Marketing is no longer about selling to your customers, but engaging them. An excellent way to engage your potential customers, as well as build your network of peers and colleagues, is to start and run your own Meeting Group.
This is a great way to share your knowledge and expertise, as well as give back to others. The decision to go ahead and start a local meetup group needs to be made carefully, with a long-term view and committment to the groups success. There will need to be time investment, as well as money. However the rewards can be amazing – you or your business seen as an expert, and gaining more friends and customers through expanding your network.
If you are interested in doing this, here are some suggestions for your planning:
1. Decide the Purpose
You need a clear purpose for your regular meetings. It is not very helpful to meet for meet sake. Decide what outcomes you would like to achieve from the group.
2. Choose your Topic
What topic will the group focus on? You really should not make the topic YOUR business, but rather an area where you are experienced. For Example: If you run an accountancy firm, you could hold a group meetup or workshop once a month on the topic of Managing Business Finances. This kind of group would target business owners, and get them meeting up and talking about the tools and resources they use to manage their business finance.
3. Decide on a Location
Maybe you would like your local group to meet up in your office. Or maybe you don’t have the space and facilities in your office to manage a group meeting, so you may need to look at other suitable locations – meeting rooms, or even function rooms or coffee shops.
Do your customers all have cars? Then you need a location with parking. Do your customers all work or live in a different locale than your office? Then perhaps you need to meet somewhere nearby.
4. Create a Budget
Running a local group requires a balance of time and financial investment. You need to allocate time for setting up, managing and running the group, as well as the budget.
- Will you need to rent a space?
- Will you charge for people to attend?
- Will you provide refreshments?
- Will you provide materials, such as workbooks and such?
- How and Where will you advertise your event?
- Will you use a free online group management tool, or a paid one?
All these questions need to be answered when putting together your budget.
5. Choose a Management Platform
Considering the BOOM of online social networking, it might be a good idea to manage your meetup on the net. Here are 3 suggestions:
Currently free, Big Tent’s tag line is “where trusted groups connect online”. Big Tent hosts a great range of features including shared admin access, payment processing, calendar and event RSVP, photo and file sharing, as well as reviews and classifieds.
Currently free for up to 250 members, GroupSpaces also allows student groups to set up and run for free for unlimited members. They currently encourage groups to join for Sports Clubs, Student Societies, Charities, and other Local Groups. The main features include storing your member database online, organising events, managing a professional mailing list, and using GroupSpaces as your main group website for free.
From $19 per month, MeetUp is possibly the most famous of the group meeting websites, with currently 7.2 million members. However Meetup recently made some major changes to the group websites, and has experienced some backlash from some group managers, so it will be interesting to see any changes Meetup will make over the coming weeks/ months.
Meetup is different to other sites for a few reasons. One reason, is that as a business owner you can choose to Sponsor a group, alleviating some of the cost from the group organisers, and helping businesses promote themselves to a potentially targeted audience.
Wild Apricot boasts membership software solutions for a range of organisations including associations, non-profits and clubs. There is a free option for up to 50 members, then the pricing plans start from $25 per month. Features include managing a contact database, event registration, a customisable website and online payments.
6. Share, Share, Share
Once your meeting group is ready to go, and all the plans are made, you need to let people know about your group – on your Website, in your newsletters, and on your Social Networks. You may even write a blog about it, or issue a Press Release. Having a plan to market your meetup, should really help when it comes to getting people involved – and turning up!
Do you run a meetup? Or manage a Local Group? I’d love to hear your feedback and suggestions.
Twitter: melaniekissell
February 4, 2011 at 8:56 pm | Permalink
Thanks for sharing these awesome meet-up resources for organizing online groups meetings, Fiona. The only one on your list I was already familiar with is, of course, “MeetUp”. I love how you consistently give your readers lots of wonder options to explore.
I especially like your list of “getting ready” ideas — so many things to consider that I hadn’t thought about. Thank you.
Obviously, meeting with a group in person would be the very best scenario. But if that’s not feasible, you’ve just handed everyone a wonderful way to conduct some networking online!
You’re tops!
Melanie Kissell´s last [type] ..My Twitter Motto- “There’s More to Life than Life Insurance”
Twitter: fionamceachran
February 27, 2011 at 10:03 am | Permalink
@Melanie Kissell, Hi Melanie,
It’s my pleasure. I’m glad you found this post resourceful. I was surprised myself at the options available for group leaders to merge there groups on the ground with an online space.
Do you currently attend any local meetups?
Twitter: melaniekissell
February 27, 2011 at 10:14 am | Permalink
I really wish I could answer, “Yes”, Fiona, but I’ve got a rigorous offline work schedule currently that eats up my entire week with some carryovers into the weekend. Trust me when I say I would like nothing better than to attend local networking meetings and events and I get invited to them on a continuum. No excuses here, just the boring facts. I’m looking forward to a time when I can get to them and also a time when I can get out and do some public speaking … one of my biggest passions!
Melanie Kissell´s last [type] ..Even The Sharpest Knife Can’t Carve Its Own Handle
Twitter: fionamceachran
February 27, 2011 at 12:12 pm | Permalink
@Melanie Kissell, Ah, of course, I think I remember you saying once how busy you are. I think you must sleep on 3 hours a night
Twitter: melaniekissell
February 27, 2011 at 12:59 pm | Permalink
You have a really good memory, Fiona. You recalled the number, “3″. I work three part time jobs offline.
But I’m doing my very best this year to change that little scenario!
Melanie Kissell´s last [type] ..Emotions And Business Make For Lousy Tango Partners
Twitter: SheilaAtwood
February 4, 2011 at 11:38 pm | Permalink
Fiona,
This really is a good idea, getting out there and really promoting your business.
I know a woman that has a canning and preserving site which is big business in Utah. She holds meet ups all of the time. She uses local business that offer canning and preserving supplies and food storage. She promotes there products but ultimately you have to go to her blog for recipes and other resources.
I like how you finished you post with ways to keep this organized. I don’t think I would have thought of how I would keep track of all the data I would be collecting.
Thanks
Sheila Atwood´s last [type] ..Finally! The Year Of The Rabbit
Twitter: fionamceachran
February 27, 2011 at 10:06 am | Permalink
@Sheila Atwood, Hi Sheila
Thanks for sharing that story. That woman in Utah sounds like she knows how to really integrate local meetups with her business and blog for optimum benefits. No wonder it’s “BIG” business
Yes, managing a group is a big task if you want to do it properly. And it’s great to see such awesome platforms available, either free or very low cost.
Twitter: extremejohn
February 5, 2011 at 12:31 pm | Permalink
Awesome information as always Fiona! We have been working on opening a new salon concept here and one of the spaces we have is massive, perfect for a meetup or tweetup or whateverup to be honest. It was nice to see this article pop in my reader because I intended to look for tips on setting up a group meetup for the local business owners and social media people in the area.
Extreme John´s last [type] ..3 Dirty D’s to Get to the Next Level
Twitter: fionamceachran
February 27, 2011 at 10:19 am | Permalink
@Extreme John, Thanks so much John,
That’s great that you have available space that could be used for meetups. Local business owners tend to need all the help they can get. But so many groups I see get started, and then quickly lose momentum because they don’t have focus or a real purpose.
It’s so important when you start a group, that all members know why they should go. That’s just a little tip for you
Twitter: tnsblog
February 6, 2011 at 1:27 pm | Permalink
What an awesome resourceful post Fiona. All the sites are new to me except Meetup.
Will going to check them out.
Thanks for sharing this great post fiona
. Have a great day.
~Dev
Devesh´s last [type] ..Get High Page Rank Back Links To Your YouTube Channel
Twitter: fionamceachran
February 27, 2011 at 10:20 am | Permalink
@Devesh, Hi Devesh
Thank you for your comment. I’m happy to hear you found it resourceful
Twitter: weblogbetter
February 7, 2011 at 7:10 pm | Permalink
Hi Fiona,
This is definitely a great way to get out and network. I love Meetup.com – I’ve met some really great contacts that I would’ve totally missed out. It’s definitely an overlooked tip.
Thanks for sharing!
Kiesha @ We Blog Better´s last [type] ..Please Help Me Win the Credit Cards Canada Contest
Twitter: fionamceachran
February 27, 2011 at 10:36 am | Permalink
@Kiesha @ We Blog Better, Hi Kiesha
Yes, I really like Meetup too – well, I used to. I know they made a lot of changes lately, so it will be interesting to see how they pan out.
Thanks for your feedback.
Twitter: JanetMP
February 18, 2011 at 12:10 am | Permalink
I founded and manage BostonEco to bring together people in the greater Boston area who are passionate about healthy, sustainable living. It started as a Tweetup, but has grown into an event series and online community on Facebook and Twitter. It’s been helpful to have a theme at each event to bring in new people who are interested in different topics. Here’s a look at past BostonEco events using Eventbrite as the platform for registration: http://bit.ly/9K9Tgd.
I also use LinkedIn to invite people to my events and grow the BostonEco community. BostonEco has helped my business, Jute Marketing, by getting visibility through event postings and press coverage.
Twitter: fionamceachran
February 27, 2011 at 12:10 pm | Permalink
@Janet Morgenstern Passani, Hi Janet
Thank you for sharing your story. The boom in online social networking is creating a greater need for people to meetup and share ideas on the ground. Yes, I am familiar with Eventbrite, I just wasn’t too sure of it’s ability to manage groups like the other platforms.
Yes, sharing on sites like LinkedIn are a great idea, or Facebook Events too. Well done with your meeting group. I hope it continues to be a success.
RT @abnormalmarket: Boost your Business Running a Local Meetup http://www.abnormalmarketing.com/2011/02…
Twitter: gcpets
February 21, 2011 at 6:15 pm | Permalink
Hi Fiona
Thank you for coming along to my local meet up !
1. The purpose is to provide a starting space or platform for further networking for time poor or busy soloists and/or micro business people on the Gold Coast. Get out of our offices for one hour to sit down, chill out, have a coffee n chat.
2. The topic is about YOU. Like what happened. That’s what I wanted from the group. We go around, introduce ourselves, talk about whatever (even if we go off a tangent) so as we all can learn about each other. It’s up to people to connect with each other further as a result of the group.
3. Location – Get Your Beanz coffee shop !
4. Budget – FREE or well the price of a coffee as a way to say thank you to the coffee shop to allow us to host it there. I was well aware that a lot of networking events have costs and as it is meant to be informal, casual and a little fun I wanted to keep the cost low or free.
5. Working on that ! It’s still a very new group as the February meet up was the third ever one. Open to ideas thanks to this blog post however meetup.com costs $$ so I may not use it… tho’ it has been useful.
Vanessa´s last [type] ..Discover twentyone Palmbeach
Twitter: fionamceachran
February 27, 2011 at 12:21 pm | Permalink
@Vanessa, Hi Vanessa,
It was great to meet you at the meetup
And thank you for visiting my blog and sharing your experience and advice. What an excellent breakdown directly from a Meetup organizer 
I guess the main thing about meetups is for each individual to commit to attend, make it a priority and force themselves to go. Especially with business and our busy lives, other things can always get in the way.
I hear business people say all the time that their best customers come from word-of-mouth, yet cultivating word-of-mouth and getting out news about your business in your local area really takes effort. That’s why I really appreciate the people I meet at local events, since they understand effort.
I look forward to the next meetup
Twitter: gcpets
February 27, 2011 at 1:46 pm | Permalink
@Fiona Bosticky, Hey Fiona ! It’s every 3rd Monday
Rhonda the coffee shop owner will usually be there to keep everyone updated as to where am I or if Amanda will be hosting it 
I’m hoping people will use it to connect with others. I’ll promote other resources that I feel are invaluable (or I have found are invaluable) however I’m only one person – I hope others will do the same.
Vanessa´s last [type] ..ALLCONNEX Water Rate Rebellion
As you usually do, you provided detailed information on all sides of the matter, Fiona. You not only say what can be done, but how, and the finer points that we need to consider before undertaking such a venture. As you correctly said that it take commitment and involves time and money.
Meet-ups can be a really great source of connections as well as interchange of ideas from other thought-leaders. Prior to getting back into healthcare I attended my weekly BNI meeting and other weekly networking events, but found the relaxed atmosphere of Meet-ups to be really a good place to connect.
Like Melanie I no longer have time to attend those, but my goal is that by July 1st I’ll be able to making changes in my lifestyle that will allow me to share in those events again. Thank you, Fiona for an excellent article.
Yvonne A Jones´s last [type] ..Goal-Setting for Entrepreneurs – Purpose and Benefits