Promoting Technical Users Groups?

An anonymous reader asks: "I'm trying to promote a technical user group in my area. We have great sponsorship and have had great speakers. I know my town has a lot of software developers employed, however I'm at a loss as to how to announce and get the word out to them. As a software developer working for a company, how do I get information to you? SPAM? Surely you delete those. Mail? I suspect my ad will never get beyond the mailroom. Should I post in bookstores? Put ads on the radio? Please help!"

Comments

Post to Slashdot of course.

[rednip]

I've got a great idea, submit your question to Slashdot! Oh, yea. here we are...

AKA,

• Travel to your nearest users group and ask around, I'll bet even money that you'll find some people from your area
• but more importantly get to know that organizer, and find out that they do to be successful.
• Get to know the local University or College, post in the lunch room perhaps even take a night class.
• Post to online forums, I hear people get good success from Craig's list.
• Put a magnetic sign on your car, announcing your group.
• Get a booth at the local flea market.
• hang signs where ever you can. Take inspiration from the "loose weight now" signs you see posted on public property. (if it's legal where your at)
• Go door to door like a Jehovah's witness (ok that's a little over the top).
• Go to the nearest Scifi convention, and spread the word.
• Talk to the nearest computer hardware providers, ask them to put up signs, they might even 'sponsor' your group!
• Meet with as many people as you can muster, even if it's one or two, but do so in a public place like the coffee area of a bookstore, chances are someone will wander by and ask what's going on.

Well, first...

[EvilMagnus]

...when trying to pimp your group on Slashdot, it is vital to include the *name* of the group, the location and time of the meetings! Yeesh, you just passed up the chance for a few tens of thousands of pageviews! :-)