Featured Speakers: Kathleen McCasland of user group management company, YCC, and Joshua Paul of Socious, leading provider of user group management software. In this recorded webinar, learn why user groups are important to both customers and companies, important user group management processes and roles, and how to turn your user group into an active user community.

1. HOW TO
CREATE AN
AWESOME
USER GROUP
Title Page – Josh is designing this

2. Featured Speakers
Joshua Paul
Socious, Director of Strategy
@SociousSoftware
Kathleen McCasland
YCC, Founder and CEO

3. Housekeeping
 Tech Check
 Ask Questions in the Q&A Panel
 We ARE Recording!
 Twitter Hashtag: @SociousSoftware

4. Today’s Discussion
• Why are user groups important?
• Key roles and processes
• How to create a thriving user group

5. Why Active User Groups
are Important
@SociousSoftware

6. Members
• Sense of community
• Source for industry/professional news
• Source to ask questions and get them
answered
• Source for continuing education
• Assists in professional advancement
@SociousSoftware

7. Companies
• Great marketing channel
• Great way to learn what is important to
their customers
• Great way to identify the leaders in the
community
• Great way to instill product loyalty
@SociousSoftware

8. User Group Roles, Tools,
and Processes
@SociousSoftware

9. User Group Management Models
•
•
•
•
Total volunteer management
Company initiated, funded, and managed
Association management company
Executive Director hired by board and
responsible for staff, equipment, office, etc.
@SociousSoftware

10. Annual Review
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Mission statement
Vision statement
Bylaws
Strategic goals
Budget/finances
Website
Future conference locations
@SociousSoftware

11. Tools
•
•
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Association Management System
Event Management System
Robust website
Webinar platform
Survey and polling
Accounting/finance tool
Document sharing
Mobile App
@SociousSoftware

12. Reliable Sources of Information
• American Society of Association Executives
(ASAE)
• Association Management Companies Institute
(AMCI)
• Meeting Professionals Institute (MPI)
• Professional Convention Management
Association (PCMA)
• LinkedIn Groups
• IMEX
@SociousSoftware

13. Processes
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•
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Board management, policies, elections
Technology
New member onboarding
Website community management
Continuing education
Conference planning
SIG/Committee charters
Finance
Sponsors, partners, and exhibitors
@SociousSoftware

14. Components of a Thriving
User Community
@SociousSoftware

15. Components of a Thriving User
Community
LEADERSHIP
A leader is best when people barely know he
exists, when his work is done, his aim fulfilled,
they will say: we did it ourselves.- Lao Tzu
• Staff
• Board
• Volunteers
@SociousSoftware

16. Components of a Thriving User
Community
•
•
•
•
VOLUNTEERISM
Identify a volunteer leader
Listen to your volunteers
Don’t do everything in the office just
because it is easier
Develop a leadership program
@SociousSoftware

17. Components of a Thriving User
Community
•
•
•
•
•
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•
ROBUST WEBSITE
Active forums or discussion groups
Easy navigation
Updating news on front page
Member profiles
Members only section/pages
Twitter feed
Blog Aggregator
Members in the news
@SociousSoftware

18. Components of a Thriving User
Community
SOCIAL MEDIA
•
•
•
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•
•
Twitter
Blogs
Facebook
LinkedIn
YouTube
Pinterest
@SociousSoftware

19. Components of a Thriving User
Community
Listen
@SociousSoftware

20. Components of a Thriving User
Community
RISK TAKING
• Responsibility to members
• Responsibility includes suggesting new
ideas
• Be ready for some failures and accept
them
@SociousSoftware

21. Components of a Thriving User
Community
•
•
•
•
FUN FACTOR
Start with the Board
Insert fun in email blasts
Make an effort to include fun at your
events
Remember, the fun can begin with you
@SociousSoftware

22. Components of a Thriving User
Community
•
•
•
•
GIVING BACK
Don’t get too caught up in banking the
money
Help members in need
Community service
Encourage members to share professional
knowledge
@SociousSoftware

23. Questions
Kathleen McCasland
www.teamycc.com
KCM@TeamYcc.com
Joshua Paul
www.socious.com
jpaul@socious.com
@Joshua_D_Paul
@SociousSoftware