Recruiting ideas?

[Lacie]

There were some really great ideas coming out of that thread about journals, so here's a new spot for you guys to share your ideas on how we can get more unmarried planners here. :heee:

Please don't be discouraged if we don't use your idea - everything you guys come up with will be taken into consideration (and we have quite a few ideas already!) but in the end, we have to do what we think is best for the board as a whole and it's possible that not everything will fall into that category. So don't feel like we don't value your opinion if we don't choose your idea. :)

That being said, throw some ideas at us! :jump4joy:

[Aramelle]

I don't have any suggestions right now...is my "nothingness" still valued, Lacie? :pfft:

I did want to say, though, that I'm excited to see what you all "roll out" and to see our membership climb. :) If I happen to have a moment of brilliance, I'll know where to come. ;)

[JerAndKathy]

I'm sure my ideas have already been discussed amongst the management team, but...

Advertising on the web?
Banner ads on relevant pages, such as...And mind you, I'm simply using it as an example, not suggesting her in particular...A banner ad on Beckiii's 'Wedding Jewelry' page? Ummm, anyone shopping for wedding jewelry may be interested in MLW...Large sites like UW, etc may cost a lot to advertise on...But smaller, personal shop sites like Nanook's might be affordable.

You may also look into Google AdWords. Not only to produce a very small revenue, but also to drive targeted traffic to the site.

AdWords does not produce revenue; was thinking of something else. My mistake.

Pens, Business Cards, etc
The fihsbowls some restaurants have...Drop your card to win a free lunch? Why not drop in an MLW card. Our local Meijer's store has a bulletin board to post homebased businesses & such on, community happenings, etc...Signing a bill at a restaurant? Leave a pen behind.

There's more, but those are the best ideas. ;)

[Kimberly]

Possibly affiliate with other message boards or web sites. They do not have to be wedding related, but that of course wouldn't hurt. Obviously it would be best to affiliate with web sites or message boards that have a "clientele" of people who would be interested in weddings . . . When you affiliate, your board or site is usually linked somewhere prominent on their main page or at the bottom of the main page. Some vbulletin boards have the option of having an affiliate section that can scroll on the very bottom of the main forum page. When you affiliate you do have to link back to them as well.

Also, some wedding web sites, (or non wedding related sites) will have a section where you can list your web site or board for people to visit. Post this site on as many of those as you can find.

These are probably ideas you have already had, but if not, it couldn't hurt to list them. :)

[Celeste]

Google AdWords? :)

[JerAndKathy]

AdWords (http://adwords.google.com/) -- Kinda like your standard sized (horizontal) banner ads, only they're text ads. Place them where ever you want; another site I frequent has the adword code placed between " « Previous Thread | Next Thread » " and the reply box here...I think that's where they put it. I forget. :lol:

[Poloke]

I don't know if its possible to do this but if you could get this site to appear when you do a GOOGLE search for "wedding boards", that would get a ton of people in here.

If I think of more ideas I will be back.

[Kari]

I don't know if its possible to do this but if you could get this site to appear when you do a GOOGLE search for "wedding boards", that would get a ton of people in here.

If I think of more ideas I will be back.

This is one we are currently working on. It was tough for google to pick us up because we had the entire forum locked down in an effort to keep out the undesirables. We have since changed that. New members no longer have to post an intro and wait for the forums to open up. They can see threads, but cannot respond to them unless they set up an account.

By doing this, we are hoping that more webcrawlers will pick up threads that CAN be googled more readily. (Which also explains our push to have more wedding related topics - the more topics, the more for google to find in the webcrawls.)

Good suggestion :aok:

[soulmates]

I think that themes and colors are searched for a lot so if there was a way that those could be made easier to pick by a search engine it might help.

[*Stacie*]

I have the link/banner posted on my MySpace account.... I don't know if it is helping much, but hopefully it does!! I will also be thinking of ways to recruite new people. I do tell all my newly engaged friends to come join the site. One has so far, but she doesn't post much.

[*Stacie*]

Would I be over stepping any boundaries if I e-mailed a wedding directory site that helps with website addresses for EVERYTHING wedding related and maybe asked if they would be interested in having a wedding board/forum link on their site. I don't know if there is an advertising fee or whatnot, but it might be a good idea!!

This is the site I was thinking of:

http://directory.canadianbride.com/index.cfm?regionid=131&CategoryID=72

What do you think?

[sweetiez]

I MOD a site. full of bunches of 2008 brides. if you want i COULD tell them about here..

[Lacie]

Stacie, I think that's a great idea, and if there's a fee, let us know - we might be willing to pay it. :nod:

Amber, if you'd like to share the link and it's not against the rules of your board, go for it. :)

[Maria 05]

My idea may not be very good but I think once people join up the wait is putting people off I cant be sure and dont trust my own judgement right now would it be possible to reduce the time after the initial post to see the rest of the board so once they join up they dont lose interest?

[Lacie]

Maria, we've changed it so that all the threads are visible to everyone, you just have to register to post. So there isn't (or shouldn't be, anyway) a wait after posting your first post to see the rest of the board anymore. :)

[Maria 05]

sorry i only noticed that change after I posted sorry

[sweetiez]

Stacie, I think that's a great idea, and if there's a fee, let us know - we might be willing to pay it. :nod:

Amber, if you'd like to share the link and it's not against the rules of your board, go for it. :)

I let them know. I thought i'd help you girls out :).

[Becki]

Just thought I'd mention that I added a link to MLW on my store's website back when MLW first started this summer. If there are any other people with personal/business websites it's an easy addition to put something on there about the site so that maybe someone will click it. :)

[jillian]

We could put links in our myspace pages like Stacie. Is there an MLW blinkie we could us?

[*TanyaJeanne*]

Jillian, If you go to the MLW myspace page and click more pictures there is a neat blinkie in there :)

[Becki]

This is one we are currently working on. It was tough for google to pick us up because we had the entire forum locked down in an effort to keep out the undesirables. We have since changed that. New members no longer have to post an intro and wait for the forums to open up. They can see threads, but cannot respond to them unless they set up an account.

By doing this, we are hoping that more webcrawlers will pick up threads that CAN be googled more readily. (Which also explains our push to have more wedding related topics - the more topics, the more for google to find in the webcrawls.)

Good suggestion :aok:

Kari, this means that anyone can see the posts on here? All they'd have to do it sign up and look around?

[Mandy]

I didn't see it Tanya :(

[*TanyaJeanne*]

http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q177/knopikfamily/1317484512_m.jpg

[*TanyaJeanne*]

http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q177/knopikfamily/276334712_ab5a931b55.jpg

[*TanyaJeanne*]

Large and small version for whichever one you want to use :)

[Mandy]

LOL! I'm a loser. Thanks T ;)

[Kari]

Kari, this means that anyone can see the posts on here? All they'd have to do it sign up and look around?

Yep, pretty much. It isn't any different than it was before except now they don't have to wait an HOUR to do it.

[Jaime]

Well, I first learned about UW from a fellow bride to be at Weight Watchers.com on the Wedding Party board.. I suppose if you want I can post about MLW there.

[yogi_deuce]

I have shared the link to MLW on a military board I am on. Lots of the women are planning weddings and they always ask.

[*Diane*]

Well, I first learned about UW from a fellow bride to be at Weight Watchers.com on the Wedding Party board.. I suppose if you want I can post about MLW there.


That word of mouth is invaluable! If you can, it would be so appreciated!

[Kari]

Colita, that is awesome! I would love to see the Military forum start to get much busier!!

[JerAndKathy]

This isn't so much for recruiting new members as it is to get the infrequent posters coming back here and posting more often. Has a newsletter been considered? I think weekly would be a bit much, maybe bi-weekly or monthly?

In this issue:
- Congrats!
- Wedding Stories Online!
- Thread de Jour: Turning a Plain Veil into Something Special

MLW would like to extend congrats to Bride XYZ who will be getting married this coming Saturday! We've watched her plan the big day since she joined the forum on [date] and now the day has arrived! We wish her the best of luck and can't wait to see the pictures and hear her Wedding Day Story! You can wish her a happy wedding week in our greeting card forum: Happy Wedding Week Bride XYZ! <--- Link it to a thread in the forum

Speaking of Wedding Day Stories, [name]'s wedding was just two weeks ago and she has her wedding day story posted already, complete with pictures! Stop by and have a read and find out how her [widget] turned out! Bride ABC's Wedding Day Story <---- Another link

Thread de Jour:
Turning a Plain Veil into Something Special! <--- link

Bride 123 recently decided to try her hand at taking a plain, store bought veil and turning it into something with a bit pizazz! And she did it all for under $cost! All it took was a veil, some glue, and a few jewels! Stop by her thread and read exactly how she did it!

If there are more threads that are noteworthy, write about more threads. Just something to get delivered to user's mailboxes for them to say, wow, that's a neat idea...How'd she do that...Get's a dormant user back here reading and with any luck...Asking a question about how it was done, where to find the jewels/beads, etc...

[Becki]

Jer that sounds like a great idea and definitely something I would enjoy getting in my inbox :yes:

[Renny]

Jer- what a TERRIFIC idea!!

That would definatly let me know a bit more what's going on around MLW. And it would get me to come a visit different sections.

[Sk8ermaiden]

Jer, that idea is fantastic!

[lalalola]

I think you should change the format when a person goes into MLW.com becuase every morning when I sign in, all you can see is the admin, questions, etc threads and if a first time MLW clicked onto the site and seen that first, it might scare them away because at first you cannot see anything wedding related......

I also think that you should change the default skin to something brighter bolder than the pale pink!

[Jaime]

I think you should change the format when a person goes into MLW.com becuase every morning when I sign in, all you can see is the admin, questions, etc threads and if a first time MLW clicked onto the site and seen that first, it might scare them away because at first you cannot see anything wedding related......

I also think that you should change the default skin to something brighter bolder than the pale pink!

I agree that maybe something wedding related should be at the very top.. or maybe the Introductions at the very top so that at least it is more user friendly.

[*Stacie*]

Jer, what a GREAT idea!!! I love it!

[JerAndKathy]

Jer, what a GREAT idea!!! I love it!

I must admit, it's not "my idea". We had this same problem with getting new members and getting stagnant members more active at another forum where I moderate. This is one of actions we took to get things moving. I just adapted it to suit the style of MLW. :)

[*Stacie*]

Well thanks for sharing it :) I know if I got emails like that and I was a stagnant member at a forum it would encourage me to come back and participate!!

[Renny]

Well thanks for sharing it :) I know if I got emails like that and I was a stagnant member at a forum it would encourage me to come back and participate!!

:agree:

[JerAndKathy]

May also consider DMoz, I'm pretty sure it's free...I would guess this category (http://dmoz.org/Society/Relationships/Weddings/Directories_and_Guides/)...Would be worth a shot. :)

[Lacie]

Thanks for that, Jer - I submitted us. :)