything, I think Epic React has made the biggest impact.
Effective Communication for Engineers
TechLead Conference 2023TechLead Conference 2023
36 min
Effective Communication for Engineers
Top ContentPremium
Today's Talk covers the four building blocks of communication: people, message, context, and effective listening. It emphasizes the importance of considering the perspective of others and tailoring messages to the recipient. The Talk discusses different types and channels of communication, and the need to align them with the intended message. It also highlights the significance of soft skills in communication and provides techniques for effective communication and assessing soft skills in tech interviews. Cross-cultural communication and the impact of bluntness are explored as well.
A Career As Software Engineer
React Advanced 2022React Advanced 2022
24 min
A Career As Software Engineer
Code will be imperfect and perishable, so testing and debugging are crucial. Building relationships and being generous with code reviews are important for teams. Code ownership should belong to the team, not individuals. Prioritizing functionality over consistency can lead to more efficient development. Growing into a tech lead role requires building relationships and coaching skills.

Workshops on related topic

From Engineer to Leader: A Workshop for First-Time Tech Leaders
TechLead Conference 2024TechLead Conference 2024
144 min
From Engineer to Leader: A Workshop for First-Time Tech Leaders
Workshop
Andrew Murphy
Andrew Murphy
Transitioning from an individual contributor role to a leadership position, especially in the fast-paced tech industry, is hugely challenging. Most new leaders don't receive any training at all in the first 10 years of their new responsibilities.Our comprehensive workshop is designed to assist new and emerging tech leaders in understanding their new roles and gaining the skills to make them confident, happy and effective leaders.
Managers Are From Mars, Devs Are From Venus
TechLead Conference 2024TechLead Conference 2024
111 min
Managers Are From Mars, Devs Are From Venus
Workshop
Mo Khazali
Mo Khazali
A Developer’s Guide to Communicating, Convincing, and Collaborating Effectively With Stakeholders
It’s a tale as old as time - collaboration between developers and business stakeholders has long been a challenge, with a lack of clear communication often leaving both sides frustrated. The best developers can deeply understand their business counterparts’ needs, effectively communicate technical strategy without losing the non-technical crowd, and convince the business to make the right decisions. Working at a consultancy, I’ve both failed and succeeded in architecting and “selling” technical visions, learning many lessons along the way.Whether you work at a product company, are a consultant/freelancer, or want to venture beyond just being a developer, the ability to convince and clearly communicate with stakeholders can set you apart in the tech industry. This becomes even more important with the rise of GenAI and the increasingly competitive developer market, as problem-solving and effective communication are key to positioning yourself.In this workshop, I’ll share real-world examples, both good and bad, and guide you through putting the theory into practice through dojos.
Designing A Sustainable Freelance Career
React Advanced 2021React Advanced 2021
145 min
Designing A Sustainable Freelance Career
Workshop
Alexander Weekes
Rodrigo Donini
2 authors
Would you like to pursue your passions and have more control over your career? Would you like schedule and location flexibility and project variety? Would you like the stability of working full-time and getting paid consistently? Thousands of companies have embraced remote work and realize that they have access to a global talent pool. This is advantageous for anyone who has considered or is currently considering freelance work.>> Submit your interest on becoming a freelance engineer with Toptal and get a call with Talent Acquisition specialist <<

Freelancing is no longer an unstable career choice.

This workshop will help you design a sustainable and profitable full-time (or part-time) freelancing career. We will give you tools, tips, best practices, and help you avoid common pitfalls.
Table of contents

Module 1: Dispelling common myths about freelancing
Module 2: What does freelancing look like in 2021 and beyond
Module 3: Freelancing choices and what to look for (and what to avoid)
Module 4: Benefits of freelancing from a freelancer + case study
BREAK
Module 6: How to get started freelancing (experience, resume, preparation)
Module 7: Common paths to full-time freelancing
Module 8: Essentials: setting your rate and getting work
Module 9: Next steps: networking with peers, upskilling, changing the world
Module 10: Freelancer AMA
How To Design A Sustainable Freelance/Contracting Career + Speedcoding Challenge
React Summit 2022React Summit 2022
75 min
How To Design A Sustainable Freelance/Contracting Career + Speedcoding Challenge
Workshop
Shane Ketterman
Shane Ketterman
Ready to kickstart your freelance career or just getting started on your freelance journey? You’re in the right spot. Learn from the world’s largest fully distributed workforce in the world.
The independent talent movement is the future of work. If you’re considering leaving full-time employment for a career as a freelancer, now is the time to find your successful space in the independent talent workforce. More people are working freelance today than ever before, with the freelance marketplace now contributing $1.2 trillion to the US economy. Some of the most in-demand roles for freelancers right now are senior developers with professional experience in React, Python, Blockchain, QA, and Node.js.
This workshop will help you design a sustainable and profitable full-time (or part-time) freelancing/contracting career. We will give you tools, tips, best practices, and help you avoid common pitfalls.
At the end of the workshop there will be a Q&A session with a Freelance Developer who can answer your questions and provide insights and tips into their own success.
During the Workshop break, we will be running a speed-coding challenge! At the end of the workshop, we will award a prize for the winner and display the leaderboard.
We will have you login to our portal and complete the challenge as fast as you can to earn points. Points are assigned based on difficulty and the speed at which you solve the tasks. In case you complete all tasks, you get extra points for the remaining time. You’ll see your score, ranking, and the leaderboard once you complete the challenge.
We will be giving away three Amazon Gift Cards ($200, $100, $75) for the top three winners.
Out of the Frying Pan, Into the Fire: A Manager's Guide to Helping New Developers Thrive
TechLead Conference 2024TechLead Conference 2024
35 min
Out of the Frying Pan, Into the Fire: A Manager's Guide to Helping New Developers Thrive
Workshop
Andrew Coleburn
Andrew Coleburn
Onboarding to a new project can be difficult, no matter your background and experience. But it can be especially challenging for new developers straight out of school or a coding bootcamp. Drawing on personal experience as a bootcamp grad and JavaScript consultant, this talk will discuss tips and strategies for managers to help the new developers on their teams get their bearings in an unfamiliar codebase, so they can make more of an impact, faster!
Landing Your Next Developer Job
React Summit Remote Edition 2021React Summit Remote Edition 2021
121 min
Landing Your Next Developer Job
Workshop
Sadek Drobi
Nouha Chhih
Francois Bohyn
3 authors
Renaud Bressant (Head of Product), Nathanael Lamellière (Head of Customer Success and Solution Engineer), Nouha Chhih (Developer Experience Manager) will be looking at the different developer jobs that you can accounter when looking for your next developer role. We'll be explaining the specifics of each role, to help you identify which one could be your next move. We'll also be sharing tips to help you navigate the recruitment process, based on the different roles we interviewed for as recruiters, but also as candidates. This will be more of an Ask Us Anything session, so don't hesitate to share your thoughts and questions during the session.