13 replies to this topic

[bacopa]

How should Imminst get the word out? Should be advertise better? How hard would it be to advertise on tv on in the papers? Also, as I've mentioned before, why can't imminst get celebrity endorsments? Someone like Chris Walken would be perfect for imminst's image. I would welcome further discussion as well as suggestions for how we can better get the word out.

Devon

[dnamechanic]

How should Imminst get the word out? Should be advertise better? ... I would welcome further discussion as well as suggestions for how we can better get the word out.

Good question, dfowler.

A related issue is ‘Getting the word In’.

ImmInst could look at finding better ways to become more cohesive. For instance a navigator (Live Forever) recently posted a request for ‘Digg’ support in the forums and in at least three different threads. The support request was for an ImmInst front-page initiative (The F@H Prize) that is directly aimed to raising external visibility for the movement. After a second or third plea for help, there were three or four additional Diggs for this news item.

Three or four additional ‘Diggs’ from an organization that has over 6,000 registered users, and a fairly large number of paying members.

This scenario itself represents a important challenge for ImmInst.

Edited by dnamechanic, 28 March 2008 - 05:21 PM.

[bacopa]

I see Digg support sounds really important for imminst. I still would warrant some suggestions for getting imminst more of a household name.

[dnamechanic]

I see Digg support sounds really important for imminst.

Digg support is one way Imminst members could show solidarity. Granted, not everyone thinks every ImmInst project is their favorite. But, all Imminst projects are important to Imminst, and to Imminst's mission. If one truly supports 'The Mission', then it behooves one to support Imminst's iniatitives whenever and wherever they arise.

For an Army to win a battle, the soldiers must be willing to act coherently and in synchronism.

If your Digg username is one of these: adss43, mindimminst, hcooper, liveforever25, liveforever, then I thank you for your support.

If it is not one of those, then I ask you:

Why do you not support this initiative?

Your answer may be helpful for ImmInst to try to determine what do to improve this situation.

I still would warrant some suggestions for getting imminst more of a household name.

Many initiatives have arisen here at ImmInst, some are very successful. The fact that you and I can discuss this testifies to many successes. Likely, many other very good initiatives have faded because of lack of internal support. One can think, and say, that they support the mission, but eventually real concrete action is required.

I hope we (members) come up with ways to make ImmInst a household name. If we do, then the ideas will certainly have to have strong internal support or the ideas will not see the light-of-day.

[Mind]

Imminst has done a few different things in the past and is trying a few things now. Not everything will be a hit, but we have to keep on trying. The best initiatives are the ones the draw free publicity.

The Book: Great success by Imminst standards (thanks Caliban!). Sold over a 1,000 copies and brought in over $5,000 in revenue.

The Film: Great success. (Thanks Bruce!) Viewed by many online and people still talk about it from time to time. New people mention it in the forums. Paid for by dedicated donations.

The Conference: Great success. 150 people attended. Good speakers. Only cost the Institute a little over $1,000. The rest was covered by donations and registration money.

Sponsoring other Conferences: Alcor twice. Also sponsoring the upcoming Aging Symposium in Los Angeles.

Sunday Night Chat: Moderate success. Members seem to like it. Back when it was a text chat and now that it is on Ustream. Not a lot of attendance but the guests have been great and provide a lot of valuable information. The Ustream channel also has the potential for more content and outreach. I run life extension documentaries when there is no live content.

F@H prize. Hoping for big success. This initiative helps basic science and has the potential to raise the awareness of this organization as well as the longevity meme. So far, hard to drum up interest, as dnamechanic explained.

2008 Conference: Should be a big benefit. Trying to hook up with WTA, Foresight, others, to have a joint conference in October.

Social Networking Sites. Moderate success on MySpace. Had a group over 15,000 and some interesting forum discussions. Then one day something happened to the myspace page and it was gone. Myspace tech help refused to help retrieve the lost data, thus it was ended. Razoo: failure. Facebook: Not sure how much this has raised the awareness of Imminst but I know some people are on facebook...it can't hurt. Gavrilov has been doing a pretty good job keeping people informed of book discussions over at facebook. Thanks Gavrilov! At one time there was an Imminst presence on Flickr, not sure anymore. I just started a twine about life extension, no idea if this will work out.

Other Things:
Some people have been discussing a calendar project.
The idea of sponsoring a booth at an SF Con has been brought up.

[Mind]

I should also add that there have been discussions about a re-print of the first book with updated content.

[Mind]

Speaking of social networking sites and such things, my wife promotes Imminst through her 2nd Life avatar. There are a lot of different way you can get the word out in similar ways. If you belong to other forums (or del.icio.us) you can have Imminst in your bookmarks, or in your forum signature.

[thughes]

If it is not one of those, then I ask you:

Why do you not support this initiative?

Never been on Digg, I lead a sheltered life... I'll go look at it this week.

I think initiatives may suffer from my favorite issue, information overload. If we want to point everyone in one direction, we need some reliable and uniform way of flagging important initiatives, so that everyone sees it (even those that read boards infrequently or only read particular forums).

Eg. A "current initiatives" link from the front page. Some sucker has to maintain it though. Eg. have a stickied thread in the Member forum with initiatives to add, and then have someone post the relevant ones. Could use a blog format and have the front page link to the blog.

Sorry if this has been suggested before or has already been done and I haven't noticed...

- Mey

[Brainbox]

The idea of sponsoring a booth at an SF Con has been brought up.

SF as in Science Fiction....?

[Mind]

Science Fiction. Correct. Some members have stated that these places are fertile ground for open and inquisitive minds.

[Brainbox]

Ah, yes, of coarse. I was thinking more in the line of general image and trying to get exposure towards more serious revenues and the risk that could be introduced towards that by joining the SF scene. But I guess I'm not to familiar with the SF scene in the US so I'd better be cautious with giving opinions on that.

[dnamechanic]

Never been on Digg, ... I'll go look at it this week.

Thanks for your 'Digg'. Your willingness to take action is appreciated.

I think initiatives may suffer from my favorite issue, information overload.

Yes very probable. Sometimes one can be distracted. As far as I can ascertain, all forums have a pretty low signal-to-noise ratio, or the inverse, a high noise-to-signal ratio. This places a burden on the discriminating reader. As a result, items that strongly related to the mission can get buried or missed. Then there is the problem of raising consiousness to an issue.

If we want to point everyone in one direction, we need some reliable and uniform way of flagging important initiatives, so that everyone sees it (even those that read boards infrequently or only read particular forums).

Yes, I agree.

Although, it puzzles me why individuals can seemingly be aware and still not act.

Eg. A "current initiatives" link from the front page. Some sucker has to maintain it though. Eg. have a stickied thread in the Member forum with initiatives to add, and then have someone post the relevant ones. Could use a blog format and have the front page link to the blog.

Good suggestions.

Sorry if this has been suggested before or has already been done and I haven't noticed...

Maybe so, I am not sure either. It seems like a good idea to me.

These 'Digg' requests come up fairly frequently, tho probably not weekly. There are enough issues in the news that ImmInst could probably have at a least weekly 'Digg' event. Even if the event originated elswhere, ImmInst could still support the Mission by encouraging 'the Digging' of selected topics. Seems like a way to help influence the world, in other words 'getting the word out'. Perhaps an ongoing Digg event could serve as a frequent reminder for members/users and also encouragement in the art of 'Digging'.

[thughes]

Come to think of it the front page initiative thing probably wont work due to all those bookmarks and subscribed topics. A banner on the forums with a link to the initiatives post maybe... cant miss that. Could have both linking to the same blog.

Although, it puzzles me why individuals can seemingly be aware and still not act.

Inertia. I mean take me, it was the whole hmm not done Digg before, I'll look that up and see what its about next week thing... This can be combated by information, enthusiasm, and peer pressure (you supplied the peer pressure here ). The more people that do something the more worthwhile it looks as a place to spend your time. In fact, the more worthwhile it actually is.

If Digg is very popular I like the idea of a Digg event, at least monthly. Needs to be really good info though that may get people inspired. Very cool antiaging research, very well written philosophical posts on the positive aspects.

- Mey

Edited by meyusa, 31 March 2008 - 09:27 PM.

[thughes]

And the ED wins by sending everyone mail Hard to miss that.

- Mey

Edited by meyusa, 31 March 2008 - 10:23 PM.