LINDA'S HANDY-DANDY GROUP PROMOTING TIPS

[Linda M.]

I just started thinking, many may not know some of the ins and outs I've discovered.  And Please feel free to add your own tips.  This is just what I do, I've had some great teachers too.

 ~Do you know how many of us are all on the same sites?  Sometimes it's like playing leap-frog, or tag.  When I have the same group on 3 or more sites, I do separate discussions(mostly)for all of them.  That way when people go site to site there is always something fresh to read.  I do this on all my groups except my Lyfelyne, which is informational.    Yes, this takes time to do, but it is sooo worth it. I learned this from Zaria.

~I try not to post more then two discussions day, or for a few days on the same group.  I used to find a good link, or get in a writing mood, and do 6,7,12,etc.  Do you know what I found?  I'd be lucky if I got one reply on one discusson, there was just too much to go through.  Now I write a couple, the day after I ask my friends to 'leave a comment,' and a few days later I may feature it.  Asking folks to leave a comment is a great way to get more members in your group.  

~Mark your group discussions' for members only.;(thanks Poppy)  This way the title is the teaser and they need to join to find the rest.  

 ~Take a discusson a week from one of your groups and reprint it on the main page.  Add your link to the group on the end and tell the members which group they can go to for even more info and  'cool and exciting ' discussons.  Acting 'schmaltzy' works even though you feel ridiculous posting it.  I always said, I can sing schmaltzy songs, but writing or saying it, not so much.  I've more or less grown out of that phase since it seems to work.  I learned this one waitressing actually.  In order to suggestive sell, we had to as a matter of routine describe the dishes and desserts we wanted to sell. You didn't just suggest a dessert, you said how about a piping hot piece of apple pie with some ice cream, or have you tried our creamy cole slaw.  You have to remember, back then we lost our jobs if our guest check averages were low.  

~always, if someone takes the time to put discussion in your group, try to feature them, at least for a week.  Take the time to put a response, and please put more then, 'great article, good read, good info' and the like.  These people who post those discussions worked hard on them.  You know as well as I do that even copy/paste discussions take time.

And aways use lots of pictures.  It may sound silly, but people will join the groups and read the discussons more if there are lots of pictures to look at throughout the discusson.  This can be challenging, beleive me, I know.

~Is your group not getting enough action?  Try to feature differnt discussons, put answers on some .  Try posing great vids, pictures or pictures with links and info on your comment wall.  Post a discriptivephoto on your page or the main page with your group link underneath.

Okay, now tell me some of your ideas please?

 

RESEARCH

So, you've created your group.  Now, you are faced with writing discussions.  You're thinking, how do I go about this.  I don't know that much, but this is one of my interests.  They told me to start a group with one of my interests....H-E-L-P!!

     I can tell you, what I do.  Perhaps others can chime in and tell what they do to get information too.  Sometimes I have books, that have what I want.  Sometimes I write right from the book, and sometimes I make notes, like in school and write a discussion that way.  Always remember to list your sources.

     OR, you can do the same thing online.  Research the info, and write the discussion from that, or copy/paste.  I just line up the page to TI, and the page or sometimes pages of the info, and transfer the info.  Again, always leave the link.

     Sometimes, you don't know what you want to write, you need inspiration. Or, you have an idea, but you just can't seem to make it work.  I always have sticky notes on my laptop, and sometimes a pad and paper too, to write down all my ideas.   I just go online and play around with words on google, until I find what I need.  Or sometimes, what I want.  Actually, in looking for a certain subject, I've often found something completely different, and ended up posting that instead.  You just need patience, and keep playing around with words and phrases, until you find your inspiration again.

     Okay, does anyone else have ideas....?  let us here them.