Launching a Blog with a Mailing List of 10K People

**Cognition** · 01-13-2010 05:08 PM

My college has a mailing list of 10K people, and my club/ honor society at the college would like to tap that huge list to gain readers/viewers to new upcoming blog.

We have just secured a private donor who will donate between $150-175 to purchase a gift to use to launch our new blog. We are planning to purchase a highly-compelling item to get people to subscribe to our mailing list, befriend our organization on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter.

I think having a drawing for an iPod would work, where people who wish to enter simply place a comment on a dedicated blog post. Or perhaps three gift cards - $100, $50, and $25 to attract people to the blog through the college's mailing list and website.

Thoughts? Suggestions?

**TaraYE** · 01-14-2010 12:18 AM

Hi Cognition - I would go with a larger gift, as opposed to three smaller ones. I'm not sure whether an ipod is the way to go, though... it seems like many college students would already have one, which would decrease interest from those who do. Consider a really compelling gift - something most college students want or need, and don't already have (or could still use).

Good luck!

**Cognition** · 01-14-2010 12:30 AM

Originally Posted by TaraYE

Hi Cognition - I would go with a larger gift, as opposed to three smaller ones. I'm not sure whether an ipod is the way to go, though... it seems like many college students would already have one, which would decrease interest from those who do. Consider a really compelling gift - something most college students want or need, and don't already have (or could still use).

Good luck!

What example of such a gift? Have any ideas, perhaps?