6/23/2018 8:31 PM THR1071 So you want to start a User Group? Notes from the field to make it a success Chris Rhodes MCT & MVP Windows User Group © Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. MICROSOFT MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, AS TO THE INFORMATION IN THIS PRESENTATION.

Running events is easy – right? 6/23/2018 8:31 PM Running events is easy – right? Tech geeks in a room – check! Speaker – check! Content – check! Food – check! © Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. MICROSOFT MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, AS TO THE INFORMATION IN THIS PRESENTATION.

Technical Communities 6/23/2018 8:31 PM Technical Communities www.technicalcommunity.com © Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. MICROSOFT MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, AS TO THE INFORMATION IN THIS PRESENTATION.

Social Media You will absolutely need to leverage it 6/23/2018 8:31 PM Social Media You will absolutely need to leverage it Build followers – this is hard! Advertise speakers and events Be prepared to pay for advertising, e.g. Facebook Regular communications helps © Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. MICROSOFT MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, AS TO THE INFORMATION IN THIS PRESENTATION.

Listing Events: Tools EventBrite MeetUp Technical Communities 6/23/2018 8:31 PM Listing Events: Tools EventBrite MeetUp Technical Communities Facebook group event listing Mailchimp email distribution Bit.ly to track response to promotions Use a single registration page © Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. MICROSOFT MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, AS TO THE INFORMATION IN THIS PRESENTATION.

Content Ask for speakers Members of the group 6/23/2018 8:31 PM Content Ask for speakers Members of the group Invite MVPs, MCTs, Microsoft speakers © Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. MICROSOFT MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, AS TO THE INFORMATION IN THIS PRESENTATION.

Sponsors Pizza is not free! Aim for 12 month sponsors / SWAG 6/23/2018 8:31 PM Sponsors Pizza is not free! Aim for 12 month sponsors / SWAG Invite local vendors to sponsor single events & talk Offer tiers – bronze, silver, gold? What do they get out of it? © Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. MICROSOFT MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, AS TO THE INFORMATION IN THIS PRESENTATION.

Tips #1 Use Eventbrite check-in Keep locations, times, consistent 6/23/2018 8:31 PM Tips #1 Use Eventbrite check-in Keep locations, times, consistent Recruit from within the group Quality photos for PR Offer prizes © Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. MICROSOFT MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, AS TO THE INFORMATION IN THIS PRESENTATION.

Tips #2 Always evaluate Don’t bankroll it yourself! 6/23/2018 8:31 PM Tips #2 Always evaluate Don’t bankroll it yourself! Offer VIP tickets – best seats, goodie bags Ask for help – tech communities, MVP leads, other UG leaders www.technicalcommunity.com © Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. MICROSOFT MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, AS TO THE INFORMATION IN THIS PRESENTATION.

Grow your community Organic growth is good, but a slow burner 6/23/2018 8:31 PM Grow your community Organic growth is good, but a slow burner Increase participation with different events Initially experiment with days/times Push on social media for more attendance Ask for participation – communicate and evaluate - don’t make it one way © Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. MICROSOFT MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, AS TO THE INFORMATION IN THIS PRESENTATION.

Please evaluate this session Tech Ready 15 6/23/2018 Please evaluate this session From your Please expand notes window at bottom of slide and read. Then Delete this text box. PC or tablet: visit MyIgnite https://myignite.microsoft.com/evaluations Phone: download and use the Microsoft Ignite mobile app https://aka.ms/ignite.mobileapp Your input is important! © 2012 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Microsoft, Windows, Windows Vista and other product names are or may be registered trademarks and/or trademarks in the U.S. and/or other countries. The information herein is for informational purposes only and represents the current view of Microsoft Corporation as of the date of this presentation. Because Microsoft must respond to changing market conditions, it should not be interpreted to be a commitment on the part of Microsoft, and Microsoft cannot guarantee the accuracy of any information provided after the date of this presentation. MICROSOFT MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, AS TO THE INFORMATION IN THIS PRESENTATION.

6/23/2018 8:31 PM © Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. MICROSOFT MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, AS TO THE INFORMATION IN THIS PRESENTATION.