Utilizing the Internet to Reach For New Members By Marcy Decato, ACB

Utilizing the Internet to Reach For New Members

By Marcy Decato, ACB

A. Your club’s web site

B. Social Media

C.E-newsletters

3 Marketing Tools

1. Make sure you are linked with www.Toastmasters.org

• Most likely this will be the first place where people will look.

A. Your club’s website

http://www.toastmasters.org/

2. How can your web site be found • SEO • Content is King • Meta Tags • Keywords

SEO (Search Engine Optimization):The practice of guiding the development of a website to achieve maximum visibility on the major search engines for selected words and phrases.

Key point: Keep the focus on the end user!


Content is King: Understand your audience Be focused Be clear Be consistent Don’t just visualize it, say it Be redundant (but nor irritating) Stay up-to-date


Meta Tags:It is the code on your website that helps the search engines match your site with the people you want to reach.

The look and feel of your website is created through code called HTML (HyperText Markup Language). Within this code is an array of specific fields and meta tags that, if used correctly, can help search engines better match your website with the people you

want to reach.


<TITLE> Enthusiastic Embarkers - Club #4039, Corona, CA </TITLE>

<META HTTP-EQUIV= "Content-Type" CONTENT= "text/html; charset=ISO-8859-1”>

<META NAME="Description" CONTENT= "Toastmasters is a self paced program to help you DEVELOP and IMPROVE: Ability to Think Quickly on Your Feet, Better Listening Skills, Communication Skills, Executive Presence, Leadership Skills, Mentoring, Professional Marketability, Team Building Skills, Upward Mobility in Your Profession” />

<META NAME="Keywords" CONTENT= "toastmasters, 4039, toastmasters in corona, corona ca, develop, improve, Ability to Think Quickly, On Your Feet, Better Listening Skills, Communication Skills, Executive Presence, Leadership Skills, Mentoring, Professional Marketability, Team Building Skills, Upward Mobility in Your Profession, public speaking, leadership, communication, listening, skills, self improvement” />


Title

TitleDescription

Here is where the end user type the keywords

3. Keep it up-to-date:

You are working hart to drive traffic, then don’t turn visitors off

Some content stays consistent Update officers Update weekly schedule Update members


4. Links, links and more links:(this part is important)

Well linked sites climb the search engines ranking quickly – very quickly.

Internal links – within the text connect with other pages in the site (do not use click here)

External links – community sites, Chamber, website directories, etc.

Ask your members to do link exchange


5. Business cards

Toastmasters business card with website on it

Utilize the back of your own business card to promote your club


6. Your website’s look and feel The look and feel of your website should

match who you want to be part of your club. Business owners / Management Professionals Stay home moms The younger crowd A mix


1. Facebook, MySpace, others Start a Toastmasters facebook page or

even a group for people to join Your VP-PR can promote and invite

guests thru this tool. Use your own page to invite to open

houses, or special events at your club. Testimonials can do better than

invitations.

B. Social Media

2. BlogA blog (a contraction of the term "web log")[1] Many blogs provide commentary or news on a particular subject; others function as more personal online diaries. A typical blog combines text, images, and links to other blogs, Web pages, and other media related to its topic. The ability of readers to leave comments

in an interactive format is an important part of many blogs.

A cool idea will be to start a Toastmasters blog!

B. Social Media

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contraction_(grammar)

1. Great way to keep “your face” in this case your club in front of people

Out of side, out of mind

2. Make it interesting, fun and addictive Don’t rush it Comment on articles from the Toastmasters mag. Feature a member each month The best speech of the month Have contests with answers or rewards on the

following issue Keep it short and sweet

C. E-newsletters

3. Database: Compile all members databases of

friends, co-workers, associates, networking

keep it legal. Constant Contact will not allow you to use data without permission. So, do not purchase a list and try to upload it because you would not be able to use it.

C. E-newsletters

Slide show: www.toastmasters4039.com>>Library

Build your own site with: www.freetoasthost.org (free) www.orgsites.com (free)

Use www.constantcontact.com to build your e-newsletters (free for the first 100 contacts)

Use www.blogger.com to start your blog (free)

My contact info:Marcy [email protected] 951-736-2999

RESOURCES

Documents

Utilizing the Internet to Reach For New Members By Marcy Decato, ACB