21 Free or Low-Cost Ideas for Promoting Your TM Club Open House

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21 Free or Low-Cost Ideas for Promoting Your Toastmasters Club Open House
By: Michelle Hanchey, DTM(x2) -D44 Public Relations Manager

To get started promoting your club’s Open House, take a poll of current members and visitors.  This way your club does more of what works!

  1. Corporate Clubs: use Orientation events and company Publications to let them know about your open house
  2. Display signage outside and inside, on the day of the open house
  3. Visit your company’s HR Departments: invite new employees (while at HR drop off some free brochures for new employee packets)
    1. Find your voice. 20 Free from Toastmasters International * 99
    2. Confidence. The voice of leadership. 20 Free from Toastmasters International
    3. 101 From Prospect to Guest to Member. 3 Free from Toastmasters International * 108
  4. Use Toastmaster business cards with club information, time, date & address as a simple invitation to your open house
  5. Toastmaster pin/Name Badge—wear at work/to events.  When asked, they present an opportunity to extend an invitation to the Open House.
  6. Contact local Radio/TV Stations/Cable Access companies: Public Service Announcements are a requirement by the FCC.  Why not your club?  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ts-C5D0qJU
  7. Local Magazines: submit open house articles: Mondo Times: Media Directory (Newspaper, Radio, TV, Magazines)
  8. Local Newspapers: Calendar Listings, photos and feature articles, include “open to the public”
  9. Local Newspapers: Submit articles with photos for Open Houses, contests, member accomplishments, noteworthy guest speakers, training programs and roles in community affairs.
  10. Local Government: Get on the Parks and Recreations Community Calendar for meetings and Open House
  11. Chamber of Commerce (presentation or event host, if member):  Most have a minute where you can introduce yourself and invite Chamber members to the club Open House
  12. Community Organizations (speak, visit): Lions, Rotary, Workforce
  13. “Welcome to the Community” packets – add an invitation to your club’s Open House
  14. Place Toastmaster Magazines: in Libraries, Health Clubs, Dentist/Doctor offices, Hair Salons
  15. Website—on TI listing under Find a Club: ensure that club contact and location information is correct and your club’s landing page is also current with pictures and contact information.
  16. Social Media: Do one or all, but only if done well; Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, Twitter.  Encourage members to re-post on their personal site about the Open House
  17. Online Meeting listings: Craigslist, Eventbrite, Meetup
  18. Community Events: fairs, parades, networking events, job fairs, post fliers
  19. Fliers—coffee shops, libraries, businesses, corporations, chamber newsletter, windshields
  20. Club Newsletters—electronic and/or print; ask members to send copies to all they know
  21. Elevator Speech and Success Stories—train members to talk about Toastmasters.  When it comes time to invite others to an Open House, they will be ready, having trained in advance.