Meetup helps new groups find their members, both on Meetup and through search engines like Google. When you create a group, the topics you choose help us promote your group to interested members in several ways.
Depending on a group’s topics, we promote groups through email to interested members who’ve selected similar interests in your area, feature groups on Topic pages where members can browse for groups, suggest groups on pages for other similar groups and events, and feature groups through search on the Find page.
If you started a Pro subscription, to get the most from the SEO benefits in your Meetup Pro plan, focus on clear, keyword‑rich content and consistent activity.
Although you cannot specifically add or invite new members to your groups and events, here are some best practices that can help Meetup match you with potential members and help convince them to attend your next event:
Consider your audience: Think about who the ideal members of your group are and what details would attract them. Your ideal members may change over time, but having a person in mind will help your group’s focus.
Choose relevant group topics: When you start a group, select topics that cover your group’s larger theme (e.g., Outdoors, Book Club, Film) and ones that are more specific to your group (e.g., Trail Running, Mystery Novels, Women in Film). Select specific, relevant topics for your group and think about the words your audience would use when searching. Consider creating a simple word cloud from your existing content to surface frequent terms to include.
Spend time on names and descriptions: Your group and event names and descriptions are the first things potential members will read. They should be clear and convincing. Use relevant keywords in your event titles, group headlines, and descriptions to attract searches on and off Meetup. Keep wording clear and concise, and make sure your group page quickly conveys the purpose of the group and the benefits of joining.
Stay active: Host events regularly. Ongoing engagement helps your visibility on Meetup and in external search results.
Add video content: Consider adding video to your group pages; video is known to improve SEO and drive conversions.
Leverage all of your networks
Building a brand means going above and beyond the normal methods of promotion. We’ll help you find like-minded members on Meetup, but you should also reach out to all of your potential networks. Here are some ways you can get started:
Strengthen your branding: Upgrade to Pro (if you haven't already) and use Pro features like custom headers, network logos, and links to your website and social channels. Keep branding consistent and professional to boost recognition and search visibility.
Start a branded social media account: You should start a dedicated page for your group. Whether you use it to spread the word for your next event or keep the conversation going between events, having a social media presence elevates your Meetup brand.
Customize your group’s link: Having an easy-to-remember group link helps in multiple areas of promotion.
Promote in real life: Never underestimate the power of the poster. Meetup events take place in real life, so you should reach your audience in real life, too: coffee shops, libraries, community bulletin boards, or college campuses.
New group announcement emails
For some groups, Meetup sends a new group announcement email shortly after the group is submitted and approved. This gives organizers time to schedule their first events and add more detail to their group. New group announcement emails cannot be scheduled, expedited, or delayed.
💡New private groups are not announced to the Meetup users.
Who receives new group announcement emails?
New group announcement emails are sent to members who have:
Selected one or more interests that correspond with a group’s topics
Set their travel radius to include a group’s general location
Meetup groups must have a designated location so members may decide how far they want to travel for an in-person event. If you'd like your events to reach a wider audience, consider hosting an online event or upgrading to Meetup Pro for access to network events.