Seven Tips for a Successful Meetup
The idea of meeting virtual friends in real life can be scary.
“What if they don’t like me?”
“What if it’s awkward?”
“What will we talk about?”
Planning an event with so many unknowns can be a challenge, but it isn’t impossible. Here are seven simple tips for making your Squidoo Worldwide Meetup Day event exciting and memorable.
Make it free.
Free removes 80% of the barriers people have to attending events, and it aligns with Squidoo’s mission of making lenses and Meetups accessible to all.
Provide food.
Whether it’s donating homemade cupcakes, asking for potluck offerings, or simply meeting at a restaurant or coffee shop, making food options available is always a draw for visitors.
Find a flexible venue.
A coffee shop with room for 2 or 10 will ensure everyone has a comfortable place to sit, just in case your RSVP list changes.
Have a Plan B.
Did your guest list suddenly expand to 30? Hooray! Is the Weather Channel expecting severe weather? Oh no! The Meetup must go on, so consider options for larger crowds, indoor shelters, and extra seating. Just in case.
Give them something to talk about.
Make a list of questions to discuss and write one each on the back of index cards. If the conversation gets sticky, play a round-robin game of Lensmaster Q&A.
Bring non-lensmasters.
There’s no better way to get a friend involved than to expose them to passionate success stories from your peers.
Put names and faces with…faces.
Our real faces are often different from our online faces. Nametags with lensmaster names and avatars will help visitors match famous lensmasters with their human counterparts.
Worldwide Squidoo Meetup Day is less than two weeks away, and there are still plenty of opportunities to secure a spot as organizer for your city. Learn more at the Official Squidoo lens and build your list today!
See you there!
~Kimberly Dawn Wells
YOUR Community & Charity Organizer
PS - if you’re within 4 hours of North Central WI, you might just see ME on June 10th!
