Finding and Keeping Group Members, Part One

So you've read Running A Roleplaying Group and think you may be interested in starting a group of your own. With every group, recruiting is a necessary part of getting the process started. However, many groups focus exclusively on getting new writers in, and forget to cultivate and encourage the members who are already a part of the group. Both avenues need to be consistently worked on in order to have a roleplaying group that lasts. So how do you bridge the gap, and encourage new members to join while also keeping the existing members active?



First, we need to talk about finding members. Promotions and marketing are a good idea for this, but there are other things that need to be considered as well. When it comes to writing groups, the admins and moderators are generally the public 'face' of the group. This means that you are responsible for your group's reputation.


Look Professional

As the moderator, you set the tone for the entire group. This means you must look professional, and take care to share quality writing. Your profile page and group page should not have OOC or irrelevant posts cluttering it up completely. You should strive to always spellcheck everything before posting, so readers will associate you with high standards. Make sure to consistently share blogs from your group, to highlight posts from yourself and other members. Let people have a chance to see how your group operates from the sidelines first.


Have An Easy Button

If you have an interview that takes an hour to fill out and require potential members to jump through hoops, they will find an easier avenue. When someone expresses interest, it is your job to go read their bio and some of their writing on their profile page, not make them come up with a sample on the fly.

You will be able to see their style and voice far better on something they've worked hard to polish. Have a few questions handy, and if they are going to be added as part of a writing pair, ask them to chat privately to see if they're compatible. In general, try to make joining your group a stress free experience. These new members will be representing your group and inviting their friends. Start off on a bad note and you lose the organic word of mouth that is your best selling point.


Interactions

People won't know you have a group if you hide in the shadows. Put yourself out there, friend anyone whose writing you admire or enjoy. Banters and chatting will allow more people to get to know you, your writing, and ultimately your group. Even if you aren't currently looking for members, having a great network of people at your back will be imperative once you're ready to start accepting members. Consider yourself an ambassador of your group. Your interactions with others will be the base people use to decide the quality of the group as a whole, so try to always leave a good impression.


Figure Out Your Criteria

With every group, there are certain things you look for in prospective members. Having a list of criteria to start with will help you narrow down your focus. Are you a canon group? If so, you will likely require people to have read or watched the source material. If you are an indie group, you'll want to have blogs set up explaining the world you've created, and require people read those before contacting about joining.

Some basic writing criteria wouldn't go amiss, either. If you want your group to be multi-para or require a good grasp of spelling and grammar, check their posted blogs to ensure they will fit in well with your preferred style before approaching them. Remember potential future writers will be evaluating your group based on its perceived quality, not quantity. You can have 100 writers, but if all they're producing is things others aren't interested in reading, you won't be able to source new writers to join them.

A posting minimum is a good idea too. You don't want to bring in someone who roleplays sparingly if you want to have a weekly post, it will be frustrating for both of you. You also don't want to set someone up in a partnership where one is posting every day and the other can only post once a week/month. This will result in a fracture of the group as a whole, because writers aren't able to commit to the same posting schedules. Make sure prospective writers are compatible.


Go Out and Ask!

While posting advertisements in meetup groups or in your statuses can draw some attention, the best way to find members for your group is to personally ask them. Not only will they feel flattered to have their writing noticed, but they'll be more apt to accept if they have talked with you before and know you are a great person behind the scenes.

If you have some criteria that you've set up as explained in the last tip, don't wait for them to provide you with examples. Go check out their profile, their bio. Sneak a peek at their banters and blogs. Check to see ahead of time if this person might be compatible with your writing group. Once you've ascertained they would fit well, then you can ask if they've read or watched the source material you are working from, and if they're interested in learning more about your group.


Accept The No

Sometimes, some members have had bad experiences in groups, or aren't interested in joining any groups. This can be discouraging, but different people have different reasons for roleplaying. Theirs may not mesh with yours. And that's okay! Ask them to keep you in mind if they eventually would like to try a new group, or see if they'd be willing to share your group with any friends looking for a family. No connection is a wasted one, as it helps broaden our writing network. Readers are just as important as writers, so just because someone doesn't want to write with you, it doesn't mean they shouldn't be welcome on your friends list.

On the flip side, learn to say no productively. Not everyone will be a good fit for your new venture. You will occasionally have to turn an interested writer down. Learn to offer a polite response, and try to have as much tact as possible. Don't tell people they don't write well enough for you, find a way to offer a constructive denial. Let them know they may not be suited for the group right now, but if that changes, they'll be the first to know. If they haven't read or watched the source material but are interested, ask them to please do that and to let you know when they've finished so you can revisit the idea of them joining. Never alienate prospective writers if you can help it.

Remember, readers and writers share their favorite groups and talk about them to other friends. They support you and your group members, and can be the best organic word of mouth option you have. If someone is truly interested in joining and they aren't a good fit right then, help them become a better fit. Let them know what you're looking for. You'd be surprised to find many are willing to put in the extra work to learn when they truly love a group and its stories.