[Steppes] Alternate recruitment methods - MySpace, Google Maps

[Elinor Salter]

Thank you for your input.

Well is there a reason we can't test a tribe.net presence as well, 
perhaps with your assistance or advice?  I signed up for tribe.net a 
long time ago but never used it so I'm not familiar.  Perhaps we can see 
what can be put up on Facebook as well, as I've heard it has a larger 
college presence than other networking sites.  If no one here has 
access, I'll be getting a Richland College email in a couple of weeks 
that I can use.

I must admit that I haven't seen any MySpace banner ads, period, since 
I've used Firefox in conjunction with Adblock for a couple of happy 
years now and I never see banner ads or popups anymore, except at work 
<grumble> (forced to use IE) </grumble>.

As for objectionable material, one could make an argument that we run 
into the same sort of thing at some cons or renn faires (although I do 
think chain mail bikinis are truly lacking in the banner ad world).  Not 
to mention Pennsic (haven't been yet, but I have seen rather interesting 
pictures over the years...)  =)  I think it would be hard anymore to 
have a pure site anywhere that the general public will be visiting of 
their own accord.

-- 
Ly. Elinor Salter
Exchequer, Barony of the Steppes, Ansteorra

Crandall wrote:
> Ok, again I speak up. 
> I recommend tribe.net over myspace. 
> Most of the advertisements I find on myspace are
> on the level of soft porn, and many may find them
> objectionable. 
>
> Crandall, Olde Phart 
>
> --- Elinor Salter <elinorsalter at tx.rr.com> wrote:
>
>   
>> Last Populace I spoke with Lady Constance about
>> the idea of a MySpace 
>> page as a recruiting tool.  She agreed that it
>> was a good idea and so I 
>> created one as a test a few days ago.  If it is
>> agreed that it is a good 
>> idea, we can keep it going.
>>
>> http://www.myspace.com/baronyofthesteppes
>>
>> If you are not familiar with MySpace, the
>> concept is that people can 
>> create profiles to represent themselves and
>> link to other profiles - of 
>> everyone from their next door neighbors to
>> bands and comedians.  You can 
>> message each other, leave comments, link to
>> others' music and videos, 
>> and in general, socialize. 
>>
>> In no way can we anticipate high traffic from
>> doing this, but the idea 
>> is that this could be another way to reach the
>> teenage to young adult 
>> demographic.  It could also be a way to connect
>> with other members of 
>> the Barony or SCA.  If MySpace members in the
>> Barony are willing to keep 
>> the Barony in their top (always visible)
>> friends, this profile would act 
>> as free advertising to anyone viewing their
>> profile.  I'm not 
>> immediately aware of any other groups with
>> member profiles, but there is 
>> a group for SCA as a whole.
>>
>> Pros - can add videos and pictures (now
>> organizable into albums), free, 
>> very low maintenance if we only wish to use it
>> as a pointer back to the 
>> website, can send bulletins to everyone who is
>> a friend
>>
>> Cons (so far) - the calendar is a PITA to use
>> but we have other calendar 
>> functionality anyways, some spaces on the
>> profile (like gender and 
>> dating status) are not removable using basic
>> profile options but I may 
>> be able to cut them from the HTML code with a
>> little more study.
>>
>> If you like it, please let me know and give me
>> any input.  If I had a 
>> better graphic (the black in the coat of arms
>> does blend in a bit) it 
>> might be better.  I was thinking of redoing the
>> contact table with a 
>> branch-style laurel wreath so it wouldn't
>> duplicate.  We can use an 
>> animated GIF for the avatar to add more info. 
>> And of course, if you're 
>> on MySpace and want to suggest a different
>> profile song, go ahead - I 
>> just used a band I know from Iowa that is
>> half-Scadian (if you like 
>> their music, talk to me about borrowing their
>> CDs).
>>
>> I also created a Steppes MySpace group as a
>> test.  I'm not sure we would 
>> need both.  The member profile has the
>> calendar, but the group has a 
>> forum.  If we feel the need for a forum, there
>> are much better options 
>> elsewhere and this list is existing and works
>> very well.  If you want a 
>> good idea of an active MySpace group, look at
>> the SCA group - 
>> http://groups.myspace.com/sca
>>  
>> http://groups.myspace.com/baronyofthesteppes
>>
>> Another project I was playing with the other
>> week, before I spoke with 
>> Constance, was a personalized Google map of
>> local activities.  We could 
>> add this to websites or email to new people. 
>> Being mindful of privacy, 
>> I made an effort to make sure that activities
>> at people's homes were not 
>> linked to at this time - only public buildings,
>> parks, and a couple of 
>> local events as a test.  This list is also
>> unlisted, meaning it will not 
>> appear in Google searches.
>>  
>>
>>     
> http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&msa=0&hl=en&msid=104279740878831891474.00000111ce459b0ac3232
>   
>> So what do you think?  We could start an
>> underground advertising 
>> campaign - web presence and maybe some
>> well-placed flyers.  Not sure if 
>> it would work wonders, but it would always be
>> better than nothing.  I 
>> would definitely suggest library branches as a
>> place to put flyers (with 
>> permission).  I don't know many SCA members
>> that have less than 10 
>> shelves of books.
>>
>> -- 
>> Ly. Elinor Salter
>> Exchequer, Barony of the Steppes, Ansteorra
>>