What messages does Meetup send to group members?

Meetup.com sends several automatic emails and reminders to members. It's important for Organizers to understand what's sent from Meetup and what you should send yourselves. Here's a list of automatic messages that members get from Meetup.com:

1. Welcome: Meetup sends a basic welcome email when members join your group. However, we strongly encourage you to follow this up with a personal welcome, either directly to the member, or as a mention in a more general message to the whole group. Or both!You also have the ability to include a welcome message in the body of the basic email Meetup sends. You can create and edit this meassage as part of your 'Communicate' tab.


2. Event announcement for recurring Meetups: If you've arranged it so that Meetups are automatically created, our system posts your event on your Meetup Calendar. We let you know when an upcoming Meetup has been created, but that message is sent only to you. When you update the monthly Meetup (to pick a meeting place or change the time, say), you choose whether or not to send an announcement to your members. Unless you choose not to send automated event emails, members who have not yet RSVPed will also get an automatic email announcement two weeks before the Meetup.


3. Announcement for additional events:Meetup doesn't send out automatic announcements when you create an event other than the monthly Meetup--you'll need to announce it as part of setting up the event. If your members don't RSVP, or they RSVP 'yes' or 'maybe', they'll get a reminder the day before the event.


4. One week event reminder: When members RSVPs for an event, they get a reminder a week beforehand. If they RSVPed 'yes' it simply reminds them of the event, if they RSVPed 'maybe' it reminds them and asks them to update their response to as 'yes' or 'no' if they can.


5. Day before event reminder: A day before the Meetup, we send a final automated reminder. This message varies slightly depending on whether the member has RSVPed 'yes', or 'maybe', or hasn't RSVPed at all. Members who RSVPed 'no' don't receive this reminder.


6. Message board updates: Members can choose to track your group message board, or individual discussions within the board, and they'll get automatic daily notifications if new messages are posted. These notifications are sent at 3am the night after new messages are posted.


7. New groups nearby: Members can choose to get notified when new groups on your topic are started within a set distance.


8. Post-event survey: Immediately after your Meetup, members who RSVPed 'yes' or 'maybe' are invited to rate the event and submit comments to the group. They'll also see a reminder on the group website.

Those are the basics--but it makes a huge difference to members to know that the group has a human face, someone who cares enough to write a personal message. For some people, it can make the difference between deciding to show up to a first Meetup instead of staying home. That's why we encourage you to supplement these automatic emails with letters in your own voice. With the event announcement, for example, try adding a personal note of welcome and encouragement to the basic details in Meetup's message.