The term evangelist may be unfamiliar to many people, but in fact, evangelist plays a very important role in the software industry. They are active advocates of software products and the bridge between users, dedicated to delivering good news, collecting feedback, and building good relationships with users. In this article, we'll take a deep dive into what an Evangelist is, what they do, and how they communicate and interact with users. By reading this article, you will have a clearer understanding of the concept of evangelist and also be able to see their importance in the software industry.
Evangelists come from all backgrounds. Some have a background in marketing and a strong interest in technology; others are developers who enjoy interacting with users. I belong to the third category - "experienced users", that is, those users who have in-depth knowledge of software products.
I work with a large number of users. syslog-ng has a large user base and it is available on most Linux distributions and BSD variants. Hundreds of millions of devices run syslog-ng, including BMW i3s and Kindles. Most BSD-based devices, such as FreeNAS, use syslog-ng for logging, as do Linux-based Network Attached Storage (NAS) such as Synology and QNAP. I wouldn't be surprised if syslog-ng was running somewhere in space.
Most Linux and Unix users use sudo because it is installed on almost every Linux device. It has a huge community with tens of millions of users. People often ask me how to communicate with so many users, but it's really not that difficult.
As an evangelist, I employ several strategies to effectively communicate and interact with users. First and foremost, I actively participate in community discussions, whether in online forums, mailing lists, or social media platforms. I answer users' questions, offer help and advice, and try to solve their problems wherever possible. This direct interaction allows me to gain a deep understanding of the users' needs and concerns.
Second, I regularly attend technical conferences and events to communicate face-to-face with users. These conferences are usually a gathering place for software developers and users, where I can talk to users, demo new features, and get their feedback. This real-time interaction helps build trust and deepens my understanding of user needs.
In addition, I frequently write blog posts, publish tutorials and guides, and produce video content to share the latest information and best practices about the software with users. These resources not only help users to use the software better, but also stimulate their interest and lead them to explore more features.
Most importantly, as an evangelist, I always maintain an open and transparent line of communication. I encourage users to provide feedback and comments while valuing their views and ensuring their needs and concerns are responded to in a timely manner. This constant communication and feedback loop is key for me to stay connected and develop good relationships with users.
This is the end of today's sharing. I believe that the friends who have read the article should have a new understanding of the definition of "evangelist".