Language is a low-bandwidth medium: less than 12 bytes/second. A person can read 270 words/minute, or 4.5 words/second, which is 12 bytes/s (assuming 2 bytes per token and 0.75 words per token).
Vision has a much higher bandwidth: about 20MB/s. Each of the two optical nerves has 1 million nerve fibers, each carrying about 10 bytes per second.
This tells us that most of human knowledge (and almost all of animal knowledge) comes from our sensory experience of the physical world. Language is the icing on the cake, and we need the cake to support the icing (Video is the cake in case you didn't figure it).
As a Senior DevRel Advocate with a diverse background in tech and filmmaking, I've witnessed firsthand the power of video as the best medium to engage and educate developers. In this article, I'll share my experiences and insights on why video should be a top priority for DevRel teams, and how DevRels can leverage this powerful medium.
Capturing Attention and Engagement
Developers are bombarded with countless blog posts, tutorials, and documentation, capturing and maintaining their attention is a significant challenge, deal with it.
However, video has the unique ability to captivate and engage audiences in a way that static text and images simply cannot.
Video can create a more immersive and compelling experience for your audience by leveraging the power of visual and auditory stimuli. Developers can see the product in action, hear the explanations directly from the experts, and feel a stronger connection to the content. This heightened engagement can lead to better comprehension, increased retention, and, ultimately, more effective knowledge transfer. Here's a quick example of how you can capture attention by quickly showcasing the capability of a given technology; then, you can do in-depth explanation slowly, but the attention is successfully grabbed.
Effective Storytelling and Emotional Connection
Developers are not just looking for dry, technical information; they also crave content that resonates with them on an emotional level. Video allows DevRel teams to craft compelling narratives that showcase the human side of the technology, the passion behind the solutions, and the real-world impact of the products.
By incorporating storytelling elements, such as relatable characters, personal anecdotes, and emotive visuals, you can create a deeper connection between your audience and the content. This emotional engagement can foster a stronger sense of trust, loyalty, and advocacy, which are crucial for building a thriving developer community.
Demonstrating Complex Technical Concepts
Many technical concepts and product features can be challenging to explain through text alone. Video, on the other hand, provides the perfect medium to visually demonstrate complex ideas, step-by-step walkthroughs, and hands-on tutorials.
By combining clear explanations, interactive demonstrations, and well-designed visual aids, DevRel teams can help developers grasp technical details more easily and quickly. This can be particularly beneficial for onboarding new users, showcasing advanced functionalities, or troubleshooting common issues. In this video, I explain some mechanisms you can steal from Hollywood movies that you can then apply to your videos
Scalable and Accessible Content Delivery
As the developer community continues to grow and become more diverse, it's crucial for DevRel teams to deliver content that is scalable and accessible. Video content can be easily shared, embedded, and repurposed across multiple platforms and channels, ensuring that your message reaches a broad and diverse audience.
Moreover, video content can be made accessible through features like closed captions, transcripts, and translations, allowing developers with various language proficiencies, hearing abilities, and learning preferences to engage with the content effectively. In this video, I explain how easy is to add Subtitles and Closed Captions using AI
Building a Robust Video Production Workflow
Implementing a well-structured video production workflow is crucial for ensuring consistent, high-quality video content. This includes elements such as content planning, script writing, video recording, editing, and optimization for various platforms and devices.
Let me share some of the tools I use in my day-to-day workflow to achieve my results:
Script Writing: Studio Binder
Video Production Management: Notion
Asset Design: Figma.
Live Streaming Broadcaster Software: Restream
Broadcasting Console: ATEM Mini Pro ISO
Video Editing (Edit, Motion Graphics, Audio, Color Grading): Davinci Resolve
Screen Recording: Screen Studio
Sounds Effects and Music: Motion Array
Now, this doesn't mean you have to use them the same way as I do, but, you do need a workflow that you can start testing, improving, and getting familiar with it. I use more equipment like cameras, microphones, lights, etc that I use but I can do another article about it (share a comment if you'd like to know more about it)
By investing in the necessary resources, tools, and expertise, DevRel teams can streamline the video creation process, ensure efficient collaboration, and maintain a steady cadence of engaging video content that resonates with their audience.
In case you are looking for an introduction to Video Editing, watch this Introductory Masterclass to Davinci Resolve and subscribe to my channel for more content like this
Conclusion
If you're a DevRel professional looking to amplify your impact, I encourage you to embrace the power of video and incorporate it as a core component of your content strategy. Start by assessing your current video efforts, identifying areas for improvement, and investing in the necessary resources and expertise to elevate your video production capabilities.
Remember, the future of developer relations is visual, and those who embrace this shift will reap the rewards of enhanced engagement, deeper connections, and a more informed and enthusiastic developer community.