Friday
May 18th
| Networking Group Manager 101 |
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Really, the best thing that you can do as a Networking Group Manager is to stay in contact with your Members as often as possible. The second best thing to do is schedule face to face meetings on a regular basis If you are not sure how to organize your group, where to hold your meetings, or how often is appropriate, the best thing to do is to post the question to your Group's Bulletin Board and see what people say. Your members will be happy to offer advice. Don't forget: your Members are a great resource. Since your Meetup group is brand new, we suggest setting that first Meeting 2 or 3 weeks away. That way, members can make time to attend. It's also a good idea to hold first Meetings in an easy to find, well-lit, public location. Our members have found that Diners, Panera and Starbucks are comfortable locations. Some organizers make arrangements with libraries and VFW halls and some hold their meetups at Barnes & Noble and other bookstores. When selecting a venue, remember that: - It's always best to call the venue in advance and ask if the day and time you want to meet will suit your particular Meetup group, or visit the place on the time and day you want to meet- certain times can be busier and louder than others. Tell the venue how many people you are bringing and ask if they can reserve a section for your Group to make sure you have enough room. When you stay in contact with your members, they'll not only feel more comfortable letting you know how they feel, but they'll also feel way more confident about attending your Meetings. If you need to cancel a Meetup, or aren't going to be having one for a month or two, it's good to let your group know, maybe someone will take up the responsibility for you temporarily. As the Organizer, it's important that your Members feel that they can come to you if they have a problem or an idea. Friendly warning - it's never a good idea to bug your members about a product or service that you or a colleague offer. If you organize a widget Group and you've scored a good deal with a local widget supplier, let them know, but don't use your group as a new sales channel.
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