Letting People Know About Your Group
You can use local channels of communication to get the word out and minimise printing leaflets or advertising costs. Some practical examples of simple wording for flyers, notices, leaflets, posters and emails are linked from this page.
You can invite direct expressions of interest by including your name, email contact and/or a telephone number each time you tell someone about the group. Give yourself at least six weeks for this stage, so pencil in a first meeting a month and a half after you start.
- Let as many existing local groups know about your new group and ask them to spread the word – local schools, PTA, WI, Parish Council, churches
- Post a notice on your parish website (example from Eynsham Online)
- Write a short article or notice for the village newsletter (example from Chilton Chronicle)
- Use email “bush telegraph” – email friends and colleagues in the area and ask them to “please pass this on”
- Make a laminated poster for your outdoor notice boards and ask the Parish Clerk to help you display them
- Make a flyer for your local shop, post office or pub
- Tell the shop keepers about the group and ask them to give the flyer to local homeworkers they know
- Tell the local pubs about the group and leave flyers
Make use of your community ties
- Use your village hall
South Stoke Business Network used the village hall for two public “awareness-raising” evenings. This resulted in a further 6 people joining the network.
- Link with your local library or school
- Involve your parish council
Geoff, organiser of South Stoke Business Network, is also the current Chairman of the Parish Council, and edits the village website/newsletter. Two other network members who work from home are also parish councillors.
- Involve your local church
The South Stoke Business Network decided to sponsor the notices for the Village Open Gardens Day which attracts 1000 visitors in June/July. The Network is likely to do this again in 2011.