Meetup Tips from RMS and the Triangle Squids
Hi Lensmasters! Hopefully you’ve set a time and location for your local Meetup on Worldwide Squidoo Meetup Day…because it’s tomorrow!
If you weren’t able to join us for the Meetup chats yesterday, we were lucky to have RMS, aka Robin, present to tell us how she’s been holding successful meet-and-greets with a group of local lensmasters, The Triangle Squids, for several months.
Here are her tips for making your Meetup magical:
Squidoo: Robin, how did you get started with The Triangle Squids?
Robin: I found Ann by chance because of a post on Get Cracking and we decided to meet in real life. When Beth heard about it she contacted me and wanted to meet us also, so we did, and Jane joined us for the next meeting after that.
Squidoo: Where do you meet, and what do you chat about?
Robin: We meet at Panera Bread for coffee and bagels. They are awesome there, they never kick us out or make us feel uncomfortable, even though our meetings usually last for hours. We love our meetings because we can speak “Squidoo” and we all understand each other. We discuss lensmaking and affiliate marketing and our personal lives. We started as friends online, and we’ve become friends in real life now too.
Squidoo: Do you “Squidoo” while you’re meeting?
Robin: We haven’t made any lenses yet but I’ve learned a lot at these meetings. Everyone approaches their lensmaking in a different way and discussing it is a true eyeopener to new inspiration. Usually someone will say something, and one of the others will say, “Did you make a lens about that?” We always leave excited about making more lenses.
Squidoo: Do you have an agenda for your meetings? Any official setup?
Robin: We’ve never planned what we will discuss ahead of time, but if you are meeting someone for the first time it might be useful to have a few topics in mind. It’s a weird feeling when you first start talking because you’re looking at a stranger but speaking to an old friend. The worst part is finding each other when you first get there; no one looks like their photos!
Squidoo: I know that after hearing about your fun meetings other lensmasters are totally jealous and excited about their own events on Meetup Day. Did you know it would catch on?
Robin: Beth made our Triangle Squids lens after she met with us the first time. She wanted to encourage everyone to do this. Now we meet once a month. It’s such an inspiration. We all leave revved up and raring to go. I can’t wait to hear about everyone else’s meetups!
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Me too! When you hold your meetup, be sure to take notes and lots of pictures. Send them to kimberly at squidoo.com and build a lens. Not able to make it to a Meetup? Join us for a virtual meet and greet Thursday night in the Squidoo chat room.
Just because Meetup Day is Thursday doesn’t mean you can’t schedule another date! Continue to search for local lensmasters and use Meetup.com/Squidoo to set your own dates.
Have fun!
~Kimberly Dawn Wells
YOUR Community & Charity Organizer
