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July-September 2006

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Marketing 101
For APCUG 2008 Annual Convention
By Linda Moore & Jay Ferron

There are many new marketing approaches which are being implemented for the upcoming convention. Some of these marketing approaches may also be applicable to your user group (UG).

Some of the most common complaints that we hear from UG leaders pertain to fewer vendor presentations, membership issues and demographics issues. This convention will provide attendees with critical information on how to address these issues, which is why you will want to register to attend.

What do all UG attendees want to learn at a UG convention?

Attendees want to learn more about the latest technology and our keynote speaker will provide the very latest news.

Keynote Speaker Dwight Silverman

Dwight Silverman is a veteran journalist, who writes about all aspects of technology including PC & Mac computers, Web 2.0, Linux, and all the latest computing gadgets.

APCUG is very fortunate to have Dwight as our keynote speaker. To learn more about Dwight, you might want to start reading his blog at http://blogs.chron.com/techblog/.

Other marketing tips:

  • APCUG has set up reciprocal arrangements with the Chicago Computer Society, http://www.ccs.org/ and the Florida Association for Computer UGs (FACUG), http://www.facug.org/, to promote their regional conferences on the APCUG website, if they reciprocate by promoting the APCUG 2008 Annual Convention.

  • APCUG is working with other technology associations asking them about sending out an email to their membership.

  • APCUG is working on getting 2008 Convention articles into other publications.

  • APCUG advisors will be working on getting the word out to all the UGs in their region.

    Every APCUG member can be part of the effort to spread the word about the upcoming convention.

    As the program director for over 4 years for the North Texas PC Users Group, one of the things that I always did for vendor presentations was to contact other local UGs, such as .NET developer, AITP, and Linux groups (if it was a Linux presentation). What are the UGs in your community or region that you think might be a prospect for the 2008 Annual Convention?

    In order to expand the successful regional meetings, it will require this type of expanded marketing efforts.

    Linda Moore
    APCUG Director
    APCUG OLS Chair
    lmoore@apcug.net

    Jay Ferron

    APCUG President
    jferron@apcug.net