Happy New Year from Meetup HQ!

by Scott

Happy new year from Meetup HQ!

I recorded a brief video with 3 tips for Meetup Organizers to kick off 2010.

Check it out & see what's up -- pardon the loud pipes!

Can't wait to see your Meetup Groups have an incredible year.

--Scott

PS. Here's a link to the 43 key improvements & features from 2009 you may have missed.

PPS. We've got a New Year Special: Know someone who'd make a great Organizer of a new Meetup Group? If they start it now, they get 25% off -- spread the word.

Scott is Meetup's Co-Founder & Chief Organizer.

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Comments

[Cindy Freland]

I couldn't get the video to load.

[KAren Swain]

Hi Scott
I SOOOOOOO Love this website, It is what I have been looking for. Thank you so much for you insights, work and inspirations.
Love from down under
KAren Swain

[Uncle Rico]

Now that you're profitable, you can afford media coaching :)

[Dave Phillipson]

When will you allow us to archive our databases?

Dave Phillipson
CEO Space
http://www.GlobalCEOspace.com

[Natural Neighborhood]

What a great video! It's honest and action-oriented!

[Makena Hayes-Gargonnu]

Great tips for the New Year!

This is going to be the best decade ever!

Peace and Success!

[Kevin Lam]

Congratulations, guys. You guys are doing great. I'm an organizer myself and speak at other groups. Looking forward to seeing what else you guys are doing. Thanks for the tips.

[Vinnie]

really impressive stats - i had no idea, go you guys!!!

[Tammy Sachs]

Please stop adding features to your website and fix the basic ones. My number one gripe is that Meetup doesn't save any of your defaults when you organize an event so every month is like Groundhogs Day. No default place (in fact it is on p2), no default RSVPs, etc. Please fix that so organizers can make set ups easy and focus on more important stuff. Also make the calendar function one all can post to.

On a positive note, I agree with the idea of not having members be passengers or audience -- great metaphors -- and that community will rebuild and heal the next decade.

[I.F.]

Okay...I reaaaalllly wanted to watch/listen to this video, but couldn't deal with the banging noises in the background and gave up half-way through. No offense, but it was very annoying.

On another note..Good luck to Meetup in 2010!

[simon]

eyebrows.
Pluck them.

[Manish Nandy]

Scott, Meetup is a great idea and its execution in 2009 has been impressive. You have achieved a large number of very significant improvements that make it convenient to organize and upgrade Meetup sessions.

Surprisingly, the video is not just 'annoying,' it is totally inept. The banging sound, movement of staff, distracting background, amateurish lighting (you look as if you have white paste all over your face), awkward hand gestures, all make it look like an ill-prepared afterthought. Even the content is poorly organized and presented: it is dull, prolix and desultory. It doesn't even end with a summing up of the three key points. None could possibly recall what the three points were. A video is a good idea, but it needs a half-way decent execution.

Manish Nandy

[Adrienne Williams]

It would be nice to have a better way to assign the sponsors instead of having to move them around one by one. I am looking forward to growing with you. I could use a few sponsors.

[Tania, Tala, Tunda, J Sun, Nesto]

This 1st week of Jan, I have posted 38 'new ideas' on our calendar yet cant 'search' locations from our past events, please add this feature....must applaud the biggest Genuine community & having members involvement - not just as passengers!!
BOSTON SNOW DOGS
Urban Amateur Mushers
we created a YouTube channel to showcase our 'meetups'
http://www.youtube.com/BOSTONSNOWDOGS/

[Cary Granite]

What's with all the negative comments? Constructive criticism is one thing but some of you people are a bit much.

Meetup is a great concept. No, it's not perfect. There's lots I'd like to change. But it's a work in progress.

Scott has really created something special. And I think his eyebrows are sexy.

[An appreciative organizer]

Hey Scott, thanks for doing such a great job with Meetup. The site is awesome and I'm having a great time as an organizer. And by the way, your video looks just fine. Pay no attention to the anal-retentive perfectionists who are criticizing what was obviously meant to be a simple video with a positive message and no frills. Geez, relax already. And to the petty jackass who made the eyebrow comment - why don't you "pluck" your superficial head out of your ass and focus on something more important?

[Mohan Dutt]

Thanks to a Meetup Sponsor I got 6 months subscription fee reimbursed. I am looking at another meetup sponsorship of just $36 within next 7 days otherwise meetup.com will take down our Meetup site - http://www.meetup.com/TNT-MPNP/

[Dr. Rev. Wanona Wellspring, DN, LMT, CST]

I thought the new feature of printing name tags was great.... but it doesn't work. too bad.

[Jeff]

yeah, what is that banging noise in the background?

also, is it just me or is there a ninja in the background on the right-hand side of the screen about halfway up?

at any rate, thanks for making one of the few websites that will actually increase the time people spend outside and away from their computers. it rules.

[Bola Adewara]

The meetup idea is a great one. But here in Nigeria, im so shocked that we cannot get it up. So many people show interest online, when it comes to meeting, they give conditions. Others will not even respond nor attend the meeting. I congratulate Meetup for helping us to contact more people. I will not give up in organising the Christian Entrepreneurs Meetup and Webmasters Meetup. I hope 2010 will be a better year.

[Tom Byrne]

I'm member of a few meetups. I attend as many as possible. I even started one and help to manage others. Some, I monitor for movement and trends.

I have to say that, here in Paris, the meetups are dying on their feet. They were doing really well about a year ago but not now. Suddenly there's a lot of competition from Xing.com and others.

The design meetup here in paris was one of the best but the lack of feeback and initiative from the members draged it down. The people organising have to do a lot with no thanks and often members do things like leave the event without paying for their meal hense the organiser foots the bill. Not their fault but there's no way to vet members. This is a big deal.

Another thing is that there are a few people moving through the meetups misrepresenting themselves (same sort of problem). Reinventing themselves according to the group they are in. Not doing anything illegal but playing with people.

Yes, the eyebrows were distracting. Yes the noise in the background suggested that more than the film makers were not paying attention. Yes the tracksuit top didn't help.

I'm sure that Scott is a great person and brilliant organiser but there were so many things in the video to distract that it suggested otherwise.

For myself, the hair was incredibly distracting. I spent a few minutes trying to figure out if it was a wig.

By all means think differently. Brilliant! But be aware of how others, who don't know you, think too.

For all you advoctes who defend no matter what - it's a badly recorded movie. Distracting in so many ways and the message was lost as a result. Learn from it, don't defend unnecessarily. You're not helping him.

The eyebrows are fine, the movement of the head attracts too much attention to them.

[steve]

Well done guys, keep up the good work.

Steve, Central Scotland Bikers Meetup

[Samuel]

We aim to have the most active forex trading meetup in the world! Lot's of fun and we have a great activity rate. Keep up the good work.

[Keith Riley]

Scott is right about not leaving all work to one person , as group grows have a committee to share workload ,our group has a 3 month cutoff for guests to attend meetups and join , or they are removed from group. We are now one of the largest MTB groups in UK , and have 2/3 meetups every week . We elect a new committee every 12 months and have nearly 150 paid up members and 30 odd guests (not that odd !), thanks to Scott for his great idea , and loved the low - fi video , more power to your elbow sir , all the best , Keith , committee member and Organiser , Manchester Mountain Bikers.

[Matthew]

You might consider using the open HTML5 Video format, instead of Flash Video. Not able to watch your video here.

[Carina Cojeen]

Great to hear you've now turned a profit! Fantastic! Congrats! Thanks for providing this service! All the best for the next decade of Meetup!

Carina in Toronto
(who went from a Meetup member in Vancouver (French) to meetup organizer in Edmonton (French) to meetup organizer in Toronto (Cantonese))

[Jenifer]

As a meetup member for over 6 years and an organizer for over 3, I can say meetup is what it is and shouldn't promote itself to be more than that.

I think your video and how you presented yourself in that video speaks volumes as to that effect.

I have made a few a amazing friends and even met my boyfriend through meetup but there are so many flaky people you encounter as well. That is apart of life (and meetup) and I accept that.

I tried to trust people to help organize and I was burned badly. Most people simply do not want to take the time or the responsibility to help organize. Often they can't even take the time to show up or call and say they cannot make it.

There are wild abuses of meetup false attendence records and event decriptions. I can point them out privately if asked. I have to ask if you monitor meetups and organizers of multiple meetups.

With all your improvements the one I have mentioned you fix you haven't. You really need to fix the location feature so addresses you are know are correct or have multiple entrances are permitted. Yet you refuse them because they do not match other address or they are just a street corner have to be listed as private. I do several street festivals that have no address other than street corners.

Lastly you should make people have a photo or no meetup membership. I ask and ask and it falls on members dead ears. No pictures of their cats also, unless their cat is attending the meetup.

Happy new year!

[jessica kane]

i LOVE it! and Scott, you are so right, this is the decade for meetup and people organizing in general. as a fellow networker/organizer, I LOVE meetup and thank you!
happy 2010

www.skorchmag.com
www.cliquemixer.com
www.kanekreative.com

[jessica kane]

ps - are people really knocking on the video? are you kidding me? get over it...it was great! enjoy the small things in life and get your head out of your ACE :)

[SportsClub]

I read a comment about your eyebrows, the banging noises, people moving around and that you have a pasty face- hey, at least people are watching! The idea that your videos should be professional goes against the very grain of Meetup, doesn't it? I joined as a member then as an organizer because of the fact that it was easy and not too structured. I now have 2 weekly events with dozens of members showing up and several of them assisting to host events as well. Why? Because it's genuine people enjoying life. Your video is just that, uncomplicated and real.

Great concept, awesome execution.

[Janey on an Ozarks Odyssey]

I'm going to try once again to leave a post here (not sure what happened to my other one).

First, it was obviously supposed to be a friendly, informal video. I appreciated it as such. I was easily able to focus on the message, just as if I'd been there in person.

Second, Scott, ignore the superficial people, please. (There is nothing wrong with the way you look or talk.) It's a shame our culture has gotten so image based and brainwashes people into thinking such a narrow range of appearance is worth acceptance.

Third, I do wish you had archiving for the group emails. You have a great service, and I'm sure it will continue to improve. (I'm using Yahoo Groups in conjunction with meetup.com, btw.)

Oh yeah, fourth, people are going to invent, coverup, and try to rework their image through life and on the internet. As a member of local Meetup.com groups, and local Yahoo Groups, I can tell you that's just human nature. Anybody who thinks they can't deal with it should read "The Liar in My Life". It's excellent.

[Deborah Tedone]

Hi! I've been running a fairly successful Asperger Support group called Square Pegs. I've spent hundreds of $ on this group over the past years. We have a few fabulous would-be sponsors, but was told by someone-in-the-know that we could be fined $5000 or more if we didn't have the proper tax forms filled out to allow us to take on sponsors or donations. The tax form is a heck of a beast! I tried filling it out and could not. I sought help and was given exhorbitent fees to fill this thing out. What is everyone else doing so they will not be fined for sponsorship?

[LaSonia Packenham]

Meet-up is a great faucet for all members to enjoy and learn how to utilize the easy friendly functionalities.

[Eimi Middlekauff]

Great encouraging video.. I'm excited for what this year holds and what new people I get to meet through the Huntington Beach Photographer's Meet Up.. Thanks!

Eimi Middlekauff
Songbird Photos

[mike]

It is impossible to turn off meeting reminders and impossible to turn off messages-spam from organizers. Enable users to turn off all messages from organizers/asst organizers and all meeting reminders spam. We don't want thousands of meaningless emails clogging our mailboxes.

[Oren horse drawn owner Green]

Really cool!

Meetups have incredible potential and have added a lot of value, its nice to hear the buzz about it around London.

Oren
Owner of: http://www.horse-drawn-carriage.com

[sherry]

how can I unsubscribe?

[Step]

All of the negative comments should have been kept to yourselves. In fact, while some of you are criticizing him you should learn how to spell. Now how many of you were brilliant enough to even start a business of this magnitude? Shut your traps and stop hating and being envious and just work on perfecting your own game.
He is just starting to earn a profit so I trust that he will step up his game and improvements will no doubt be forthcoming.
Give people a break! Damn!

[roldan f. smith]

despite the growth, your client service to paid members/organizers is down the hole! zero to no responses... yup, that's right... ZIP to specific situation fix requests or the like... overkill with no opt outs on the ridiculous number of email reminders, follow ups, etc. find the balance between enough information or too much and give organizers more control and user-friendly features (like a frickin EVENT REPEATS weekly/monthly/yearly function for more than a single calendar event for god's sake!! jeeze o pete! i mean really?? you're killin me) most of my members have spammed block me due to the auto-reminder function. turned it off and try to send out one a week, but have lost a lot of folks by the time i realized it was a situation. partly my fault, i understand. get rid of the "how was it" function. just too much and one not be used by 90%+ of attendeees. i should know, i've stopped doing it b/c it really serves what purpose?? people don't go back to past dated events to see how something was. especially if they attended it themselves, and those who didn't attend really don't give two bits... you see? okay... i've vented once again and offered some constructive criticism. and really, i'm not angry here. just frustrated b/c you have a good service. but you're gonna lose your base... early adopters and builders of the cause, like myself... if you haven't already that is... if you don't do better on the response rate. i agree with a few of the commenters here... time to stop ADDING features and address the many currently needing attention/improvement/removal. sorry guys, but this is business now. you've been taking my money but not giving me what i need. meetup FEELS like it may have run its course and i'm getting that feedback from several other organizers. not all mind you, but several more than not. and half the organizations i've been a member of the past 6-12 months seem to be less and less active. a couple of them, completely frozen in time. i will be moving to a new forum myself soon to promote my classes and events but wish you guys well! i will keep my personal membership active for sometime but unless mass improvements and appreciation points can be made, it too will join the fate of so many other social networking sites who just couldn't cut the mustard in keeping up with it's own growth... myspace who??

good luck ladies and gents. i hope this message falls on not-so-deaf ears, open minds and willing hearts. regards, roldan smith (meetup member/organizer, atlanta ga)

[jim stange]

first of all, meetup is my life and has saved my life in 2009. i organize the largest sport related group in mi, and i wouldn't give it up for anything. however, yeah, you really need to do a better job with your own videos. check out my own commercial:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Cv-FuwDJ10

i think i could have personally done a better job filming you. better luck on the next one.

[louboutin]

if you haven't already that is... if you don't do better on the response rate. i agree with a few of the commenters here... time to stop ADDING features and address the many currently needing attention/improvement/removal.