Here is where we can toss in our thoughts on what we've tried so far to bring attention to each of our community Sharing Backyards programs, and what has had the best results. Don't be afraid to contribute similar or even the same items as others -- we just want to know what's been working for you.
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I'd really like to keep this one for what's working.
I'll start a challenges thread -- and there's also the Technical support requests for tech issues, and "tecnical add-ons..." for things that could be added
Cheers,
Christopher
Jen Stotland said:
Can we have a separate thread for challenges, or include challenges here? I would be interested in getting and offering advice, and it would be just as useful for you to know about endemic issues that might need attention
Can we have a separate thread for challenges, or include challenges here? I would be interested in getting and offering advice, and it would be just as useful for you to know about endemic issues that might need attention
we've got two parent organisations: Sharing Backyards and the Ecology Action Centre. While this made bureaucracy a bit intense at first, it really helped us to have a local non profit to work with to
1) give us charity and tax deductible status
2) give us practical advice and help (from helping write the website to cashing our checques to helping poster up the city)
3) to spread the word among members, who were interested in participating
they also had contacts with our printer who typically gave discounts to affiliates of the EAC.
we've also applied to some local grants fom non-profits and student groups (the PIRG) and got a bit of money that way. Not an option to be overlooked
we've got two parent organisations: Sharing Backyards and the Ecology Action Centre. While this made bureaucracy a bit intense at first, it really helped us to have a local non profit to work with to
1) give us charity and tax deductible status
2) give us practical advice and help (from helping write the website to cashing our checques to helping poster up the city)
3) to spread the word among members, who were interested in participating
they also had contacts with our printer who typically gave discounts to affiliates of the EAC.
1) Newspaper coverage. I contacted a local paper and asked if they'd heard about the program. They hadn't, so I gave them a brief rundown. They asked for a time for an interview, which I set and later completed. As a note on the whole SBY project, everytime we get media coverage for a city, the number of hits to the site and the number of people sharing their yards goes WAY up For larger metro areas, I'd suggest finding a paper in each of the smaller communities within your larger area. I'm experimenting with that here, and having good results so far.
2) Local Blogs. Just about everywhere now, there are people "Blogging". Ten years ago I wouldn't know what that meant, but now anyone can start a blog. Luckily for us, that means there are lots of them to choose from. My experience so far has been that once I get media coverage, the blogs come in to get the story. The reason is, they see it will bring web traffic -- Sharing Backyards is a hot topic for a lot of places like this -- Blogs, newspapers, radio, etc, because its a good idea and it helps people, and its free. Perfect material to spread like wildfire. See if you can find contacts for local blogs, and either just go for them, or get the contacts and record them. Some have internal message systems....then just send a message saying you have a cool story for them
3) Word of mouth. I've just been telling my friends, and people I meet, and they tell other people. I don't have to work up much of a story, because I'm involved in this because I love the idea....so its easy to speak honestly about, and since its free, there's no need to come off like I'm selling something.
4) Facebook, Twitter, Squidoo -- any other social networking or online marketting tools. I've just been working to establish a presence for SBY, so it becomes a household name.......Yard sharing will one day be as well known as recycling, and we're going to make it this way. One note on this method -- be aware not to Spam anyone -- ie, send repeating messages with the same content to a lot of users on one site, or to post in places that are unrelated....better yet, read the rules of any site before making posts. I have been warned and even banned in some places. Part of SBY's charm is it's personability. We're not a big corporation, nor do we want to look like one.
Replies
I'd really like to keep this one for what's working.
I'll start a challenges thread -- and there's also the Technical support requests for tech issues, and "tecnical add-ons..." for things that could be added
Cheers,
Christopher
Jen Stotland said:
Peace
we've also applied to some local grants fom non-profits and student groups (the PIRG) and got a bit of money that way. Not an option to be overlooked
we've got two parent organisations: Sharing Backyards and the Ecology Action Centre. While this made bureaucracy a bit intense at first, it really helped us to have a local non profit to work with to
1) give us charity and tax deductible status
2) give us practical advice and help (from helping write the website to cashing our checques to helping poster up the city)
3) to spread the word among members, who were interested in participating
they also had contacts with our printer who typically gave discounts to affiliates of the EAC.
First off, I've been directing people just to the website -- www.sharingbackyards.com. Its easy for people to find their area from there. And a lot less of a tongue twister than for me to say www.sharingbackyards.com/%22/browse/victoria,&BC/map ............etc.
here's what's been working well so far.
1) Newspaper coverage. I contacted a local paper and asked if they'd heard about the program. They hadn't, so I gave them a brief rundown. They asked for a time for an interview, which I set and later completed. As a note on the whole SBY project, everytime we get media coverage for a city, the number of hits to the site and the number of people sharing their yards goes WAY up For larger metro areas, I'd suggest finding a paper in each of the smaller communities within your larger area. I'm experimenting with that here, and having good results so far.
2) Local Blogs. Just about everywhere now, there are people "Blogging". Ten years ago I wouldn't know what that meant, but now anyone can start a blog. Luckily for us, that means there are lots of them to choose from. My experience so far has been that once I get media coverage, the blogs come in to get the story. The reason is, they see it will bring web traffic -- Sharing Backyards is a hot topic for a lot of places like this -- Blogs, newspapers, radio, etc, because its a good idea and it helps people, and its free. Perfect material to spread like wildfire. See if you can find contacts for local blogs, and either just go for them, or get the contacts and record them. Some have internal message systems....then just send a message saying you have a cool story for them
3) Word of mouth. I've just been telling my friends, and people I meet, and they tell other people. I don't have to work up much of a story, because I'm involved in this because I love the idea....so its easy to speak honestly about, and since its free, there's no need to come off like I'm selling something.
4) Facebook, Twitter, Squidoo -- any other social networking or online marketting tools. I've just been working to establish a presence for SBY, so it becomes a household name.......Yard sharing will one day be as well known as recycling, and we're going to make it this way. One note on this method -- be aware not to Spam anyone -- ie, send repeating messages with the same content to a lot of users on one site, or to post in places that are unrelated....better yet, read the rules of any site before making posts. I have been warned and even banned in some places. Part of SBY's charm is it's personability. We're not a big corporation, nor do we want to look like one.
more to come.........