Devon Book Club discussion

OK - so is it too ambitious to aim for 300 members by Xmas?
we would do better than that if just 1 person from each of Devons reading groups join - our fantastic library service has sent an invitation to them all for me so watch this space..... and encourage anyone you know to join

Did you want us to promote on the Devon Libraries FB page? Or you could Tweet out via the @devon_hour on Wednesday 8-9pm?

Hi Lynda - yes please. Any way of getting this out. I did a tweet on Devon Hour last evening but will send another. Also put a note on their FB page

Tis done - sorry to hear about your breakage! At least you'll have lots of good books to keep you out of mischief :O)

That's great - I'll go and find it. I've also set up a Devon Book Club Facebook page so will see if I can link them

After nearly 3 weeks we've reached 40 members at the Book club and 100 people engaged through Facebook (though obviously some overlap). Some people clearly prefer connecting via Facebook so I am keeping that active - feel free to drop in and contribute there too. So, we may reach my target of 300 but in combination of the two media. It would be great if you could continue to promote to your friends and families. I estimate that only about 20% of members are active, so to make it really vibrant we need to reach that kind of number. I am working with the library service on some hook-ups with them towards Xmas and in the New Year but any ideas you have for growing the group would be appreciated.

So - we are now over 50 members - which is great but can I ask for your help in actively promoting the group to your networks. We are 249 people away from my original target but if each member only found 2 people we would get half way there very quickly.

For those who have Facebook account, could you also "like" the page if you havent already done so as this is a great way of spreading the word - we have 105 followers there so lots who are getting the information I put out there but who have not yet joined the Book Club.

If you have a Twitter account, could you also post whenever you can. Several of our members have joined after I sent notifications to various networks in the county.

Finally, I have drawn up an A4 poster which I can e-mail to you if you would like it.

Many thanks

We are currently adding about 10 members a week, which is great and no doubt will grow further as your wider networks engage. I am mindful that Xmas is coming and you will all probably be buying books as presents. How about adding a little slip inside with details of the Book Club? - I've had a go at making a bookmark (which I don't think I can add here - unless someone can tell me how) - but I can e-mail it to you if you want to send me a message with your e-mail address.

Hi everyone - a quick update. We now have 78 members, which is great, and also (after a lot of activity in the last two days) 135 followers on Facebook - about 180-200 people in total. So, we are well on our way to the 300 target. I'd love to have 100 Goodreads members by Xmas and 200 on Facebook so anything you can do to spread the word would be great.

Thanks

ian

Since my last update on Dec 12 we have added 22 members and now, as you know, have reached our first 100, with 161 on Facebook. I still aim to have 300 members on Goodreads so would be delighted if you can encourage others to join us

That's wonderful. What I like about our group is that everyone seems very involved. There is also a very friendly atmosphere to it. Well done, Ian.

Do you think that a Just watched/just heard thread might be interesting? I know you perhaps don't want to branch off from literature, but we could try it.

Carol wrote: "That's wonderful. What I like about our group is that everyone seems very involved. There is also a very friendly atmosphere to it. Well done, Ian."

Thank you - appreciate that feedback.

Carol wrote: "Do you think that a Just watched/just heard thread might be interesting? I know you perhaps don't want to branch off from literature, but we could try it."

Don't want to stray far from books, literature, writing but if you want to give it a go and others want to join in on such a thread let's see what happens

Yes, would like to give it a go, but don't know how to set up a thread, so could you do it, or tell me how to.

Carol wrote: "Yes, would like to give it a go, but don't know how to set up a thread, so could you do it, or tell me how to."

Good if you learn so:
1. look on the discusion board menu bar - over to the right click on "new"
2. Give your topic a title
3. Choose a folder from the drop down menu (bits and bobs?)
4. Create your message
5. Click on post and it should be done

Good Luck

Thanks Ian. Will give it a go.

Carol wrote: "Thanks Ian. Will give it a go."

Good luck - let me know if you need help

Membership growth has been a little slow since the New Year - mainly because I haven't had time to encourage poeple through Facebook/Twitter etc but I do find that once I engage people they are interested and do join us. I gave it a push at the wekend and several people haev eitehr joined sicne or said tehy will so it definitely works. It would be great if you could help to drum up suport as well - encourage anyone you know to join us, promote through your blogs and social media etc. We now have 116 on the Club page and 170 on Facebook so we are doing OK but the more the merrier

Ok - so which bit of Devon looks most literate? A calculation of our membership reveals that Exeter is top with 35%; next is North Devon with 21%, then there is a tie between Torbay and Teignbridge with 10% each; closely followed by Torridge with 8% - BUT, bringing up the rear (and frankly facing relegation at this stage of the season) with less than 4% each are Mid Devon, South Hams, Plymouth and West Devon. Bottom of the league is East Devon with just 1% of our membership. Come on East Devon - where are you all? (if any of our members know East Devon folk, give them a poke)

In the spirit of welcoming honorary Devonians we also have 8% from outside our shores

Just by way of update
a) we have now got over half way to achieving the 300 Goodreads members (158) and we now have 258 followers on Facebook (not a huge cross-over so I think we can safely say that we have some 350+ people engaged overall. I'd love to get to 200 on Goodreads and 300 on FB by our first birthday in October - so keep on encouraging your friends to join us
b) Distribution of members looks like this (if you'll forgive teh football analagy) : In the Premier league - Exeter 25%, North 19%; In the Championship - Teignbridge and Torridge 8% each, Torbay/Paignton, South Hams, Other 7%; In the Conference League - Mid, West, East and Plymouth all at 4%.

If taken on population, though, I think Torridge is probably punching above its weight.

If you want to see your team perform better - get the word out there!

Well, we exceeded 300 on FB - up to 311 now but some way to go on Goodreads to hit 200 (on 177 at present) - but hopefully some new members will join after tomorrow's event in Sidmouth

Great news, Ian. I have added the logo to my FB pages and I know many of my friends have 'liked' it. I will encourage them to join. Looking forward so much to today at Winstones.

Lyn wrote: "Great news, Ian. I have added the logo to my FB pages and I know many of my friends have 'liked' it. I will encourage them to join. Looking forward so much to today at Winstones."

Thanks Lyn - was a such a good afternoon. Thaks again. Looking forward to developing ever stronger links

A 600th person has just liked our Facebook page. In addition, there are 1,169 people following us on Twitter @BookDevon and 271 members of our Goodreads discussion forum

If you've not checked us out on FB adn Twitter a warm welcome awaits you there too.

Allowing for the fact that some people belong to more than one platform, I estimate that over 1600 people are now connected through Devon Book Club. This has happened in less than 2 years and is absolutely fantastic.

Thank you so much for all of your support and please keep spreading the word.