I've seen 3 user groups come and go in Connecticut due to lack of attendance. I had spoken at them, but there was never anyone to speak too. How do you suggest getting the word out? Word of mouth? Or something else?
Instead of trying to put together a CFUG, I'd recommend finding alternate groups (Java, .NET, linux, networking groups, etc.. ) that you can speak at. What user group is not looking for speakers? Tie your presentation / topic into their general purpose. At a .NET group, I bet you'd raise a lot of heads with something a topic about how they've been doing it all wrong and CF is a better development tool. At 09:01 AM 10/21/2004, you wrote: >Subject: CF developer numbers >From: Simon Horwith <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >Date: Thu, 21 Oct 2004 09:02:29 +0100 >Thread: >http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/index.cfm/method=messages&threadid=36074&forumid=4#182148 > >Well, if I lived in an area with a poor market I'd start by becoming >VERY active in the User Group. >So active that I ended-up speaking nearly every month. So active that >I'd help with organizing and promoting it. >I'd be sure to always illustrate and emphasise the strengths of the CF >Server and J2EE in general when I present. >I'd also try to get more and newer companies to come. >I recently spoke with the other UK CFUG Board Members about how to draw >more people to the meetings and one of my number one suggestions was to >invite a .NET speaker every now and then. >I think the CF people would find it interesting, it'd bring-in new >people, and maybe some of those new people would end-up being exposed to >the world of ColdFusion. > >I'd also talk with my employer or client(s) if I'm a contractor, about >what they could do to excite their employees, the community around them, >and their clients, about the technologies they're using. A direct >result of that is that has been the sale of ColdFusion to MANY councils >in England and Scotland, more emphasis on keeping the server version >VERY up to date, and my client bought a nice shiny new Breeze Live >Server (not account) because I harrassed them for 7 months about how >cool it is and how impressed clients and staff will be when we use it. >I saw an opening to help get more Macromedia Server products out there >and did something about it. > >Macromedia periodically (pretty regularly) offers free half-day seminars >that illustrate the power and benefits of ColdFusion. I'd see if >they're happening near you and help let people know about it. If there >isn't one near you, find a training partnerr in the area and talk with >them about it. If that doesn't work, ask Macromedia if they can send >Ben Forta, another empoyee, or even a Team Macromedia Member to your >area to present. > >There's a lot you can do. I'm sure Rey has put in a lot of effort >either now or in the past and I wasn't implying he hasn't. I am only >stating that I'd prefer to hear something about what's being done. >I know that a lot of you believe it's Macromedia's job to do all of the >promoting, etc. and that the market should just be there. Maybe you're >right, maybe you're wrong. I think Macromedia already does a lot, but >that's beside the point. Macromedia can't focus heavilly on every area >(they do try - just look at Ben Forta's schedule if you don't believe >me) and if you live in an area that needs someone to help promote CF, >it's going to hurt you a lot more than it's going to hurt Macromedia if >you don't do anything about it. I'm curious to see how people respond >to ben's question... > >~Simon -- Jeffry Houser, Web Developer, Writer, Songwriter, Recording Engineer AIM: Reboog711 | Phone: 1-203-379-0773 -- My Books: <http://www.instantcoldfusion.com> My Recording Studio: <http://www.fcfstudios.com> My Energetic Acoustic Rock Band: <http://www.farcryfly.com> -- When did Reality Become TV ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~| Sams Teach Yourself Regular Expressions in 10 Minutes by Ben Forta http://www.houseoffusion.com/banners/view.cfm?bannerid=40 Message: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=i:4:182163 Archives: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/threads.cfm/4 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=s:4 Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/unsubscribe.cfm?user=11502.10531.4 Donations & Support: http://www.houseoffusion.com/tiny.cfm/54
