Post your gathering as an “Event” and check back a day later to make sure that it activated and appears as a live post. When you create a new posting, you designate it as an Event, Offer, or Request. If your idea is a gathering, it is okay to designate it as an event and then you become the Event Organizer. The event must be approved by a moderator before it will show up as a live post. Please email [email protected] if you don't see your event listing by the next day.
Use an image. Images grab members’ attention and people are more likely to read the event details. Use relevant photos you’ve taken or search for a royalty free stock photo image that is available for free use.
Include details and contact information. Ask yourself what you would need to know in order to feel comfortable about participating and include all the relevant details. It may be helpful to make sure your ad answers all the Who, What, When, Where, and How questions. Post the start and end times for events, the meeting place address, and the event coordinator’s contact information.
RSVPs welcome, but not required. Having members contact you to let you know they plan to attend can be helpful for set-up and providing refreshments (if applicable), however, asking folks to commit far in advance may alienate some attendees who are unable to plan far in advance or those whose schedules open at the last minute.
Post your event early and don’t be afraid to repost details again in another ad a little closer to the actual date that points back toward the event listing. A little repetition seems to improve the odds of folks seeing your event in the Timebank software. Posting in advance allows planning types to save the date and reposting some sort of reminder might grab the attention of those that hang back and are more laid back.
A few other helpful hints—
• Event listings have a button that allows members to “contact the event organizer” with questions. Click on that button to get questions answered, or to RSVP.
• Don’t be afraid to talk up your event at other Timebank functions as members miss emails or don’t check the website very often. Sometimes asking members personally may make them more likely to consider attending.
• Be sure to set expiry dates on all your postings so they fade away a few days after the date in question.
Please contact Julie Garbutt at [email protected] with your tip ideas following your event.