Growing Your User Group - OpenWest 2014
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Growing Your User Group OpenWest 2014
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'Growing your User Group' by Kara Sowles, delivered at OpenWest 2014. If you prefer a version with speaker notes included directly below the slide - which I found easier to read - there is one here: http://www.slideshare.net/KaraSowles/growing-your-user-group-openwest-v2 Fr this version, click 'Notes on Slide x' below to see speaker notes for every slide!
Transcript of Growing Your User Group - OpenWest 2014
Growing YourUser Group
OpenWest 2014
Hi, I’m Kara Sowles
Community Initiatives Manager
Puppet LabsPortland, ORTwitter: @feynudibranch
Email: [email protected]
Where are we headed?
I made a user group!
Awesome first meeting!
ELEPHANT GRAVEYARD
And then...
- from The Lion King copyright walt disney pictures -
“The internet is littered with ghost towns where communities used to be. The people
still exist - but the structure fell apart.”
- I couldn’t find a quote about this so I made one up
Obstacles•No Speaker
•No Venue
•No Food
•Few Members
•No Momentum
Obstacles•No Speaker
•No Venue
•No Food
•Few Members
•No Momentum
Let’s fix this!
WAIT
First, let’s start at the beginning...
Starting a User GroupStarting a User Group
THE BASICS Date / Starting Time
Venue
Speaker
Way to communicate with members
Let the world know it exists
Maybe food?
RECONNAISSANCE
When do similar groups meet?
Is there already a group about X?
What works well for other local groups?
Choose an online home for your group
SET EXPECTATIONS
Find a cadence and stick to it.
We’ll come back to this later...
setting expectations is key.
PURPOSE
Ok, let’s start removing some obstacles!
Finding a Venue
MAKEA
LIST Brief description of group’s purpose
Average # of members at each meeting
Date / Time of meetings
A/V requirements
Any other space requirements / needs
THINK ABOUTPERKS
“The hosting company is invited to announce any open jobs at the beginning of each meeting.”
“The hosting company is listed as a sponsor on our meetup page, and at our yearly event.”
“The hosting library has interesting events to advertise and bring in more people.”
Ask your company
Ask your friend’s company
When thanking those that said ‘no’, ask them for
recommendations.
Are there any local companies that
cater to your attendees’
demographic?
Ask your user group
Local Universityor
Local Library
Check where other user groups are
hosted
Get flexible
STILL NO HOST :’(
Temporary or alternate locations
BE A GOOD GUEST
Leave the space clean
Turn off the projector
Don’t act entitled to the space
Check back in every month
Thank the host regularly
SET EXPECTATIONS - no surprises!
Finding Speakers
“What topics would you like to hear
about next month?”
“Does anyone have
experience with [X topic]?”
Post the list of suggested topics
to the group online, and ask
again.
Ask individual members what they’re doing.
Cultivate those who don’t give
talks (yet)
At your company:Look for managers that want to foster
speaking opportunities for
their teams
To companies:“Would you send
someone to give a talk
on [X topic]?”
Still no speakers?
Hold a...Discussion
SessionHack Night
Finding More Members
Local Community Sites
Local Conferences
Joint Meetings
Find a similar user group, and team up for a talk
aimed at both audiences!
Keeping Momentum
Meet regularly
Same cadence (“Fourth Thursday”)
At the end of each meeting, talk about next time
Set expectations for yourself
Co-Organizers
What happens if you leave?
Finding $ponsors
The company that’s hosting
you
Your Company
Other Companies
Perks
SWAG
Your Company as a Support
Structure
Think Like Other Departments
Leverage Sales team
Leverage Professional Services team
Leverage Education team
Leverage Marketing team
Leverage Engineering team
Leverage Community team
Making your group inviting:
Setting Expectations
Anatomy of a Meeting
Socialize
Introduction
Presentation
Next Meeting topic & talk sourcing
Socialize
Just an example....
Clear familiarity level
Are the talks this month for intermediate users?
Is this session accessible for absolute beginners?
ACCESSIBILITY
• Is it easy to find the venue?
• Is there parking nearby? Bike parking? Bus access?
• Is the venue wheelchair accessible?
• Who can people email with special accessibility requests or questions?
Have a Code of Conduct
If you’re going to pay attention to one thing:
pay attention to your humor
Did wemake it?
Kara Sowles
Community Initiatives Manager
Puppet LabsPortland, ORTwitter: @feynudibranch
Email: [email protected]
Thanks for listening!
