What if the best way to grow your community is to leave it behind? 

I mean, literally, leave it behind for two days to join us at CMX Summit 2023: Shine.

Think about it: where else can you learn about community building, management, and operations better than at THE biggest community event of the year – CMX Summit? It's not just another conference; it's a gathering of community professionals from around the world. Here, you'll exchange knowledge, ideas and expand your skillset to bring back actionable insights for your own community. Attending CMX Summit means you'll be at the forefront of the industry, rubbing shoulders with industry veterans and rising stars shaping the industry's future. By being a part of this event, you'll gain insights that will put you three steps ahead of the game.

Now, with three months to go, it's time to plan your trip to sunny Redwood City, California, secure your spot, and convince your boss why you (or your team) should attend CMX Summit 2023: Shine.

I get it, convincing your boss may seem intimidating, but most bosses appreciate employees who actively seek growth opportunities and bring valuable knowledge back to their teams. The key lies in crafting an effective pitch – one that aligns with your boss's goals and clearly demonstrates the benefits for your community. 

So, I'm pretty sure you've seen the picture of the Taylor Swift fan who called in sick to work just to attend the concert. Well, I don't want you to have to do that, so let's dive into some pointers that will help you pitch the CMX Summit 2023: Shine as the must-attend event for you, your team, or your company.

Bosses Love Numbers: Show Them the ROI 

Obviously, quantifying the return on investment of intangible knowledge can be a bit tricky. However, it's no secret that bosses love numbers. So, when you're trying to convince your boss to send you to a conference, it's helpful to have some hard data to back up your argument.

Here are a few studies that show the positive ROI of training:

Return on Learning

A study by Accenture actually found that every dollar spent on training got a $4.53 return, generating an ROI of 353%.

Profiting From Learning: Do Firms’ Investments in Education and Training Pay Off?

American Society for Training and Development (ASTD) found that companies that invest in employee training see a 24% increase in productivity. This research paper found a $680 increase in training equaled a 6% increase in total stockholder return and a significantly higher profit margin.

How to Make Employee Training a Winning Investment

By earning additional certifications, one entry-level employee increased his billing rate by 40%, which generated an additional $100,000 in annual revenue for the firm.

Also, take a look at your goals and KPIs for community management. What are you trying to achieve? Will the knowledge learned at the summit help you to achieve those KPIs and goals that will bolster your community and prove the ROI?

Try linking the knowledge learned at the summit to showcase ROI in your own way. For example, if your goal is to increase engagement by 10%, you could talk about how the knowledge you learn at the summit will help you to develop new engagement strategies, or if your goal is to improve retention, you could talk about how the knowledge you learn at the summit will help you to better understand your community members’ needs and provide them with better support.

The key is to be specific about how the knowledge you learn at the summit will help you to achieve your goals. This will show your boss that the investment in sending you to the summit is a worthwhile one.

Craft Your Learning Checklist

Each year, our summit revolves around core pillars that serve as the foundation of our content. If you want to dive deeper into the specifics, head over to our blog for all the details. 

This year, we're shining the spotlight on three essential pillars that are at the heart of our summit:

• The Future of Community: The world of community building is constantly evolving. Discover the latest trends and insights into how communities impact business goals and revenue. We'll explore new community health indicators and work towards building a shared language and standardizations across communities.
• Embrace Co-creation: Empower your community members and organization to co-create for sustainable growth and engagement. Learn best practices for co-creating with your community and discover the benefits of a shared sense of ownership. Join us to build a more viable and sustainable network.
• Building Sustainable Communities: The pressing need for conversations that lead to meaningful change requires us to create communities with a foundation of diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice. We'll explore how to build inclusive, thriving, and enduring communities through thought-provoking discussions and practical examples. Join us to start the conversation and take action in your community.

While we'll be publishing the detailed agenda soon, take a moment to sit down and reflect on your learning goals. What do you hope to learn from the summit? What are your specific goals for your community that you want to bring more profound knowledge to? By telling your boss exactly which talks you're planning on attending and why, it'll show that you're thinking critically about the value you'll get from the event.

Not to mention, this year's speaker lineup is full of industry thought leaders who are at the forefront of the industry's future. Think of people like David Spinks, Erica Kuhl, Richard Millington, Nicole Saunders, and more sharing their experiences with you. People from the top companies' communities. Can you get that kind of experience anywhere? 

Remember, this is an important step, so here as well, you have to logically tie all the sessions and activities you plan to attend back to your community goals. 

Let Past Attendees Convince Your Boss

The CMX Summit has been around for many years, and hundreds of amazing community professionals have attended, learned a lot, and shared their experiences online. Here are a few of them that would be interesting reads for you and your boss to get an essence of the summit:

• The Role CMX Summit Played in Making My Career What it is Today by Holly Firestone
• My Experience at the 2019 CMX Summit by Erin Sullivan
• What we learned (about ourselves) at CMX Summit by Evan Hamilton
• I Left My Heart in Redwood City – My Experience at the CMX Summit by Gabrielle Leith 
• CMX Summit Notes by Deb Schell

If the articles are not enough to convince your boss, you can also include a couple of reviews in your pitch: 

I've been working in engagement and community-building for about five years, but attending CMX Summit 2020 was the first time I felt like I had a shared language about what I do and a community of people to whom I don't have to explain why my role exists or why it's important. Thanks to CMX for this community of practice! - Kate Richey, Engagement Manager, Hearken, Inc

This was my first CMX Summit, and I loved every second of it. The quality of speakers and range of topics was outstanding. It was so easy to forget this was a virtual event because the enthusiasm pulled you right into the conversations that were happening. There's so much to take away. Thank you CMX for putting this amazing event together! - Oliver Beirne, Community Manager, Arm

I was so impressed by the way the CMX staff were able to put this together. So much information for various types of communities! I absolutely felt the "community" even though it was virtual. Loved that we could chat with each other during the panels, and the Q&A tool worked great. - Ash Keene, Community Manager, Replay Gaming

Introduce Them to the Companies Who Are Leading the Way

Prepare to be awed because the stage isn't the only place where stars shine at the CMX Summit. Look around, and you'll find professionals from incredible companies across various industries, all gathered in one place. Just take a peek at some of the amazing companies that have attended our summit in the past!

At the CMX Summit, networking is just as important as learning. That's why we've designed our summit to be a networking playground, with activities that will help you make connections that will last a lifetime. People from all corners of the world gather here, seeking future mentors and friends. Who knows, you might just find your perfect match!

How CMX Summit Makes the Perfect Team Offsite

Why go solo when you can go to the CMX Summit with your team? With group tickets available (minimum of 4), each ticket is $50 cheaper than the standard rate.

Pause for a moment and consider this: Are there other teams or departments in your organization that focus on community? Are there stakeholders who share an interest in your community's success? Perhaps it's time to extend your pitch beyond just yourself and invite your boss to join you. After all, actions speak louder than words.

Here's what one of our attendees said about getting her boss on board:

My manager leans on me a lot for guidance and strategy around reaching our community. When CMX Summit was announced, I immediately pinged him for permission to attend. I also suggested that he go with us as an opportunity for him to learn more about what we’re doing and why it’s so important. I’m lucky to have a boss who doesn’t know much about community development, but is incredibly open to learning, and knows that it’s a necessary investment. – Mary Thengvall, SparkPost and Co-Host of Community Pulse

Write an Email that Lands Your Spot at CMX Summit 

In this age of AI, providing you with a generic email template wouldn't make much sense. Instead, here is a prompt that you can run through your AI tools to create an email that is tailored to your specific needs:

“You are writing an email to your boss, [Boss's Name], to convince them to approve your attendance at the CMX Summit 2023:Shine. In the email, highlight the various benefits of attending the summit and emphasize how it aligns with your professional goals. Mention specific sessions, such as [Session Name] and [Session Name], that you believe will be valuable for your professional development and explain how they will contribute to achieving a specific goal, such as increasing community engagement or improving customer satisfaction. Also, mention the esteemed speaker, [Speaker Name], whose insights you are eager to hear.”

Remember, when your boss gives that sweet "yes," it's time to raise a glass to your victory. Congratulations, you're on your way to the CMX Summit 2023: Shine!