The power of group newsletters

Expert Organizer Michael Phipps sends regular newsletters to members of his Meetup Groups, and he's found them to be very successful. Here's his advice:

"As an Organizer, use the ability to contact your group to send a regular newsletter out to everyone.

• Show Someone Cares.Your members are aware that the newsletter is human written, and know at least someone is getting of their backside and putting some effort in the group. It makes the group seem active, and an active group is what attracts more members who turn up to meetings.
• New Members. Take the opportunity to welcome any new members that have signed up since your last communication. It makes them feel they have been noticed, and they are quite likely to attend the first meeting because you acknowledge their presence.
• Highlight Your Meetup Group's Home Page. Advertise a poll, get opinions, include links to articles on websites your group may find interesting. Encourage discussion in the forum.
• Remind Them About the Next Meetup. Always mention the next meetup is ON - particularly if members are used to the old system of meetups being cancelled due to lack of interest.
• Thank Sponsors. If businesses are supporting your group, it is a great opportunity to promote them.

Don't go into too much detail in your newsletter. You want to plant seeds for topics to discuss either in the forums or at a meetup. Newsletters work. I've used the above techniques to bring my old dead group back to life."

Here's a sample newsletter from another experienced Organizer, Pat Finegan, of the New York City German Language Meetup Group.

There is a German Meetup this Thursday evening, August 19th, at Loreley Restaurant, 7 Rivington Street between Bowery and Chrystie, beginning at 7 p.m. As always, there will be 35 to 45 participants, including many native and fluent German speakers. The sessions are a wonderful opportunity to enjoy German conversation, bask in the moonlit glow of Loreley's beer garden, and expand your network of German-speaking friends. All ages and abilities are welcome.

Also, Katharina W----- wrote me to inquire whether any of our members might have a spare room for her to crash in or rent during her next 3 weeks in New York. She is a graduate student at Bauhaus University in Weimar, Germany, but is conducting field research on urban amenities (i.e., "nightlife") in downtown Manhattan (no, I didn't make this up). She is a close friend of Johannes A----, whom you may recall from his internship last summer with the Pratt Institute. If you or someone you know can help Katharina out, please let me know and I will have her contact you. She arrives this coming Saturday and departs on Saturday, September 11th.

Last, Amy S-----'s plan to host a potluck German picnic last weekend on Roosevelt Island fell through because of a bad head cold, but she is considering a substitute picnic around Labor Day. An exact date hasn't been established, but please let us know if you are interested and have a preference (Saturday, Sunday, Monday). Our previous picnic was a blast. Hope to see you all on Thursday.

mit herzlichen Gruessen,
Pat Finegan

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