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I think that this is an appropriate first question for this group because I'm sure we'd all like to see Groups.io and hence GroupManagersForum develop into a healthy ecosystem. I'm sure we've all heard that a rising tide lifts all boats. So, has anyone ever started a group from scratch? How did you get members to join your groups?

Chris,

So, has anyone ever started a group from scratch? How did you get
members to join your groups?

I'm curious as well.

All of the groups I've started (except this one) are mailing lists for people who I know in real life. A family group, some PTA groups, some classmate groups. As such, those all had "natural" and bounded membership. The exception would be my test groups, but those I don't promote either.

As to this group, I sort of assumed it would eventually have a certain amount of cross-over from its sister Yahoo! Group (which I moderate but did not start). That group gained most of its membership, I suspect, by virtue of being one of the four groups listed as "Additional Resources" on Yahoo's help page for moderators.


In the longer term, the size and activity of this group I hope will track the growth of the Groups.io platform, as more people start building more groups.

Pretty much likewise for the other group I moderate, Group_Help. That one is more broadly focused - for members and moderators alike.
/org/groupsio/Group_Help

-- Shal

Hi, I'm new here.? But have had a yahoo group for 4 years come next month. Time for a move.? Here.

I get new members via other members in the group.

I started a Yahoo group in 2004, did a short 'about' write up outlining what was offered, would be subscribers had to send a brief message saying why they wanted to join. Within a week I had a dozen members, growth was slow, but gradually as word spread within the area my group covered, the dozen became 2500. In 2004 my area of interest existed in a small niche software market, machine embroidery software, I made videos showing how a small selection of the programs worked and how to use them. As a listed group I attracted 'freeby hunters', and group collectors, one boasted she belonged to over 100 groups, so in 2007 I altered the group to be an unlisted one, sent mails at weekly intervals stating I would remove all 'special' notices members, ( treat all members as vips so 'special Notices' members never got information) permanent bouncers, anyone that didn't respond with I want to continue my membership by a given date. They had 2 months to decide. I culled the membership to 700, was unlisted, put all members on permanent moderation, appointed 2 moderators, and made membership by invitation only.?
I made the move to Groups.io Dec 31st, informed my members, asked them to let me know if they wanted to be part of the move, they have until Feb 28th to make up their minds, on March 1st I will simply delete the old group. After I unlisted my Yahoo group all new member requests came via existing member requests. I intend to stick with the same procedure here in Groups.io, I neither desire or want members that are not interested in learning how to improve their skill set, offer support and encouragement to fellow old and new members. If what you offer via your group proves to be of value, word of mouth becomes a great marketing tool, but be warned as word of mouth can also destroy a group if members feel a group doesn't fulfil its members needs. So far my new group here has 124 members, it will grow slowly but that's what I want, I have no desire to own the biggest group there is, I want my members to enjoy their membership experience.?

My group began as -- and continues to be -- a collaboration site for a non-profit organization. As such, our migration to GIO has done little to increase or decrease the number of subsribers, as membership in the parent organization is a requirement for using the collaboration site.

If the goal is to increase group size there are tools here to do that under Admin->Promote. However, it's my experience that a large fraction of any such group will not actively participate, and I'd prefer to have 20 people who post regularly than 20,000 lurkers.

Just some thoughts,
Bruce

I'm so excited! I can help someone with this one! There are ads newsletters going around the groups. About 5 of them that I know right now so far.? They advertise all kinds of groups.

Here's the ones I use you can write to or join;

The_Classified_Newsletter-owner@...;?
/g/newsletter-adz
adsataglance@...;?
?
Good luck!
Marie Alline

A couple of comments and a question:

Just looked at Admin - Promote. That looks beefed up since the last time I looked! Several ways to promote your group, including links on your website, and through social media. Thanks for reminding me, Bruce.

Find a Group page - you can tweak your profile that appears on this page through your group Settings, Description. The search here has improved, but I would dearly love a category setting. Or a hashtag for the group and then searchable?

BTW, it took a bit of time to find the Shal's new help group in the Find a Group page. I searched by the name search, selected G, then selected results page, clicking to get to page 9 in the G's. (I did skip ahead obviously since "gr" is further along in the alphabet!)

Shal, your two groups about groups - this is the first time I remember hearing about your other group, Group_Help. Is this a more appropriate spot to refer newbies or would-be's? My daughter belongs to a home schooling group in YahooGroups. They are looking for a new home.

Frances

Hi

I discovered that punctuation counts in Find or Start a Group! A name search (default) using the underscore in group_help does quickly retrieve the group.

Frances


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Frances,

Shal, your two groups about groups - this is the first time I remember
hearing about your other group, Group_Help.

Group_Help isn't actually /my/ group, though its owner graciously invited me to moderate there and I accepted.

GMF and Group_Help were created independently, Group_Help about a week earlier, with roughly the same mission.

Is this a more appropriate spot to refer newbies or would-be's? My
daughter belongs to a home schooling group in YahooGroups. They are
looking for a new home.

GMF is directed at the needs of group managers: novice, experienced but new to Groups.io, and expert alike. So this is a good place for Y!Group refugees.

Shal


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