Promotion Tips

Do's Subject line: Your subject line is the most important part of your promo.  If it fails, the rest is just posting practice.  You need to have an eye catcher that offers something or tells what the group is about.  Getting their attention is step one.  People scan down a list of posts and pick off what they might like.  Put something special about your group in the subject line.  Try diferent twists.  Rotate them around.  I never use the name of my group in the subject line and have about 3 or 4 diferent subject lines I periodically rotate   Promo Construction: Position descriptive text ABOVE your banner.  Your first sentence is your most important.  Make a statement or give them a reason to read on about your group.  Make certain that your entire promo does not exceed 450 pixels overall width.  Having to scroll back and forth to read your description will chase people away.  Not everyone has a 21" high resolution monitor.   Private groups: Your text description is the most important part of your promo.  Most people won't join a private group just to see what is there unless there is something that really gets them curious in the promo.  Other solutions are to have an open house period where you have the group publicly viewable or create a page somewhere public with more information about your group as a front door.   Networking: Don't view other groups of a similar genre as your "competition".  In actuality they are your best allies.  Join them.  Good members are usually good managers.  Participate and get to know people who have similar interests.  If the other group has a promotional board use it.  If not, let them find you.  You can make that a lot easier by putting the link to your group in your profile and a little information about yourself.

Don'ts Scrollitis on lead page:  Having to scroll back and forth to read or a mile up and down to find out anything irritates people.  First impressions are everything.  You want to deliver as much information to the potential member as you can with little or no effort on his part as soon as he clicks.  Your main page should be mainly text and not exceed more than 450 pixels width. If you realy have to have all the cute stuff on your main page, link to one specifically made to greet potential members.  Putting descriptive text at the top and using anchors (example:  Chat Central Gateway ) is highly advised.   Download pig on lead page: Unless your group is limited to only dsl and other high speed users, You don't want a ton of graphics bogging down that first page they see.  If they have to wait to see it or get butt ugly red Xs they are gone before you make your pitch.  If you are in love with that background or massive logo on your main page, create a mainly text one that is fast loading to link your promos to.   Improperly linked Banner:  Imagine what a passerby sees if he is on dial up and using an ad blocker or accelerator or Bill is having a red X day.  Use the auto-linker in the toolbox to give your banner an alt tag. (the little balloon that comes up when you put your mouse over it and replaces the graphic when it fails.)   Spam: One sure way to make your self and your group hated and possibly deleted is spamming.  Even if you do get any members from it, they will be dumber than rocks.  The only thing dumber than spammers are the ones that respond to it.   Courtesy of Chat Central Gateway (all rights reserved)