In my experience, “open” clubs (ones open to anyone interested, no membership qualifications) live or die by a good web site. A community club lacking a good web site is missing out on guests who may become members.
Clubs have the opportunity to list an official web site as part of their directory information with Toastmasters International. I validated those listings and for each district, produced a list of clubs where the published web site either doesn’t work, or (for open clubs) there’s no web site listed at all.
Take a look at http://mikeraffety.com/reports.html (about halfway down) — pick your district, and see what clubs have web sites listed that don’t work, or almost as bad, open clubs that have no web site at all. Encourage those clubs to build a working web site, and I am certain that the guests will show up.
What goes into a good club web site, and frequent updates, is a whole ‘nother issue to talk about another time.
The website is the first line of contact for prospective members. In my experience there are also clubs that have excellent and updated websites but miss out in responding to their cellphone and email queries. District officers or club mentors should from time to time make test queries and see if anyone actually responds.
To be really effective, the club website really needs to be customized to show right on the home page why the person reading the site should visit that particular club. Include a working phone number that the prospective member can call, the current address where the club meets, a statement about days and times the club meets, and a link to a page that shows how much the club (and International) charges for dues on a prorated basis. It helps a lot if the club officers, especially the person who answers the phone, have their picture on the website.
Two other keys to success in recruiting, while using the club website: When the prospect calls, ask if s/he is at a computer. (In my experience, they often are!) Have the prospect go to your website and show him/her the picture of the person answering the phone. When the person is comfortable with that, ask for permission to pass contact info along to VP/Membership. (Most often site visitors will agree to that.)
Send an eMail both to the prospect and to the VP/Membership welcoming the prospect to your club, and include the contact information the prospect is willing to share. Ideally, this should include a home or cell phone number of the prospect.
Susan Ellsworth, DTM
VPPR/club webmaster several times around. B-)
The link on non-functioning sites is a GEM! I will be sending this out to all of my leadersip contacts. This subject is my personal #1 ‘prickly pear’ issue. I have been tracking visitor feedback on my home club’s site for more than a year; people want a meaty site with lots of pics and vids as well as accurate, updated information. Glad to see you are addressing the issue!
Linda E
NW1 Area Governor, District 30
hey, nice blog…really like it and added to bookmarks. keep up with good work
Now there are so much more! Lewisham speakers was born in 2011 and so many visitors by now; I would like to know what you think goes into a good website for a toastmasters club…