New Friendships

What is this thing called “Meetup” and how can I get involved? That’s what I’ve been hearing the last couple of years. I’ll try and answer by saying that Meetup is a social interactive online gathering place that enables you to meet others with the same interests thereby bringing people together in a stress-less natural way. Also Meetup Membership is free which is the biggest giveaway bargain they’re ever was.

You can’t put a price on friendship and new friendships are what Meetup is all about. It has something for everyone, photography, cooking, hiking, single parents, singles dating, widowers, dining out, rock climbing, traveling, movies, the list is endless. There are now over 90,000 topics in 45,000 cities. It is said Meetup started up in 2002 in order to bring people together after 9/11 and has grown to over nine and a half million members.

Meetup is perfect for those who are single, recently divorced or widowed. Many feel like they’re starting over again and Meetup is a perfect place to start. You’ll meet some of the same people again and again in different groups that you belong to and you’ll make lasting friendships. It’s very easy to join and to add your name to events that interest you. It’s all done online with a few clicks of your mouse.

Many members move on to become Meetup organizers which enables you to start your own group and plan events for your members to attend. I've been a Meetup organizer for over five years and I’ve received many emails during that time asking “how do I start my own Meetup group” and “what’s the downside of being a Meetup Organizer” As a new organizer having a successful Meetup group takes a bit of time and a lot of dedication. If you have a demanding job and little time to devote to a growing membership than organizing a Meetup group isn't really a good idea.

Your new group should be a subject you’re passionate about. That passion will rub off on your new members and spread throughout the group. The title of your group should be short but say a lot. You’ll need to explain what your group is about; you’ll need to keep that message also short and precise. When it comes to directives I find that most people are impatient and in a hurry and shy away from reading anything longer than a few sentences.

The need for weekly Meetups is very important. It helps in promoting your new group as quickly as possible. It isn't easy acquiring members and word of mouth is still the best form of advertising. It’s a slow process but very rewarding. Many people start a Meetup group just to sell an idea or a product. These groups generally don’t make it. Groups that are formed for ego purposes also don’t make it. A thick skin may be needed when it comes to dealing with organizers of other groups. As I said egos can be a problem but it’s all very much worth the effort.

Forming a Meetup group and planning events for that group is very gratifying especially when the complimentary emails outweigh the less approving ones.

I think the Meetup Organization still offers the first month free but thereafter it will cost you as an organizer $72 every six months (there’s also a monthly higher rate). The fee covers the organization of up to 3 Meetup groups which I think is reasonable. Hopefully the cost will remain the same as Meetup grows in popularity. So be it a Meetup member or taking it to the next level and becoming a Meetup Organizer it’s a lot of fun and you’ll never tire of making new friends.

Comments greatly appreciated.