My story
Over on the Umbraco Forums, Tarik ask a couple of questions :
- What was your MVP journey like? Did you face similar “close but not named” moments before achieving it?
- What benefits stood out to you? (Beyond the cool badge—networking, projects, etc.?)
After he was nominated as a potential new Umbraco MVP but unfortunately wasn't successful this year.
I thought I'd write a blog post about my experiences and hopefully give some insights in to what I've enjoyed about being an MVP for the past 7 years.
Before I begin though, I have to state that when I was awarded MVP status in 2018, the application process was very different. There as no application process! You just got a email out of the blue saying Congratulations from Niels Hartvig.
What was my journey like?
I started being an active member of the Umbraco Community back in 2017. I had found the CMS really easy to use and everyone seemed really friendly and helpful. The forum, slack and twitter were the main places to "hangout" and I really enjoyed it. Chatting with like minded people about a platform that everyone seems to love.
I wasn't really aware of the MVP program if I'm honest. I knew some people had been awarded the status but I don't know how to get it or if I even could. The people I saw with the MVP status were package developers mostly. People like Matt Brailsford, Lee Kelleher, Kevin Jump and I wasn't making packages.
What I was doing was reading the documentation and making changes to it to make it easier to read and follow, which I didn't see as something that you'd be given an MVP for. I was just trying to improve the docs.
I was making small updates to the Core CMS, chatting with people on social media and I started up the Edinburgh Umbraco meetup but these were all things I was doing for my own benefit. I enjoyed doing it and I was learning loads at the same time.
Looking back, I was actually doing a lot but I was doing it all because I wanted to, rather than hoping that all the effort would pay off with an MVP. If that makes sense?
I was a group of 16 new MVPs and 18 renewals that year.
As part of getting an MVP award, you get your first Codegarden ticket free which is a lovely benefit, even more so now as the cost of a ticket isn't cheap!
You get to go on stage with your fellow MVPs and be recognised for your contributions in front of the entire conference.
I was standing on stage with some amazing people and I was honered and in shock that I was standing on stage with them.
Since that year, I've been very luck to be renewed as an Umbraco MVP each year since, but ever year comes as a surprise and the MVP application process has changed. All current MVPs have to submit why they feel they should be renewed, provide evidence on the things you've done and you then get evaluated in the same way that someone applying for the first time is.
Benefits of being an MVP?
There are a number of benefits that you get when you are an MVP for Umbraco. You get access to a private slack channel where all MVPs can chat together and chat directly with Umbraco.
You get access to Umbraco HQ if you want to work from their offices - a bit of a commute from Edinburgh but I have used this if I've been in Odense a day early for Codegarden.
As I mentioned already, you get a Codegarden ticket so you can receive your MVP award in person.
You get an Umbraco Cloud account free to host your own website on - this site for example is hosted on Umbraco Cloud.
You get a nice award to place on your desk at home or in the office.
But, above any of these, I would say the biggest benefit of being an Umbraco MVP is the community of friends you gather as part of it. I can call many of the MVPs that I've met and know as friends. They are more than just people I know who use Umbraco, they are true friends that I can and do chat with on a daily basis.
How do I get an MVP award next year?
My advice is, don't try and get an MVP award. This might sound strange but I personally think, getting an MVP award should be recognition for the things you are doing anyway. You are doing things because you enjoy working with Umbraco, you enjoy being part of the community. The award is just an added bonus.
You should absolutely apply next year though if you feel you have a passion for Umbraco. Whether you are a regular blog writer, you are active on the forum, you help people on discord, what ever your passion is, make notes of everything you do over the year and then submit your application next year.
It does feel a bit strange nominating yourself but your application has to be in with a chance just the same as everyone else.