How to get people to freecyle?

[Annpan]

I am going through the 'application process' to set up a new freecycle group in my area.

Has anyone got thoughts on how to get people onto it?

I don't want to spend my money doing it

I don't want to spend too much time doing it (computer at home time is fine, but I don't have the 'out of house' time)

I can assume that there has been very little interest in it from around here as no-one has set a group up before - does that make sense

my top idea so far

1. E-mail local businesses

2. E-mail local press

3. Try to get a free sign put in shop windows

4. Put up a sign in the local hall


Any more thoughts??

[snapdragon]

not sure how best to do it - I heard first from a friend who's group is in Sussex and sent me a link, I guess many people who wouldnt consider managing a group will 'find' it,

[Welsh Girls Allotment]

See if the library has a notice board, print off little flyers for shop counters, or local post office.

Are there forums forum for your local area ? join up a give yourself a mention.

Does your council have a newsletter - contact them persuade them to include your freescycle as part of a green intiative or contact the department responsible for recycling and see if they can give you any help.

Do you have a local newspaper ? My mother writes a coloum in our local paper, local events, birthdays, clubs school events etc, if you have a local equivilent they may be able to give a few lines - for free.

Just because there hasn't been one set up in your area doesn't mean there isnt interest just that nobody has bothered to do it yet.

GOOD LUCK !!

[red]

library is a good idea

ideally you would get other moderators on board to spread the load... could you approach friends to take part and spread the word?

which freecycle group is your nearest/ that local people are using, if not very local, can you advertise on there?

[Russian Doll]

our maderator on my freecycle has made posters which she emails us to print up and put around

[mrsflibble]

my freecycle doesn't seem to have advertised, i found it through google.
I'm on basildon, tea's on thurrock i think. our emails are different too.

[Annpan]

our maderator on my freecycle has made posters which she emails us to print up and put around

Hey, that's a smart idea. I'll wait untill a few people join up, then every month or 2 I can ask each person to print 1 poster and find somewhere to stick it

Red - as yet I have no idea of co-moderators, I'll have to wait till we get some members before I try to recruit one... I don't have many like minded friends in the area, let alone ones who are computer literate. That is one of the reasons I wanted to be a part of a freecycle group.

My printer has just clogged up on me so I can't print anything up right now... I'll be able to do it soon though, hopefully...

I keep getting 'we can now continue with your application' emails from freecycle... it is all very mysterious...

[Russian Doll]

hun im not in your area but i am on the puter most days...i dont mind modding for you untill you get some othewrs in your area

[Milims]

We found out about it on the free stuff junction site

[the.fee.fairy]

My area's not advertised either, but i moderate for www.dontdumpthat.com, a forum based freecycle typ site.

I've got a signature in my email. It just happens to also come up when i email offers to freecycle too...so i end up having pretty much the same people, but i ask people to advertise www.dontdumpthat.com to their friends as well as freecycle. I've got some posters, but i've not got round to putting them up yet...

How about in the supermarkets - they've usually got customer notice boards, and there's a high percentage of the local population visiting such establishments.

[red]

just starting a local group and having an online presence should get it started.. i found my local freecycle through the main uk freecycle page.

[wulf]

Yes - Freecycle is a big enough concept that I think you are likely to pick up a fair amount of traffic just by having the group up and running.

However, it wouldn't hurt to use the other ideas mentioned. Another free and easy way of advertising would be to look round and see if there are any local bloggers. Any of those who write about subjects that are relevant (including plain old local information) might be happy to blog about the new group, helping toward that critical mass of numbers when most offers find a suitable recipient with minimal delay.

Wulf

[circlecross]

reiterate - supermarkets, libraries etc, but also can you ask local radio to plug it? And if you have a local paper, and a designated council bod for recycling, try and get them involved as councils all seem to be keen to be seen to be green!