Cohousing-L Mailing List: Help! Will this cohousing promotional plan work?

[Chris (chris]

Hi, folks!

I'm brand new to this list, but I'm hoping you can help me.

Our firm, DesignHub, helps Cohousing Development Corporation with 
promotions for their Ann Arbor communities. In fact, one of my business 
partners lives in Great Oak  – one of the three CDC communities.

We're now looking at ways to help CDC recruit more people to consider 
joining the new Touchstone community. We're considering holding an open 
house/information session in spring to coincide with Touchstone's 
groundbreaking. (The open house will occur in the common house at 
either Sunward or Great Oak, right next door.) And we're considering 
using DIRECT MAIL, in addition to publicity, flyers, and advertising, 
to promote the event.

The mailer will very plainly INVITE the recipient to attend the open 
house/information session. In other words, there'll be a clear CALL TO 
ACTION. The mailer will also attempt to capture the recipient's 
interest with words and pictures that point to the unique benefits and 
appeal of cohousing.

I've left a message at The Cohousing Network to check on the mailing 
lists I'm told they have.  But we're also looking at a "lifestyles" 
list from a commercial list provider. This list would identify people 
who fit the profile of a typical cohousing community member (generally 
liberal in outlook; contributes to environmental/wildlife causes; 
health-conscious; etc.).

Has anyone tried to promote an event like this with direct mail? What 
were the results?

What lists worked?

Can you think of good ways to segment the list, so we get it down to a 
core of the very best prospects?

What fun things did you include at the event to encourage attendance? 
(Entertainment? Food? Seminars?)

In short....

Can you share any wisdoms before we get more deeply into this?

Thanks greatly!!

Chris Kochmanski
DesignHub

734/944-8705
chris [at] design-hub.com
http://www.design-hub.com

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