Events have always been a central aspect of DevRel strategies—in fact, in 2019, only 17% of DevRel programs didn't run events. As a cornerstone of DevRel programs, events have traditionally served as the most popular channel for developer outreach.

But 2020 has seen a different and unique set of challenges that have brought in-person events to a halt. This has meant that those working in DevRel have had to make the shift from in-person events to virtual events—a change that's been difficult for many since it has required a massive adjustment to a long-held strategic approach to developer networking, outreach and relationship building.

So how do DevRel teams successfully make this adjustment without losing the value that in-person events deliver to the developers and to the brand? This is a question that was recently tackled in our 2020 Vanilla Conversations Virtual Conference by three DevRel experts: Mary Thengvall, Jessica West and Tessa Kriesel.

For many working in online communities, the work is challenging, empowering and very rewarding—though unfortunately, it can often be time-consuming and repetitive. It can be hard for community managers to catch a break, let alone make time for any type of vacation away from their computer. And when they're lucky enough to have found a perfect time for self-care, community managers always have that thought looming in the back of their minds: What's happening in the community? Are things getting out-of-hand? Is it being monitored properly? Will I come back to a mess?

This is just one instance where AI in community can come in handy.

Like most things in life, a community launch is best done with support. Who you invite to join you in this effort to launch a community matters perhaps more than any other decision you will make in this endeavor.

As a community manager, being in-the-know is important. Whether it's knowing about relevant issues that affect your community, contentious issues in society that may be discussed in your community, or simply new ways of strategically managing, engaging and building your community—community managers should always strive to get the most up-to-date information possible.

While we provide our customers with a monthly newsletter that showcases new and updated Vanilla community features, highlights sections of our Success Community and outlines our newest and upcoming content, there's so many other great community newsletters out there! If you love reading and staying in-the-know, you're in luck; this blog is intended to highlight some of our community newsletter top picks!

You may think that creating fancy strategy documents and perfectly-designed personas is a waste of time. I’m here to tell you: you’re probably right. The truth is, the way that most organizations create community member personas is a complete waste of time. They are based on stereotypes, generalizations, or social media posts. As such, they can actually deepen community engagement problems and cause harm.