What is the Community?
The community in it’s natural state has been around ever since the first two ‘competing’ businesses sat down together and compared notes…
It’s current format consists of businesses all over the world who focus on servicing and supporting SMB clients whilst making their lives and businesses something that is rewarding, challenging, and above all, enjoyable. Whether this is achieved is dependent on the individual but those involved in the community have made a step towards getting closer to the goal.
The community is fairly organic and is made up of those who see the community as an opportunity and those who ‘lurk’ until they are ready to contribute. Like life, smaller off-shoot groups are formed but no matter what the format, this network of professionals help improve the links established between like-minded peers and key partners in our industry.
We do not answer to anyone except for ourselves. Vendors and businesses may sponsor events and initiatives but nobody owns the community. The key to our success is to build the community on those who make a concerted effort because they want to and not because of the smell of cash.
Regional communites vary from place to place but through blogs, online and offline events, a long IM list, and regular telephone calls, we all manage to stay connected.
Why are vendors interested in us? Well information in our community is virally communicated; got a bad product? We’ll tell you and everyone else we know! Got something that reduced the time spent screaming at a blue screen and we’ll tell you and everyone else we know! Get the idea?
Special thanks to all the leaders and key figures in the community so far. These guys ‘pay it forward’ and realise that the opportunities available to us need a little ground work before we can achieve that something a little bit different from the norm.
The old school habits are fading away for us, there aren’t that many communities that exist for free where traditionally viewed competitors sit down over a curry and talk about how they can crack a market or problems together.
But this is just my opinion, the only way you can form yours is to look down the list to the right of this post and get yourself along or get reading. You will see I have also posted a ‘What’s On?’ page which is growing as more and more events spring up for the benefit of the community.
We’re not mucking around anymore, the world is really listening, partner podcast are downloaded in their hundreds of thousands, hundreds of regional groups are available now because of a few motivated individuals, and vendors such as Microsoft realise that this ‘new’ way of working is ten times more successful than JUST throwing out a partner programme. The Microsofties realise that by helping fertilise the community tree, they can help it grow into something that bears fruit for everyone who contributed from the root up.
See you around…
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