How can this Local Conversations website be improved?

 

 

 

 

The first is to be more detailed about who you are as a group (possibly with a link to your about page) to really make it clear why you formed, who formed your group, why they did so, and where your funding is coming from. Audiences are very suspicious of new upstart grassroots groups because of astro turf groups or the perception that you somehow represent outsiders. 

 

If you have a moment, writing up a quick origin story can go a long way to addressing the doubters (ex. https://delpop.ca/about/history/)

 

The second is to think about what you're asking someone to do when they "join stronger Tahoe." I'd recommend making the primary call to action to "Send me updates and event info" or "Stay in the know" and then have a secondary button below it that says "Join Stronger Tahoe." Public officials, people who contract with local governments, skeptics, journalists, etc are all going to avoid a "join" button even if you only mean to send them a newsletter and invite them to events. Plus it adds an extra layer to the sense of activation for your members that they can not only sign up for membership but also perhaps earlier than that they signed up for the newsletter until they were convinced of what you're doing. The key is to have sign up forms at your in person events for both options (and the folks who join as members are automatically subscribed to the newsletter) 

 

I would want anyone to get your newsletter and not miss out on that chance to connect with them because they weren't sure whether or not they should join.