You have started a user group. Now who will come? Arron Crear, in this session, will provide strategies to help your group grow and flourish. We will discuss driving attendance, expanding the group’s reach and creating a true community focused experience that encourages even more participation. The approaches highlighted will provide a blueprint for new ways to expand your group, keep your audience interested and provide a tremendous channel for continued learning and community involvement.

1. Aaron Crear, Lowell, MA Admin Group Leader
Strategies for Community Group
Growth
June 15, 2019 - Amsterdam
Aaron.crear@trailblazercgl.com
@aaroncrear

2. Why am I here?
Recovering Sales Manager
• User since 2009
• Began self-learning to make my job easier
• Became default Salesforce Admin
Rolled the dice in June 2016, accomplishments to date
• Began with Trailhead and local community group
• 5 x Salesforce Certified
• Full-time consulting practice with book of clients
• Speaker at Dreamforce, Big Sky Dreamin’ Czech Dreamin’, dreamOle’,
Phillyforce, Midwest Dreamin’, Snowforce, Southeast Dreamin’, World Tours
• Lowell, MA User Group Leader, Northeast Dreamin’ Co-Organizer
Salesforce Changed My Life!

3. Abstract
You have started a user group. Now what? This session will provide
strategies to help your group grow and flourish. We will discuss driving
attendance and engagement. The approaches highlighted will provide a
blueprint for new ways to expand your group, keep your audience
interested and provide a tremendous channel for continued learning
and community involvement.

4. Target Market
• Large Orgs in your area
• Find power users and find a champion
• Promote from within
• Social Media
• Direct message and outreach via LinkedIn and Twitter
• Include corporate handles
• Chatter Group
• Post regularly and well in advance of events
• Invite users from your community

5. Survey and Customize Content
• Topics of Interest
• What areas do people want to learn about?
• Meeting Themes
• Have an overall subject for the event
• Go Outside the Box
• Try different types of events
• Cadence/Frequency
• How often do the participants want to get together?
• Time and Location
• Weekday vs weekend, midday vs evening

6. Co-Mingle
• Joint Group Events
• People may work in one area and live in another
• Student Groups
• Future industry and event leaders
• Business/Professional Organizations
• Expand the audience to non-admins/developers
• Other Platforms
• Experts on how other technologies work with Salesforce

7. Go Hybrid
• Multi-prescience
• In person and virtual attendees
• Allows for convenience and more attendance
• Greater reach for content and speakers
• Make Sessions Available
• GoToWebinar link posted to the invite
• Post recordings to Chatter group
• Allows self-paced involvement

8. Plan Ahead
• Set Dates Far in Advance
• Announce the upcoming meetings at the event
• Lock in Speakers Early
• Have a backlog of topics and presenters ahead of time
• Be Aware of Key Dates
• Salesforce events, new releases and holidays

9. Results
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Spring '18 Spring '19
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