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Marketing Your User Group. by Lisa Heselton kavka @ mac.com. Session Overview. Why you need marketing, even if you hate it How to use your resources What to do if it costs money Tracking and shifting marketing activities Audience suggestions - what’s worked for them.
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Marketing Your User Group • by Lisa Heselton • kavka@mac.com
Session Overview • Why you need marketing, even if you hate it • How to use your resources • What to do if it costs money • Tracking and shifting marketing activities • Audience suggestions - what’s worked for them
Why You Need Marketing • Attract new members • Keep current membership coming back • Make connections with other groups • Add value to your group
Attracting New Members • Remember why you wanted to be in a User Group • Appeal to the potential member’s desires • Go where techies go (obvious places and not-so obvious) • Form partnerships with local businesses
Keep ‘em Coming Back • Incentive-ize, but don’t bribe • Make giveaways tiered (some based on performance, some based on luck) so the same folks don’t get it all • Survey members frequently for ideas
Make Connections • Find out about other groups in your area–tech and non-tech–and cross-promote • Borrow skills your membership is short of in exchange for your in-demand skills
Add Value • Provide members with benefits • Simple ones like bulletin boards for services and job postings • Advanced ones like hosting or yard sales • Keep a repository for shared knowledge • Freebies shouldn’t be the only reason people are coming!
Using Resources • Find out what skill sets your members have. Everyone can volunteer somehow. • Find out who knows who - members are a great source of finding sponsors (many times, their own companies) • Always remember vendors and our own Amy and Ed can help!
Fundraising • Sometimes activities just require money. if you don’t charge dues, here are some ways to raise funds: • Raffles for items • Hold a sale and charge for the tables • Offer a directory members can be in for a fee (online or off) • The tried and true ‘tip jar’ -but put a purpose on it (such as, ‘collection for Web site’)
Tracking Activities • If you have members who are tech newbies, they’re the perfect candidates to volunteer for ‘marketing tracking’ activities. have them tally the surveys, direct member queries, and input data into spreadsheets and databases.
Your Success Stories • What activities have you done that have been successful?