Hosk Year 2014 in numbers

Whilst reflecting on another year, which has passed, I thought I would review my years in numbers, I appreciate numbers don’t tell you about quality but are merely a metric

Quality is difficult to define so they’re not any metrics on the quality of my CRM, content I have been creating, so I thought I would look at the facts, numbers, views and badges

Looking at the numbers below it seems I have had quite a busy year and I have learnt a lot about Microsoft Dynamics CRM and I have read and written lots of interesting blog posts.

Thanks for everyone who visited the blog, read my tweets or watched a youtube video.  a big thanks to anyone who left a comment, I love comments.#

Hosk Dynamic CRM Blog

I created 213 blog posts this year, which is roughly 4 per week.  In 2011 I published 455 blog posts!

I did a blog on the most view blog post

Hosk Blog Most Popular CRM Posts of the Year

Here is the list of top blog posts with the views on the right

1.  MB2-703 – CRM 2013 Customization and Configuration Certification – 7610 views

2.  CRM 2013 – Setting up Visual Studio with the Developer Toolkit for Microsoft Dynamics CRM – 7478 views

3.  CRM 2013 – Step by Step Update Plugin Tutorial using the CRM 2013 Development Toolkit – 7021  views

4.  CRM 2013 – Understanding Solutions and how they work – 4751 views

5.  CRM 2013 – MB2-703 – CRM 2013 Customization and Configuration Study information – 4362 views

6.  CRM 2013 – quick way to get the guid on a form – 4123 views

7.  CRM 2013 – MB2-703 – Customization and Configuration Certification Solution Test Questions – 3857 views

8.  CRM 2013 – Plugins – Simple update plugin – Redeploying, improving and updating – 3656 views

9.  CRM 2013 – Javascript to get id of current record – 2613 views

10.  CRM 2011/2013 – Javascript to get the object type code of an entity – 2532 views

11.  CRM 2013 – How to set up Field Level Security – 2555 views

12.  CRM 2013 – Workflow to set the current date and time – 2532 views

 

Total Blog Views

It was my best year yet and I almost made it to the half a million views.  It’s to be expected my views should have gone up because each year I will have published more blog posts (total 892 at the moment).

In 2013 I took a year off and only published 34

 

 

 

The top referring sites in 2014 were:

1. twitter.com
2. linkedin.com
3. community.dynamics.com
4. social.microsoft.com
5. stackoverflow.com

 

Microsoft Certificates

I only passed on Microsoft CRM certification this year

MB2-703 – CRM 2013 Customization and Configuration

The main reason I only passed one because I spent ages creating material to help people study for the certification, which you can find clicking the link below

MB2-703 – CRM 2013 Customization and Configuration Certification

Microsoft Community Badges

At some point Microsoft created lots of different badges and then created levels.  I found I was level 7 and the gamer in me wanted to reach level 8, so I did.  Answering questions is a tricky process and anyone who has answered lots of them has my respect.

I made it onto some Leaderboards and yes, before you say it, I know they don’t really mean anything but I view it like being on an arcade machines top 10 list (before someone unplugs it and they reset all the points)

Suggested answers all time Leader Board

https://community.dynamics.com/leaderboards/5.aspx

Verified Answers All Time Leader Board

https://community.dynamics.com/leaderboards/8.aspx

I got my level 8 badge (you need 16000 points), the only real way to get this badge is to answer lots of CRM Forum questions

I answered a bunch of CRM Forum questions which was a great way to learn CRM 2013 and find the most common problems people were experiencing.

985 suggested answers

392 verified answers

This may be enough to get an MCC badge for Jul – Dec to go with the MCC badge I got from Jan 2014 to June 2014 but I’m not sure yet because I haven’t received an email and Microsoft haven’t updated anything.

19452 points (no one really knows how the points work but you get a bunch for having a verified answer)

Hosk Twitter

The number of followers has gone up but I’m not sure what it was last year the only stats I have were taken in March 2014

In March my twitter stats were

• 3,863 TWEETS
• 1,283 FOLLOWERS

Today

• 5569 Tweets
• 1644 followers

So I have tweeted probably about 2000 tweets and gained 400 followers in 2014

Hosk LinkedIn Blog

This was my first year with a LinkedIn Blog

I published 31 LinkedIn blog posts

https://www.linkedin.com/today/author/24927776

1453 followers

My top 3 viewed blog posts

What is the Microsoft CEO actually saying? 10486 views 95 likes

Annoying practices of bad recruitment consultants – 4640 views – 68 likes

Are people starting to like Microsoft again? 1922 views – 157 likes

Hosk YouTube Channel

I started a youtube channel I think in March.  It has some videos to help you get started with Plugin development and some videos to help pass the CRM 2013 Customization and Configuration exam

Hosk CRM Dev 

49 YouTube videos

40406 video views

271604 estimate minutes watched

188 likes

6 dislikes

20 shares

771 subscribers

 

Top
CRM 2013 – Create a simple plugin in CRM 2013 using the CRM Development Toolkit		7,622 (19%)	74,812 (28%)
CRM 2013 – Setting up Developer Toolkit for Microsoft Dynamics CRM		4,981 (12%)	26,168 (9.6%)
CRM 2013 – Understanding Solutions and how they work in CRM 2013		3,323 (8.2%)	39,571 (15%)
CRM 2013 — MB2 703 — Customization and Configuration Certification Solution Test Questions		2,566 (6.3%)	13,081 (4.8%)
CRM 2013 – MB2 703 – Business Units and Security Roles		1,734 (4.3%)	19,700 (7.3%)
MB2-703 – CRM 2013 Customization and Configuration Study information		1,358 (3.4%)	4,923 (1.8%)
CRM 2013 – JavaScript tutorial using CRM 2013 Developer Toolkit		1,317 (3.3%)	9,539 (3.5%)
CRM 2011/2013 Dialog’s and Custom Workflow example		1,250 (3.1%)	5,646 (2.1%)
Get Certified in MB2-703 – CRM 2013 Customization and Configuration		1,247 (3.1%)	3,570 (1.3%)
CRM 2013 Plugin – Step by Step guide for a Post Account Create Plugin using the Developer Toolkit		1,143 (2.8%)	6,937 (2.6%)

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Hosk Blog Most Popular CRM Posts of the Year

I published 202 blogs posts this year!  Which roughly works out at about 4 a week.

Here are the most viewed blog posts this year.  There is a caveat where the posts written at the start of the year have a big advantage over the posts created in the last few months.

I have learnt a lot writing these blog posts and I’m glad they have been viewed so many times

Top 12 blog posts from my blog

1.  MB2-703 – CRM 2013 Customization and Configuration Certification – 7610 views

This page has all of the CRM 2013 Customization and Configuration content I have created to help myself and other people pass the MB2-703 certification.  It works because I passed, which I write about here

2.  CRM 2013 – Setting up Visual Studio with the Developer Toolkit for Microsoft Dynamics CRM – 7478 views

A blog and video tutorial with a step by step guide to setting up the CRM Developer toolkit

3.  CRM 2013 – Step by Step Update Plugin Tutorial using the CRM 2013 Development Toolkit – 7021  views

A blog and video creating a plugin to run on the update stage using the CRM Developer toolkit

4.  CRM 2013 – Understanding Solutions and how they work – 4751 views

A blog post all about Solutions and how they work

5.  CRM 2013 – MB2-703 – CRM 2013 Customization and Configuration Study information – 4362 views

Some study information with links to lots of information including two study guides

6.  CRM 2013 – quick way to get the guid on a form – 4123 views

A quick way to get the guid on a form in CRM 2013, something which as a developer I do all the time.

7.  CRM 2013 – MB2-703 – Customization and Configuration Certification Solution Test Questions – 3857 views

Some test questions on solutions

8.  CRM 2013 – Plugins – Simple update plugin – Redeploying, improving and updating – 3656 views

This blog shows you how to redeploy your plugin with a few changes

9.  CRM 2013 – Javascript to get id of current record – 2613 views

A quick blog which shows you how to get the Guid of the form

10.  CRM 2011/2013 – Javascript to get the object type code of an entity – 2532 views

It’s important to get the object type code programatically because as I found you cannot hard code this value because it could be different in different CRM instances (e.g. DEV, TEST, PROD)

11.  CRM 2013 – How to set up Field Level Security – 2555 views

A blog showing how Field Level security works

12.  CRM 2013 – Workflow to set the current date and time – 2532 views

A workflow which sets the current date and time

CRM 2013 – Why you should take and pass the Configuration and Customization Certification

I am going to talk about the CRM 2013 certification MB2-703 or otherwise known as Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2013 Customization and Configuration.  One reason I am talking about the CRM 2013 configuration and customization certification is I have recently started a YouTube channel Hosk’s CRM Dev and although CRM Developers will be required to do a lot of coding they will also need to do a lot of customization’s using the standard GUI tools and functionality in CRM.

I myself am going to pass the certification and I am interested in learning the new CRM 2013 functionality so I thought I would create some YouTube video’s on the exam criteria and would like you all to join me on the journey of passing the CRM 2013 Configuration and Customization exam.

There are probably a bunch of people reading this blog going I would like to pass that certification but I’m too busy, I will get round to it at some point later in the year.

STOP RIGHT THERE BUDDY

stop procrastinating and do it, give yourself a two month deadline and study and pass that certification and what’s more I’m going to help you do it, The Hosk will be cheering you on.

If you are still not on board let me tell you why you are going to do it (if you haven’t already), you have a choice you can see and hear me

or you can read why you should

1.  Money

People who have certifications get paid more.

“43 percent of survey respondents report salary increases as a result of Microsoft Certification.”

– Redmond magazine’s 2006 survey of compensation for Microsoft IT professionals

A certification is something you can take into your next pay review to help persuade your bosses to give you more cash.  The way I see it if you have a certification and your colleagues don’t, if over the year you have both done a good job then that certification is going to be something extra you have, not only do you have a certification but you also have all the knowledge to go with it.

2.  Learn the new features in CRM 2013

The certifications always have sections on the new features, so this is a great way to learn the new CRM 2013 features and get certified at the same time.  In fact it will give you focus and motivate you to get the learning done.  The other benefit will be you will brush up on some of the other parts of system you might not use.

3.  Broad range of knowledge

I have taken the CRM 4 and CRM 2011 Configuration and Customization certifications and I found them very useful in learning parts of the CRM that I wasn’t currently using in the projects I was working on.  I learnt about Goals, Dashboards, reporting, security, solutions before I used them at work.  In the CRM 2013 exam I will have to learn about Business Process Flows, Business Rules, Access teams, quick create forms.  What I am trying to say is I will learn about the functionality before I have to use it in my job, so if it comes up I will already have an idea of what it does, how it works.  A lot of being a good CRM Developer is knowing the correct tool to use at the correct time.

4.  (some) People respect certifications

if you have 2 or 3 CRM certification then people in the workplace will start to see you as  knowledgeable in CRM, their perception will change and this is particularly useful if you are starting out in your CRM career.  Certifications don’t make you a better CRM Developer or Consultant but it does mean that you have a good knowledge of CRM because you have to do a fair bit of studying to get the certification.

5.  Companies like Certifications

Companies like certifications because they need certified employees so they can get the Microsoft Gold or Silver partner status.  Companies also like certified employees because it sounds great to tell perspective clients about are certified developer/consultant.  If you have a certification you are more valuable to your company and they will often reward you for the time and effort it took to obtain the certification.

6.  Success feels good

It feels good to pass a certification, it may only be a piece of paper and something to put on LinkedIn/Rockstar 365 cv but you have set out to pass a certification and by golly you did it.  Once you get that certification no one can take it away

7.  You are committed to becoming a great CRM developer/Consultant

Life hacker has a nice paragraph in this article Will certification help me get a better job

Ultimately, getting one or two certifications will prove you’re capable of learning and retaining knowledge (or at least passing a test) but several under your belt shows that you’re committed to a career path, well versed in it, and knowledgeable. As those certifications grow to require experience and dedication to earn, they’re exponentially more valuable and prove that you’re familiar with industry best practices, have worked in the field, and have retained your knowledge (especially if it’s a cert that has to be renewed or kept up to date). So even if you don’t think the low-level ones are useful, don’t shy away from them—at best they’re a slight differentiator, but at worst they’re a stepping stone to greater things

8.  You know most of it already

Here is the headline skills measured, come on, you know at least half of that stuff already, you are half way there

• Create and Customize Solutions (10-15 percent)
• Customize Entities and Entity Relationships (10-15 percent)
• Customize Fields (10-15 percent)
• Manage Forms (10-15 percent)
• Manage Views (10-15 percent)
• Create and Customize Charts and Dashboards (10-15 percent)
• Manage Security (10-15 percent)
• Manage Business Processes and Rules (10-15 percent)

click here to read the skills needed in more details.

So after reading all that and knowing I am going to create some Video’s and information to help you (AND ME) study for the certification, what excuse can you (I will accept you already having passed the certification) have

I have written about the benefits of certifications before if you still aren’t quite persuaded.

https://crmbusiness.wordpress.com/2011/01/07/what-are-the-benefits-of-crm-certifications/

https://crmbusiness.wordpress.com/2011/01/31/seven-steps-to-certification-success/