Thoughts About Event Announcements

[chuck schultz]

When you post an announcement (and sometimes even a general comment) it's usually a good idea to try to use the journalistic standard of the five Ws.

Who - The name of the organization conducting the event
What - A basic description of the event
When - Date and time, including time zone info
Where - Name of venue and an address searchable by online map services
Why/How - Points series or stand-alone, how to register, price, charity involvement, etc.

Otherwise, you are alienating new visitors, as well as annoying and inconveniencing average visitors who are forced to look for a calendar of events.

Only hardcore participants have the schedule burned into their brains. The rest of us need some help and encouragement.

[zukitek]

Chuck, are you just thinking out loud or are you venting about some particular instance?

[chuck schultz]

It's just a pet peeve of mine, that I see at lots of forums - folks will start a thread based on the assumption that "everybody knows the schedule, everybody knows where the venue is, etc."

For instance, threads like, "Who's going to the big shindig in Buffalo?" or, "Volunteers needed to perform our annual public service event."

The truth is, only a few already know, and some others might be interested in participating or helping with an event if we help them by providing the basic information.

It's like the grocery store in my neighborhood that doesn't post their hours on the door because "everybody knows." As my wife told the store manager, there are a few million people in other states who don't know, and they might like to have the info available if they pass through the area.