Being part of the community is not just great to support the open-source movement, but it also is great for business. Why is it that big companies invest in open-source projects and how can your business benefit from participation? In this talk I explain the reasons why companies like to be associated with the PHP community and how your business can benefit from it. Even if you're working for a company, this talk will give enough arguments to talk to your bosses and convince them to contribute to open-source.

1. Community Works
For business

2. Who uses open-source?

3. Who contributes back?

4. Business involvement?

5. PHP Community

6. Organizing events

7. Build projects

8. Volunteers

9. Self financed

10. Need support

11. Why participate?

12. Example
• it's good for the health of the language
• it's good for business
• depends on the usage of language / technology
• target the audience that become your promoters
• good sentiment around the company and brand (brand awareness)
• build relationships one-on-one and give demos
• a great way to recruit for your company
• community feedback about your company
• keeping in touch with community
Thanks to Elizabeth Naramore for providing feedback

13. Example
• learn technology in an early stage
• get in touch with people to provide
support
• follow up on technological evolutions and
trends
• easier finding partners, customers or new
employees
Thanks to Thijs Feryn for providing feedback

14. Example
• visibility to potential employees and
partners
• giving something back to the community
• building a business on top of quality open
source projects
• being part of a fun and engaging group
Thanks to Wim Godden for providing feedback

15. Example
• access to everyone’s best practices + innovation
• share best technical solutions
• cooperate on a technical level - compete on a business level
• real multiplier (e.g. US Government) for reusable infrastructure
• making the difference
• buy once, get improvements back for free indefinitely
• more secure products
Thanks to Jeffrey McGuire for providing feedback

16. Example
• learn internals of open-source projects
• meeting experts for support and advice
• finding new ways to offer better services
• finding gratitude in “giving back”

17. Summary
• keeping up-to-date on new technologies
• establishing support and advice networks
• feedback on your products / services
• great for hiring new employees
• great for finding new customers

18. How getting involved?

19. Report bugs

20. Fix issues or add features

21. Write documentation

22. Provide translations

23. Other ways to help

24. Room for user groups

25. Buy beer for events

26. Sponsor events

27. Provide hosting

28. Give us developers

29. What’s the ROI?

30. Long term investment

31. Create partnerships

32. Get valuable feedback

33. Brand awareness

34. Beta testing

35. Buy once, use forever

36. Hiring and recruitment

37. Support and assistance

38. Market leader

39. Community works!

40. Community feedback

41. Community Interactions

42. Improved products

43. Product Evangelists

44. Give little, get much

45. Attend user group meetings

46. If there’s none around

47. You need to start one

48. A lot of hard work

49. Good planning

50. Build a happy community

51. Open doors

52. Long lasting relationships

53. Beware of dangers!

54. Arrogance

55. High Expectations

56. Everything for granted

57. Don’t build on others’ rep

58. Earn the seat at the table

59. Summary

60. Invest in communities

61. Give because you want to

62. Earn respect

63. Do better business

64. community works: http://www.flickr.com/photos/
76029035@N02/6829419407
using open-source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/joshholmes/
6775970225
wall street: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ensh/3867767246/
phpnw11: http://www.flickr.com/photos/stuartherbert/6231772651/
phpbenelux: http://www.flickr.com/photos/joshholmes/6774829421
joindin: http://www.flickr.com/photos/joshholmes/6779894817
volunteers: http://www.flickr.com/photos/stuartherbert/
6230059226
cash register: http://www.flickr.com/photos/stevensnodgrass/
4034636727/
support: http://www.flickr.com/photos/dominicspics/5559345297/
questions: http://www.flickr.com/photos/oberazzi/318947873
signup: http://www.flickr.com/photos/goldendragon613/296795071
bugs: http://www.flickr.com/photos/goingslo/4523034319
repairs: http://www.flickr.com/photos/urban_outlaw/2683334422
documentation: http://www.flickr.com/photos/sixteenmilesofstring/
2476311752
translations: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jeremybrooks/
2175042537
red cross: http://www.flickr.com/photos/tk_five_0/2312700765
server rack: http://www.flickr.com/photos/traftery/2467633331
rasmus: http://www.flickr.com/photos/arnaudlimbourg/5165138896
roi: http://www.flickr.com/photos/epsos/5394616925/
long term investment: http://www.flickr.com/photos/teegardin/
6093690339
partnerships: http://www.flickr.com/photos/macaco9/5820706157
boomerang: http://www.flickr.com/photos/cogdog/5389653746/
space: http://www.flickr.com/photos/nasamarshall/7637356614/
recruitment: http://www.flickr.com/photos/streamishmc/
5743450139
lion: http://www.flickr.com/photos/amhuxham/6859625396
feedback: http://www.flickr.com/photos/oemebamo/2542415550
success: http://www.flickr.com/photos/kevint/85911467
usergroup: http://www.flickr.com/photos/calevans/7865429670
desert: http://www.flickr.com/photos/yavuzcan/8177393624
uncle sam: http://www.flickr.com/photos/donkeyhotey/5666065982
miners: http://www.flickr.com/photos/rescatemineros/5076031158
agenda: http://www.flickr.com/photos/horiavarlan/4273218381
happy: http://www.flickr.com/photos/salty_soul/4690978242
gate: http://www.flickr.com/photos/naystin/1459738104
baby: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mujitra/2933605871
!
danger: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jonathangill/5338645910
arrogance: http://www.flickr.com/photos/brostad/3420765336
sagrada familia: http://www.flickr.com/photos/joangs/3603305604
money: http://www.flickr.com/photos/9731367@N02/6988272680
table: http://www.flickr.com/photos/stanfordedtech/3932292426/
clue bat: http://www.flickr.com/photos/trombonekenny/
2509085987
investing: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mytudut/5189224326/
free will: http://www.flickr.com/photos/scramblerman/292214579
beach: http://www.flickr.com/photos/victoriawhite/4972555193
mountains: http://www.flickr.com/photos/dcsl/3268208595/

65. https://joind.in/9956

66. January 24 - 25 in Antwerp Belgium

67. Thank you