Learn how to leverage influencer and ambassador programs to build and expand your brand. Tips and tricks from from building one of the biggest global communities in the world - TEDx.

1. Building communities through influencer and ambassador programs

2. Current TEDx stats
 9,033 TEDx events held around the world
 2,201 cities in 157 countries have hosted one or more
TEDx events
 50 different languages
 275 TEDx Talks featured on TED.com
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3. TEDx event growth over time
3
279
956
1847
2706
3115
4000
3000
2000
1000
0
2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

4. Who is the TEDx event licensee?
 A passion for TED
 A passion for big ideas
 A passion for community
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5. Influencers and Ambassadors

6. Influencers

7. Organizers of great events
 Their talks go to TED.com (Or their talks are high-quality)
 Consistency in timing + event quality
 High level of community engagement/influence
 Innovates on the platform
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8. Elders
 Been in the community since its inception - expected to take on
mentor role with new members
 Private Facebook group to discuss big ideas
 Lead Google+ hangouts on topics
 Speak at TEDx Workshops
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9. Level 2 Events
 Must have held 2 events with over 100 people with the same
licensee
 Have a talk on TED.com or 10,000 YouTube views
 Must have hosted a regional workshop
 Benefits: Host a 1.5 day event, charge $250 USD, unlimited
sponsorship, distribute some talks on television
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10. High engagement members
Comment often on community groups
 Have attended TED + can host over 100-person events
 Email us to ask questions, or tell us about issues in their region
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11. Community-created initiatives
 TEDx Music Project
 TEDx Global Virtual Summit --> TEDx Learning Hub on Google +
 TEDx Adventures
 TEDx Local Lens
 "Influencer" TEDx events - TEDxUNPlaza, TEDxOilSpill
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12. Gates Scholarship Recipients
 Application process to give community members in the
developing world a chance to experience TED, and share
experience with their community
 Benefits: Attend TEDGlobal or TEDActive, flight, hotel and event
fee are paid for
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13. Benefits of Influencer groups/programs
 Seeded the TED Auditions in 2012
 Our "go to" connectors in a region
 Early adopters/advice on new programs
 Stories + talks for TED.com and other editorial platforms
 Trust
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14. Ambassadors

15. Overview
 In its 4th year
 49 total - become Senior Ambassadors
 Represent countries such as Egypt, India, Pakistan, Morocco,
China, Singapore, Australia, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain.
Regions such as Eastern Europe + Africa.
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16. How are they chosen?
 Visibility in community
 Recommendation by past Ambassador,
 From a community/region where we need additional help
 Quality of event
 Trust
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17. What is their role?
 Connect the community through workshops, coffee meetings,
answering questions on groups
 Keep an eye out for local TEDx branding and rules issues
 Advise TEDx team on suggestions for building TEDx in their
region
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18. Regional Workshops
 Self-organized by TEDx licensees (often Ambassadors or other
Influencer), attended by TEDx organizers in a selected region
 Organizers present on and share best practices from their event
 Encourage regional collaboration/connection
 Attended by TED staffer in person or remote who leads a
guidelines session + answers questions
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19. Benefits of Ambassador program
 Trusted connections with people in high growth regions
 Provide cultural context for global decisions + issues
 Ground up instead of top down decisions
 Real understanding of TED and TEDx that can be transferred
locally
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