This article is part of the Wiki series: MSDN/TechNet Forums.


This is a question that current Most Valuable Professionals (MVPs), Microsoft Community Contributors (MCCs), and Microsoft employees get quite often. And the question pops up in the forums quite frequently. 

The fact is, there's no individual path. There are many potential paths, and you'll have to find your own path. The process might not be as detailed as we want, but that's by design (for flexibility and other reasons).

When you become an MCC or MVP, then you receive the appropriate "MCC" or "MVP" title in your Profile and whenever your name is listed on various Microsoft online community tools, such as TechNet Wiki or MSDN Forums.

To find out how to become an MCC or MVP, we should go check out their sites and ask them. The "MCC" and "MVP" titles on these community tools only reflect that the award was given... and the Recognition Points might inform the award. But the award itself has nothing to do with the Recognition system, the Profiles, TechNet Wiki, or the Forums. So here's the answer and links for you to find out more information if you want it...

MICROSOFT COMMUNITY CONTRIBUTOR (MCC)

Q14. How do I contact Microsoft about the Community Contributor Award?
A14. You can send questions to the Microsoft Community Contributor Global Administrator at MCCGA@Microsoft.com (MCCGA at microsoft.com).

FAQ: https://www.microsoftcommunitycontributor.com/faq.aspx

PROCESS: Current MVPs and Microsoft personnel recommend people as MCCs based on quality, quantity, and impact on "online technical communities." Current MVPs and Microsoft personnel then evaluate those recommended on the same factors (impact on online technical communities) and base the award on those evaluations. The program owners also see a list of who is doing well in the MSDN/TechNet community tools (based on factors like how many Recognition Points in a recent time period).

REWARD: The reward is a "small benefit": the award status in your TechNet/MSDN profile and a 12-month subscription to the Microsoft Press E-Reference Library. The MCC award ends after one year.

Tips to becoming an MCC (based on the FAQ)

1) Make an impact in the community, using tools like TechNet Forums, Gallery, and Wiki. Maintain quality and quantity in your contributions. You can also use blogs and non-Microsoft tools.

2) Rule the Forums. There are lots of social tools/apps you can use to become an MCC, but let's focus on Forum tips because this is a very common path people are taking. Find a technology's forum (on MSDN or TechNet) where there's a huge need for moderation and answerers. Become an expert in that technology. Then answer a ton of questions with quality answers, propose a lot of answers (especially ones that aren't from you), and then track down the Moderators or email me (edprice at Microsoft). Then make a case (given your Forum experience and abilities) to become a moderator. See How to Become an MSDN or TechNet Forum Moderator.

3) Become noticed by MVPs, Microsoft personnel, and the community (start building relationships with these folks and collaborating).

NOTE: This award is based on your contributions in the last 6 months or so. In other words, if you just started one week ago, you'll need to continue your efforts for a few more months.

MOST VALUABLE PROFESSIONAL (MVP)

Become an MVP: http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/gp/mvpbecoming (if it doesn't open, and you get the "We are sorry" search results page, then paste the URL into a new tab or window instead)

Nominate an MVP: http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/gp/mvpnominate (if it doesn't open, paste it into a new tab or window)

PROCESS: After reading the "Becoming an MVP" page, you'll see that the process is rigorous. "MVP nominees undergo a rigorous review process. A panel that includes members of the MVP team and Microsoft product groups evaluates each nominee's technical expertise and voluntary community contributions for the past 12 months. The panel considers the quality, quantity, and level of impact of the MVP nominee's contributions." Essentially the panel evaluates the nominees and then bases their award on those evaluations in quality, quantity, and level of impact.

REWARD: The reward is a "set of small services and benefits", which include (among other benefits) the award status in your TechNet/MSDN profile, a listing among the official Microsoft MVPs, and an MVP profile page. The MVP award ends after one year (and then a renewal assessment is triggered).

Tips to becoming an MVP (based on the MVP site)

NOTE: These tips are not guaranteed to get you the MVP status, and not all these tips are required. However, if you work on them, you'll likely become an MVP through the process.

1) Give quality assistance, advice, processes, scripts, and consultation. Test your own advice and ask first (don't make assumptions that you're answering questions when too little data is given). Experts in your area will be evaluating samples of your community work. You don't want them to be evaluating the one communication issue you had or the one mistake you accidentally made (and thus thinking that you make mistakes or miscommunication a regular practice).

2) Give high-quantity contributions. Be active in your technology's forums and on blogs. The TechNet and MSDN forums are being monitored by current MVPs and Microsoft personnel.

3) Become a Moderator on your technology's forums (post quality and quantity answers and then approach and ask moderators and owners to be considered or nominated).  Or email me (edprice at Microsoft). Then make a case (given your Forum experience and abilities) to become a moderator. See How to Become an MSDN or TechNet Forum Moderator.

4) Share your knowledge in online community tools like blogs, Wiki articles, white papers, and Galleries (you can upload your white papers on TechNet Gallery). You must create your own unique content and help build the community around your content.

5) Speak at conferences, local groups, meetings, and user groups. Speak online in virtual events. Go show your expertise and teach large groups. These conferences and events are different for every product. Go find them. Here's a testimony of one MVP who speaks at conferences.

6) Write articles, guest blogs, or books. In addition to writing for your own Blog, Wiki, and Forums, become a guest blogger on other famous blogs. Research the online and print magazines for your technology and then submit articles to try to get published. Ask to complete technical reviews of books that are currently being written. Eventually submit pitches to book publishers as well and establish yourself as an accomplished author in your technology areas.

7) Become the leader. Instead of just plugging into conferences, events, local groups, and user groups, build them, organize them, and lead them. Bring the community off-line. Here's the testimony of an MVP who started an off-line user group, which led to other great opportunities.

8) Be consistent. This is a "marathon award", and not a sprint award. Because an MVP award is evaluated based on the previous 12 months of contributions, you have to be active and consistent for over a year. If you're three months in, then you have 9 more months to go before you can even be considered (you're being evaluated with folks who have a full year of leadership contributions).

See Also

• Differences Between the MVP and MCC Awards
• How to Become an MSDN or TechNet Forum Moderator
• How to Become an Exchange MVP

 
This article is part of the Wiki series: MSDN/TechNet Forums. 

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• Norwegian: How to Become an MVP or MCC (nb-NO)
• Cómo convertirse en un MVP o MCC (es-ES)