HELP WITH GROUP - Meetup.com

Nestor	Posted Oct 31, 2009 9:14 PM Link to this reply
Nestor New York, NY Post #: 754	sorry guys I have a totally different thinking about this when you create a group, you customize the about page, the group description, and customize the homepage so it looks cool, easy to read, clear and attractive make sure you select all 7 topics for your group (that is the maximum), invite members of another meetup if you organize another meetup or assist organize and the organizer agrees, etc etc. you do this within the 72 hrs after you create the group, so the mass email meetup.com will send exactly 3 days after you create your group will invite a bunch of people interested in your topic linking to a good looking homepage, with an event scheduled, and all the info about your group is there. do your best setting up an attractive group during those 72 hrs. make sure you select the right zip code, so more people will get that email blast But , very important, you don´t set up an event for the next week! - you create it for a date that is in 2-3 months from now. Far away. SO, by the time you get to have your first event, you already have a membership with a reasonable size of people, you created MOMENTUM, you invited some friends that will come to help you have more people, etc etc and your first event has much better chances to have good attendance. Keep in mind that people who later look into your group page will check out your PAST event performance (number of attendees!). Past events with 1-2 or 3 people attending is are a big turn off. Try to avoid having those in your past event section. Edited by Nestor on Oct 31, 2009 9:19 PM
Shy	Posted Oct 31, 2009 11:03 PM Link to this reply
SuperDuper2 Fremont, CA Post #: 376	Sherry, to edit attendance there is a little link just above the RSVPs when you are looking at the event page (I think it just says 'edit attendance'. Once you go in there you can mark members as absent and it will take them off the attendee list. Right now members might read your MB post and then look at the event description page and think "who went then, b/c it says A, B, C, and D went?" I do think the text stands out more clearly now, so that is much better I always want to suggest to everyone that they make a custom banner for the group name, and I'll put a few links here but I make my own in an editing program so I've never used these and can't vouch for how easy they are to use. My Banner Maker Puresilva Banner Maker Banner Fans A banner probably won't attract more members, but I do think it looks more professional & put together than just the text title...the non-graphically inclined will look at it and go "wow, she really knows her stuff!" LOL (stuff being how to use the website and put together a spiffy graphic)
Lana	Posted Oct 31, 2009 11:19 PM Link to this reply
3756482 Volunteer Moderator Walnut Creek, CA Post #: 1,312	Hi Sherry, Of course you can use what I put in my reply, but actually, most of the wording is yours and I just put more spaces . You also might want to spell check some words on your welcome page as there are some typos (I always have typos too when I'm editing my page, lol). Don't feel discouraged that only one member turned up. It's good that you've posted photos of the event because it looks like you two still had a lot of fun and it gives an idea of what your events are like. For some encouragement, check out this initial post from fellow Meetup organizer, Matt ("Frustrated! Not enough members, not enough committment. Ugh."). Then check out this post of his a few months later "We made the news!". Just be patient, give it a few months, and keep at it since your group is still pretty new. Keep us posted, Lana
Wendy	Posted Nov 1, 2009 8:28 AM Link to this reply
wendy777 Hempstead, NY Post #: 269	Hello again Sherry I agreed with Nestor's suggestion regarding inviting other meetup members from other groups. I invite members by sending them greetings or meetup mail. The 72 hour notice that Nestor suggested, helps but there are some members may not notice the 72 hour meetup alert. When I send emails to members, I try to personalize it so it does not sound too generic. Most of the members I who I invited would attend the events and spread the word to others. Believe me word goes arround very fast when members talk about meetup groups. Hope this helps :)
Andrew	Posted Nov 1, 2009 1:43 PM Link to this reply
thirdreel White Lake, MI Post #: 28	I'd disagree with Nestor about scheduling 2-3 months in the future. Granted, my only experience has been with taking over a group that already had that momentum, but I think 2-3 months with no events would be "momentum-losing" rather than "momentum-gaining." I've never scheduled an event that far in the future (usually I don't think that far in advance) but I've found if I schedule something three weeks in advance, I get lots of "Yes" RSVPs right away, but then those people cancel or flake. If I schedule it on short notice, I get fewer RSVPs, but a lower flake-rate; people who RSVP show up. Mostly, it's a question of what you want to do with your group. I get the feeling from the message board that some people organize meetups as a career move or resume-builder, but I'm in this to have fun. I can have fun hanging out or dining with 2-3 people as much as 20-30. Instead of stressing out over attracting a crowd of people, I just plan something that I'd like to do, then invite meetup members to come along with me. If people like the things I plan, they'll come, and if not, I'll enjoy myself with the small group who likes it.
Duchess & Teddy	Posted Nov 1, 2009 2:13 PM Link to this reply
user 3146952 Washington, DC Post #: 487	I think your Home page colors look super now!! Good work!! And I agree with Lana, posting photos is great! It does look like your meetup was fun. My attitude is to stay positive--if only one member comes to my meetup event, the meetup is a success because I get to know that one member a little better. Dottie
Sherry	Posted Nov 1, 2009 6:54 PM Link to this reply
keptbygod Towson, MD Post #: 13	Hello again Sherry I agreed with Nestor's suggestion regarding inviting other meetup members from other groups. I invite members by sending them greetings or meetup mail. Hi Wendy Thank you for your suggestions. How do you invite other meetup members that are not in your group if you do not know their names or email addresses? I would like to do that. Can you tell me how to do? Thanks, Sherry
Sherry	Posted Nov 1, 2009 6:57 PM Link to this reply
keptbygod Towson, MD Post #: 14	I think your Home page colors look super now!! Good work!! And I agree with Lana, posting photos is great! It does look like your meetup was fun. My attitude is to stay positive--if only one member comes to my meetup event, the meetup is a success because I get to know that one member a little better. Dottie Hello Dottie, Thank you for the encouragement and compliment on the Home page. I like your attitude. It is a good way of thinking which keeps you positive. I will think on that mode. One is better than none. Sherry
Wendy	Posted Nov 1, 2009 10:35 PM Link to this reply
wendy777 Hempstead, NY Post #: 271	Hello again Sherry I agreed with Nestor's suggestion regarding inviting other meetup members from other groups. I invite members by sending them greetings or meetup mail. Hi Wendy Thank you for your suggestions. How do you invite other meetup members that are not in your group if you do not know their names or email addresses? I would like to do that. Can you tell me how to do? Thanks, Sherry Hey Sherry, A few things that you can do regarding emails/and greetings. To send greetings, I go to a meetup group that is public, then I click on the members link and for each individual, I click on "send a greeting" or "send email". In the greeting, I make a friendly invite along with the link of my meetup group. Another way to send emails is go to the waitlist of the meetup groups. These are people who select the groups of their interest so they can receive alert emails from meetup.com that a new group has been formed. So basically, you don't need to know everyone's email address. You will see "send email" link/button when you enter a member's profile. Keep us posted.
~ Toni ~	Posted Nov 2, 2009 8:45 AM Link to this reply
Girlfriends-MKE Milwaukee, WI Post #: 1,490	Totally agree with you Andrew --- about the way to build >>> MOMENTUM <<< Scheduling the first event 2 to 3 months out??? I cannot imagine starting a new MU group & scheduling the first event 3 months later Following that logic -- I guess starting a meetup group for 1 month or 3 months to try it out -- just wouldn't be an option -- because you would have no subscription by the time your first event rolls around We had our first event a week after I started the group up -- and I didn't even have to plan it LOL -- my new members planned it because they were so excited about the group. Things haven't slowed down since ---- >>> It's not all about the # of people that show up for the first event. It's about creating community. If you start with 5 members -- that's great!