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Build Your Technical Brand

5 min read

Devrel

You're already in the brand game. Add AI fluency to your content — show how you use it, what works, what doesn't. Authenticity wins.

Software Arch

Architecture content is scarce and valuable. Write about tradeoffs you've made, patterns you've seen. AI can't replicate your war stories.

Tech Writer

Technical writing *about* AI tooling — prompt patterns, review workflows — is underserved. Own that niche.

Build Your Technical Brand

TL;DR

  • A technical brand isn't vanity. It's optionality. When layoffs happen, the people with visibility get the first calls.
  • You don't need a million followers. 500 engaged people who know what you do is enough.
  • Start with one channel: blog, Twitter, talks, or open source. Consistency beats virality.

Marcus tried a Coursera AI course and dropped it after week 2. He doesn't have time for a big "build my brand" project. He does have 30 minutes a week. That's enough to start.

Why It Matters Now

In an AI-disrupted job market, the people who get hired are often the ones hiring managers have heard of. A strong technical brand means:

  • Recruiters find you
  • Peers recommend you
  • You have proof of expertise that isn't just "I work at X"

It's not about being an influencer. It's about being findable and credible.

Pick One Channel

  • Writing: Blog, Medium, Dev.to. One post a month on something you've learned. Practical > theoretical.
  • Speaking: Meetups, internal talks, conference lightning talks. Start small. Scale up.
  • Open source: Contribute to projects you use. Or maintain a small tool. "I built this" beats "I took a course."
  • LinkedIn/Twitter: Short, practical takes. "Here's what I learned debugging X." No fluff.

Don't try all four. Pick one. Do it for 6 months. Then reassess.

The AI Angle

Content about AI — how you use it, what works, what doesn't, pitfalls — is hot. You have a perspective. Share it. "I've been using Cursor for 6 months. Here's what I'd tell my past self." That's a post. That's a talk. That's a differentiator.

Quick Check

Marcus doesn't have time for a big 'build my brand' project. What's enough to start?

You tried a Coursera course. Dropped it week 2. You don't have time. Your LinkedIn says 'Software Engineer at X.' If you got laid off tomorrow, who would find you?

Click "Findable" to see the difference →

Do This Next

  1. Pick one channel and one topic. Commit to one piece of output in the next 30 days. A blog post, a talk, a PR to an OSS project.
  2. Write down 3 things you've learned in the last year that others might find useful. One of them is your first piece of content.