Newbie Outreach EXTENDED - ActiveRain Challenge May 2013

THIS CHALLENGE IS EXTENDED TO THE END OF JUNE.

  We recommend you call a Newbie versus sending an email. Nothing inspires more than a personal touch, a warm and friendly voice, and hearing from someone who wants to help!

ALL POINTS WILL BE AWARDED AT THE END OF JUNE

Do you remember when you first joined ActiveRain?

I do. I felt like a minnow in a sea of professional bloggers. 

I fretted over what to write about. I feared being judged. I feared doing something wrong. Boy, have I changed!

It can be intimidating for many new ActiveRain members.

Have you seen Connie Harvey's "Favorite First Blog Posts" or Debb James "Newbie Tuesday" posts?

How about Charita Cadenhead's Ask an AR Ambassador Group?

We all like to be supported and encouraged.  This challenge provides an opportunity for the Community to get more engaged with new members. It's an opportunity for us to do what we do best - offer a helping hand to new members who only need a helping hand to get started on their blogging journey.  There are some people who join and likely may never do anything. That's OK. This challenge is to help those that want/need a helping hand to get started. We are not here to force anyones hand - we are here to help!

The AR Community is all about helping and supporting members. In that spirit the Newbie Outreach May Challenge is born.

Contest starts on May 1, 2013 and ends on May 31, 2013 @ 11:59pm (PST)

Your mission, if you choose to accept it is to:

Reach out to a New ActiveRain Member who we affectionately refer to as a Newbie.

Option 1:

• Reach out to a Newbie who has not completed their profile
• You can find Newbies here:  http://activerain.com/social/roster  
• Be creative.  I found someone who joined AR in 2007 and still had not posted a blog or completed her profile. Stay tuned for my introduction to AR's new RainMaker! 

• Explain AR is sponsoring a member outreach in May and you want to help

• Help them complete their profile
  

  5/5/2013 UPDATE:  Bare Bone Profiles that only include the Username, Name, Email, Phone, Address & Description do not qualify for points.  In addition to the above one must also complete, at a minimum, the about section.  The information contained in the profile section is important for members and readers. If there is little there, what is that saying about you?

• Once their profile is complete write a post introducing the new member

• Post in the Member Outreach Group

• 500 points for your assistance

Option 2:

• Reach out to a Newbie who has not written a blog
• You can find Newbies here:  http://activerain.com/social/roster 
  

• Explain AR is sponsoring a member outreach in May and you want to help
  

• Inspire them to write their first post. Review their “draft” post and make suggested edits for more Google Juice (use of photos, key words, links, text size, spacing, etc.)

• Once the blog is completed and posted write a post introducing them to the AR community and include a link to their first blog post.
  

• Post in the Member Outreach Group

• 1,000 points for your assistance

The challenge requires completioon of only one option. You may choose Option 1 or Option 2.  If you choose only Option 2 the member's profile must be complete. 

You may complete both for a total of 1,500 points.

If you opt to do both then you will write only one blog post introducing the member after their profile and first blog is posted.

Keep in mind the purpose of this challenge.  It is to help Newbies get engaged with the ActiveRain community!  This is going to take some work but not without rewards to you by way of points and reward to the community by way of building it and making it even better.

What would a challenge be without a Twist?  Ask Roger Mucci!

There is an option for new members to actively participate in the challenge.  A new member does not have to wait to be contacted by another member.

Newbie Option:  For Newbies ONLY

• Complete your profile and/or write your first blog

• Leave a link to your completed profile in the comments on this post
• See 5/5/2013 UPDATE above
  

• Leave a link to your first blog in the comments on this post. 

• Post first blog in the Member Outreach Group

• Receive 500 points for profile completion.

• Receive 1,000 points for posting your first blog. 
  

Contest starts on May 1, 2013 and ends on June 30, 2013 @ 11:59pm (PST)

Let it Rain!