"advertizing" for new group???

[PandoraHealer]

I was a member of a group about 3 hours from us. With gas prices the way they are, we've stopped going.... Its depressing and i miss the sense of community it gave me, even if it was a lifetime of a drive away.

I've recently created my own group. Most of the people I have found in this area are solitaries- not interested in a group ritual or (in my case especially) just not comfortable with it.
The group i created is called Crafty Pagans. my problem is- how do I get the word out that there is a group out there for all those people that want a 'group' but not the group ritual stuff? I've put up a flyer at the 'witchy book store" and at a shop that sells a lot of incense and crystals, and pipes, and dragons, things like that. I also put a listing on witchvox.
does anyone have any ideas of how to spread the word? WITHOUT throwing myself into the fire tied to a stake?
I thought about an ad in the paper.... but I also don't want a bunch of yahoos in my home.....
ideas...
please...

BB-PH

[LadyWillow]

You could always try word of mouth. Talk to shop owners and even some friends from your old group and let them know if there are people that are looking for a circle closer to home than to give you a call.

[Merrilyn]

Maybe try Yahoo groups online? I belong to a few of them. Gives me the opportunity to post and interact with others at will, and at my discretion. Some of the members choose to meet up, some do not. Two of the groups I am in are county-wide.

[SageWoodWitch]

I'd go with the word of mouth thing too...I don't know where you live but are there many colleges around? If so they usually have a pagan group run by the college, that might be a place to check out...Other than that it sounds to me like your off to a good start, might just have to wait a bit to let people come around :hahugh:

[Ivy Artemisia]

Make sure to add a link in your signature for the other groups and messageboards you are part of, and in your emails, too. :)

[HadouKen24]

I'd go with the word of mouth thing too...I don't know where you live but are there many colleges around? If so they usually have a pagan group run by the college, that might be a place to check out...Other than that it sounds to me like your off to a good start, might just have to wait a bit to let people come around :hahugh:

Pagan groups at colleges? I dunno about that in Tulsa. There might be some at Tulsa campuses of OSU or OU, but if there are, I haven't heard anything about them, though that doesn't necessarily say much. The pagan population at the University of Tulsa (where I'm currently attending) is woefully small, and Oral Roberts University has a giant statue of praying hands out front and a 200 foot prayer tower with a flame at the top representing the Holy Spirit.

[alwaysfallingup]

For my group, we use a Covenspace page, a Yahoo Group, and we also use lots of word of mouth sharing about our open events. We also do flyers at a local metaphysical shop and coffee house and even our natural foods co-op. We just use an e-mail address on them so no one has to be outed who doesn't feel comfortable with it and we can have some contact with the people before inviting them into our homes.

[Vigdisdotter]

Depending on your area and the local publications, a reoccurring ad in the local papers Events Calendar (which should be free) can help. Also don't forget to put fliers up at health food and alternative healing stores. You can also check out actual craft stores, the places where the people you are hoping to attract would go to by supplies.

Also, if possible, try to contact other local groups. Talk to them and explain who you are and what specifically you group is about and offers. That way if the groups have someone that isn't a good fit for what THEY do, but would be suited to your group, they could give said person the information :)

And of course there will be word of mouth via current members of your groups as well.

Good luck. I'll be in the same boat in abotu a month or two :P

[Vampiel]

http://www.meetup.com/