AUGD: MacValley Publicity
AUGD: MacValley Publicity
- Subject: AUGD: MacValley Publicity
- From: email@hidden
- Date: Wed, 9 May 2007 14:25:55 -0700
To Chuck, Terry, Trish, Rick, et. al. --
First, thank you Trish for the info sent on how to subscribe. I've
just completed that, and I think maybeso I'm now registered.
And thanks to those who sent replies to my request. Lots of good info
there.
Chuck, we talked briefly at MacWorld. What an insightful talk you
gave at the Users Group Lounge. I wrote about you and Terry in my
February column for the MacValley Voice, called 'Cristael's Corner'.
Rick, it is a pleasure to meet up with another MacUser Group person
online.
And that brings me to Terry. I am such a fan of yours. I've seen your
presentation of 'Red Light - Green Light' at MacWorld, and I've also
heard you speak. Every talk has really hit home, and believe me I'm
listening, I'm reading, and I'm taking notes. (And that goes for
Chuck's talks too!)
So -- what is going on with MacValley?
For many years we, like other Mac User Groups have struggled with
dwindling membership. We were originally between 600 and 700 members,
back around 1985. Now we have 150 members, and we're looking to turn
the corner and start growing.
What we're doing now is:
1. We are upgrading our website. According to our website person,
John Fitzpatrick, the redesigned upgrade is almost ready to go up on
his website so the Board can take a look at it and discuss. John is a
pro at working with creative groups. He works out of his home office,
and does work for various companies. He is a 4(?) year member of
MacValley. We are looking forward to seeing what he's coming up with.
2. We are also looking for a new place, equipped with wireless, to
hold our meetings. One prospect is a local library, which was opened
2 years ago. Also a major shopping mall might have facilities we can
use. (I picked this idea up from the AUGD)
3. We have put MacValley's newsletter online.
4. And finally, we are looking forward to planning really great
presentations, including using iChat. (Terry, your ideas are very,
very helpful. We're already using your title formats for naming the
presentations at our Beginners Group, as well as General meetings)
So the spine of our group has always been good. Now we're giving the
old girl a face and bodylift. And we're working hard to bring her
into the 21st century.
Our goal for membership is to go from 150 to, oh, maybe twice that.
We don't want to get too big, because we want to stay personal. We
want everybody to easily get to know people in the group, to feel at
ease. And we are looking for all levels of expertise, from beginners
(we have a good beginners' class) to advanced experts (SIGs anyone?)
Specifically, in terms of publicity, I contacted Matt Torbin of
Center City Philadelphia MUG last year. (www.ccpmug.org) They grew
almost overnight from three guys in a coffee shop to a group with
regular meetings (with wireless). And it all happened because of
Internet publicity. Because they put their website up and publicized
it on forums and meet sites. CCPMUG is now celebrating their first
birthday, and as part of the birthday celebration they're raffling
off an iPod Shuffle.
With this and with inspiration from people like Terry White, along
with seeing increasing numbers of folks out there who are growing
groups from scratch, it seems to me the User Groups are now turning a
big corner. Rather than saying that the Web and the Apple Stores have
dealt death blows to the Users Group movement, we can now use the Web
as a major avenue for publicity to bring in new membership. It's
quick, it's easier than almost any other form of publicity, and it
brings better returns for the time invested.
So specifically, I'm asking growing groups and gurus out there --
What are the nuts and bolts -- Finding the right forums and meet
sites (including Meetup.com). And are there other online ways of
spreading the word? (Yes I'm going to be reading all emails
diligently. This first reply is off the top of my head)
Any info on this would be most helpful.
Thanks,
CristaelBee
MacValley Users Group
Publicity
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