Sitecore Technology MVP Concentration Areas

The Sitecore Most Valuable Professional (MVP) application forms were closed on 30th November 2022. This date is the same year after year. Thereafter, in the months of December and January, the applications are vetted by existing MVPs. When I say, existing MVPs, the scoring is not done by one but multiple random MVPs from different countries. The future MVPs are then published by end of January of the new year. For the very first time when I applied for the MVP status, I didn't have an in-depth knowledge of this process as such. I had a lot of queries so, this blog post is kind of a ready-reckoner for future MVPs. It is always good to have such information as a road map and work against the different scoring areas.

This blog post concentrates only on the Sitecore Technology MVP stream so, you might have to refer other blog posts for MVP categories like Strategy and Ambassador.

Firstly, here are the main categories to concentrate your contributions on:

- Content

- Engagement

- Feedback / References

- Public Speaking

Each of the above four main areas is measured based on the following metrics:

- Visibility: How far is your contribution visible across the community: think of Social media reach

- Quantity: How frequently have you contributed

- Quality: Is the content practically useful

1. Content

Within Content, here are a few areas to concentrate on:

- Sitecore Blog Posts / Case Studies / White papers

- Sitecore Github Open Source Code Contribution

- Sitecore Educational Videos / Podcasts

Out of the above, I like contributing in the following areas: 

1.1 Sitecore Blog Posts

As  someone who is slightly inclined towards blog posts if you aim for one quality blog post a month, it should be a good contribution. To understand if your blog post is good quality, share it in social media like LinkedIn and see how many people benefit from it. It is good to keep track of your blog posts' date published and url.

Some personal thoughts about blog posts:

Maintain a cadence all across the year - consistency matters than quality or quantity

Maintain your own blog address rather than company's

Quality will fall in place if you first aim for quantity and importantly, try to be original

I personally like the quality of these blogs

Another set of blogs I found interesting last year is this

1.2 Sitecore Open-Source Code Contribution

I also have an affinity towards Sitecore Github contributions and it is good to pickup:

- An existing issue: A sample list of issues from Sitecore XM Cloud repo

- Work on it, submit a pull request

- I have felt this is a good way to collaborate with the Sitecore team

Personally, this should give you instant recognition even in the job market.

If you don't like writing blog posts, maybe you can pick up a topic of your choice and start recording a video and host it on youtube. For instance, these channels:

https://www.youtube.com/c/GopiGujjula

https://www.youtube.com/@SitecoreShades

So easy, Sitecore community welcomes everything and, is so warm + positive. 

2. Engagement

Within Engagement, here are a few areas to concentrate on:

2.1 Sitecore StackExchange Answers

The community faces development issues on a day-to-day basis. Pick one from the list and provide your opinion. Maybe, one of the issue/solutions can be a good blog post too.

2.2 Sitecore Slack Channel Participation

I personally love the Sitecore Slack channel. I feel this  place is more lively and also a good way to make you familiar within the community. You could get good blog post ideas here too.

2.3 Sitecore Community Forum Involvement

2.4 Social Media presence

I personally don't use Twitter but use LinkedIn for sharing my blog articles with hashtags like #sitecorecommunity  #sitecoremvp. I always feel that any (original) Sitecore technical content must be encouraged. Also, when you share Sitecore news like latest release, it indirectly means you are up-to-date with the latest developments in your area of work. By that means, you are also making yourself a prospective candidate for opportunities in the market albeit within your company or outside. It is also important to like others' posts, most importantly, build your network. There is no shame here, you are working against a goal so, reach out to people.

2.5 Sitecore Hackathon

Form a team and contribute to building a new Sitecore module or feature.

3. Feedback / References

Within this category, a few areas of interest to me:

3.1 Support tickets

As you work with a new release or an existing release, you might come across issues or bugs, raise the same as tickets. Use this ticket reference number in your MVP application. 

3.2 Product feedback / Training Beta testing

Support tickets can be raised for Sitecore trainings too. Most importantly, keep track of your ticket number to use it in your MVP application form.

3.3 Conference attendance

Generally, any Sitecore Partner / Customer board attendance or presentation should be an entry for your MVP application form. E.g., SCLB (Sitecore Customer Leadership Board),  PAC (Partner Advisory Council)

3.4 Another important point in this area is, getting personal reference from someone who knows you - this could be an existing Sitecore MVP or generally someone who can vouch for you / your Sitecore skills. This is where your LinkedIn network will be useful. Ensure to pickup someone outside your company, if possible.

4. Public Speaking

There are so many opportunities in this area:

4.1 Sitecore User Group presentations: Sitecore User Groups are already there across the world like SUGPUNE  . No one can stop you if you want to start your own user group giving it your local area name. Ask for one of the MVPs to do a presentation, request a few participants across the globe to attend, share an invite in social media. Do this process at least once in a quarter - just sky is the limit.

4.2 Check for SUGCON events, attend the same, keep track of your attendance / presentation

4.3 Webinar esp., lunch webinars - pick one and present on a weekend

With Sitecore, there is no limit. Just requires some planning / execution + tracking. Become a future Sitecore MVP with a solid plan in place.