How to contribute to a DAO?

Contributing As a Developer

Developers play a huge role in creating and maintaining any web-based product. Developers must know various programming languages to write code for projects across various platforms. If you are not aware about what a DAO is, Read this article: What is a DAO and Why are DAOs important? As a developer, you can contribute to a DAO in any of the following ways:

Front-end Developer

As a front-end developer, you can contribute by designing and coding the interface that DAO members interact with when they visit the landing page. The front end of any project is vital to keeping visitors' interest and ensuring that they enjoy a great user experience. You will be responsible for these, among other things:

• Designing the features of the website to ensure seamless use
• Creating mockups or prototypes of products and features
• Brand management and consistency
• Usability testing and collaborating with backend developers to improve features
• Ensuring the scalability of applications through UI/UX
• Keeping up-to-date with new UI trends and having a constant feeling of what community members want

As a front-end developer, you are, arguably, responsible for how the public perceives the DAO. You'll likely collaborate with other front-end developers to create the design that works best for everyone.

Backend Developer

If you are a backend developer, your roles will be slightly deeper and bulkier than the front-end developer. Backend developers have to be proficient in more than one programming language to reach a high level of effectiveness. When you volunteer to contribute to a DAO, you can expect to:

• First, build the DAO from scratch on a blockchain. Some blockchains require specific programming languages such as C++, Rust, Haskell, Go, Python, SWIFT, C#, etc. Cardano, for example, is built with Haskell, while Solana is built with RUST.
• Create DAO features and write the codes.
• Collaborate with the product managers and front-end developers to maintain strong brand identity and product.
• Apply the latest cryptography and cryptology ideas for function and security.
• Ensure compliance with the blockchain.
• Maintain blockchain optimization and development.
• Create DAO tokens, deploy, and list on popular exchanges.

Cybersecurity Engineer

Although blockchain transactions are irreversible, public, and secure, there are constant threats to the privacy and safety of funds on any crypto platform. These risks arise from different sources, such as losing private keys, phishing, and unauthorized malicious access to wallets. As DeFi became popular, there was a corresponding increase in cyber threats. In 2021 alone, DeFi platforms lost about $1.3 billion to hacking incidents. You can play a role in keeping DAOs safe from such attacks. As a cybersecurity analyst, you can contribute something important to any DAO. Here is what you can do:

• Actively identify threats and risks long before they arrive.
• Dealing with threats using the established processes.
• Regularly educating community members on security tips.
• Analyzing security and general updates from the blockchain to know how it impacts the DAO.
• Perform regular system controls and vendor management analysis.

Contributing As a Non-Developer

There are many important roles that you can fill as a non-developer. While they may require a certain level of other skills, you do not need blockchain or software development skills.

Artist/Designers

If you are an artist or designer, you can make immense contributions to a DAO by creating high-quality graphics such as images, gifs, and videos. Graphics are vital to the success of modern internet campaigns as they grab more attention than text. You probably realize that there is much competition in the DAO space; using high-quality graphics can give your team the edge over others. Going from the conception stage to creating high-quality graphics may require you to:

• Collaborate with product designers and the management
• Keep tabs on current trends
• Explore brand and identity management
• Collaborate on UI/UX with the front-end designer

Writers

If you specialize in one or more areas of writing, you can contribute massively to any DAO of your choice. Text forms a large part of the content, and writers are always in demand. DAOs need whitepapers, web content, community-focused educational content, copies, emails and newsletters, and blog posts. Contributing your writing skill. As a writer, you'll:

• Write the DAO idea, focus, and purpose in simple technical terms for DAO members to understand.
• Write scripts for making audio and visual content for social media use.
• Work with the product team to plan content marketing for the DAO.
• Write guides, reviews, and promotional content.
• Write DAO proposals for members.
• Provide other writing services as needed. For example, you can volunteer to record notes (take minutes) during meetings and make copies of them available to the community.

Educators

Every blockchain-based community relies on constant education to keep its members and the public up to speed with new activities. For example, Binance and Coinbase, arguably the two biggest crypto exchanges today, have their active blogs and academies where educators regularly churn out content to teach people about the revolutionary blockchain technology and all areas of it. You should consider contributing that skill to a DAO if you are good with teaching. If you are comfortable with platforms such as Youtube and hosting live classes, it will be nearly a walk over to educate the DAO community with informational content.

Legal Consultant

Now here is an interesting way you can contribute to a DAO. As I mentioned earlier, many countries do not accord DAOs a legal status. Since the idea of a DAO is to create a binding agreement every community member works with, this brings a legal aspect to the operations of any DAO. If you have any legal experience to contribute, you might be bringing one of the most valuable ideas to the community. For now, however, the legal aspects of DAOs are still being explored. Many have predicted that DAOs will replace traditional boards in the future; you can become the next big shot counselor, buddy.

Community Managers

Now here is something really special. Although almost anyone can serve as a community manager or moderator, it takes extra patience, knowledge, and attention to detail to keep the community running smoothly. Think of this role as the foreman that ensures the completion of a construction job or as the level coordinator/adviser for a class. Blockchain projects constantly require community managers to handle their social media and on-chain community. Telegram, Reddit, and Discord are the most popular social media platforms where blockchain and DAO communities exist. Those platforms make it easy to manage large communities. As a community manager, you will:

• Promptly attend to questions and queries
• Provide regular updates on new developments
• Create schedules for the DAO's communal activities
• Moderate sessions
• Read and understand the whitepaper to become familiar with the DAO
• Assign tasks
• Generally, ensure smooth processes

The job sounds quite easy, but you may have to stay online for hours on end. Community management is one of the most time-intensive jobs in the blockchain world. You may need to spend long hours at a stretch or pop in from time to time as members ask questions. In the end, only your dedication will pay off.

Providing Freelance DAO Services

There's a new concept of providing DAOs with the services they require without having community members volunteer. The problem with volunteering is that community members may not have the necessary skills, such as coding or design, to handle projects for DAOs. That has led to the brilliant idea of offering freelance DAO services. Several freelance groups are offering DAO services today. Some of them have worked with the biggest DAOs in the space. There are two paths here: 1. Starting your freelance agency: You can create a freelance agency dedicated to providing DAO services. You only need to create a website for potential clients to find you, then recruit skilled freelancers into the agency. You can get in touch with DAOs through Twitter and other social media where DAOs are discussed. You can also join a DAO and propose to have your agency. 2. Flip the coin and join a freelance agency: It is easier and faster. By offering your services to an agency or directly to a DAO, you'll fast-track your entry and get involved within a short period. DAOs typically reward community members with their native tokens. As DAO communities increase in size, the value of their tokens tends to increase. That is one reason why many DAO communities invite people to join them. Getting in early is key as you stand a better chance of earning or purchasing DAO tokens before their value increases. If you liked this article and want to learn more about DAOs, and other web3 related content, you can subscribe to our newsletter. And if you are looking for a remote job in web3, check out our remote web3 jobs page. Not sure How to find and join a DAO? This article will guide you to find and join your 1st DAO.