Marketing Techniques and Tips for You!

E-mail contact list

Everyone I know has their very own contact list for their e-mail messages. Send a note to those people inviting them to your open house or to one of your weekly club meetings.

Contact former club members.

Social groups

Most people belong to at least one other organization. Invite those members to a club meeting. They might also want to form a Toastmasters organization within their own group.

Work

Leave some brochures or pamphlets in the break room at your office. Make certain it is ok with the business establishment before leaving out information which includes your name and contact information!

Doctor or dentist offices

Most people have at least one doctor or dentist in their lives. Ask if it is ok to leave Toastmaster information in their waiting room area. Everyone receives a magazine each month for the number of clubs to which they belong. The club could pool their magazines in order to leave these in different office locations along with brochures. Mark through your name and address located on the front of the publication before leaving the magazine.

Postcards

Our club had postcards made which contains the name, location and meeting day and time. These are given to our guests as a reminder of our club. They are also suitable for mailing to guests or other interested potential members.

Business cards

Our club also had business cards made which contains the same information and can be given to people we meet. They are smaller and easier to carry. I personally hand them out to people who are in elevators with me, right after I ask if they are going to the same Toastmaster meeting I am about to attend.

Thank you notes

Our secretary sends a thank you note by mail, if they leave an address in the club guest book. The secretary also sends a thank you by e-mail when a guest visits.

Churches, Synagogues, Mosques

There are a lot of potential Toastmaster members in these locations. They might even want to start their own club! 

Bulletins or newsletters or Club Websites

Offices or communities sometimes have newsletters by mail or by e-mail. Ask if you would be able to advertise your club meeting in that publication. Make sure all club website information is accurate giving meeting date,times,and location.

Local newspapers

Small communities may have a newspaper.  Ask if you would be able to advertise your club meetings in that paper. If you do not want the article to appear at a certain time, the small newspaper will usually print it for free.  Again, the only drawback is that you will not know when to expect the notice.

Bulletin boards

Place brochures on bulletin boards in schools, colleges, trade schools, club rooms, and in senior citizen communities.  

Neighbors

Invite your own neighbors, neighbors of friends, neighbors of relatives.

Club Celebrations

• Make sure that you celebrate events in your club such as ice breaker speeches with ice breaker ribbons which can be ordered from TI or made by the club members.

• Make a certificate for each ice breaker speech. Make a certificate for each level of accomplishment.

• Celebrate other member accomplishments, anniversaries, graduations of  member’s children.
• Have a cake each month for member’s birthdays in that month and other milestones.
• Members having fun at meetings will share this experience with their friends and invite them to future meetings.