User Groups and meetups are increasingly popular
environments for sharing value and expertise, with
great opportunities for learning and networking
among peers. These best practices and tips can
help you grow your user group and ensure that your
attendees get the most value out of their attendance.
Community
is everything
Remember that community is
always the driving force behind
any meetup. Look after your
community generously to help
ensure your user group meetups
will be successful.
Plan
in advance
Whether online or offline,
organising meetups can take
a bit of time and organisation.
Plan well in advance so you
can raise the bar on providing
a great experience.
Know
your audience
Cater for new users with
minimal technical proficiency by
explaining core concepts, while
providing advanced users with
deeper content and next steps
to increase their knowledge.
Go
niche!
Find a gap in the market
if possible to stand apart.
Try not to cover areas where
many others are already doing
an amazing job.
Consider
sponsors
Get creative! Your meetup can be
sponsored in many ways which all
help: from the platform (online),
to the venue (in person), or even
by providers of snacks and drinks.
Network
and grow
Build your User Group and
network of contacts by
searching for people who have
roles and interests similar to the
area your group has focused on.
Find
great speakers
Users love attending meetups
to hear great content from
great speakers. Leverage AWS
specialists, partners, customers
and influencers like bloggers -
great resources who often make
talented presenters!
Be consistent
with scheduling
Choosing a regular cadence
- whether weekly, monthly,
or quarterly - allows your
attendees to plan accordingly
and increases positive
attendance for your sessions.
Leverage
the platform
Online or live meetups offer
different characteristics and
benefits. For example, online
events allow you to organise
interesting speakers from
interstate or overseas.
Keep socials
up to date
Make sure your social media
channels are up to date with
upcoming event details - across
Meetup, Facebook, LinkedIn,
whatever you use - and keep
it vibrant.
Encourage
diversity
Promoting diversity and
inclusion at your meetup isn't
just the right thing to do, it also
leads to broader perspectives,
deeper learnings, and better
decision-making.
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User Group
best practices and tips!
