Product Overview of Meetup
Introduction
Meetup is an online social networking platform designed to facilitate offline group meetings and events in various locations worldwide. Founded in 2002 by Scott Heiferman and Matt Meeker, Meetup is headquartered in New York City and has expanded to operate in 180 countries with over 35 million members.
What Meetup Does
Meetup serves as a bridge between online social networking and offline interaction, enabling members to find and join groups unified by common interests such as politics, books, games, movies, health, pets, careers, or hobbies. The platform aims to help people make genuine connections and come together to create meaningful communities.
Key Features and Functionality
Group Creation and Management
- Anyone can create a group on Meetup, and organizers can use various tools for scheduling events, sending announcements, managing membership, and promoting their group within the Meetup community.
Freemium Business Model
- Meetup operates on a freemium model where basic services like joining groups and attending events are free. Organizers, however, pay a monthly subscription fee to create and manage groups, with fees varying by location and subscription plan.
Premium Services
- Meetup Pro is a premium subscription service aimed at businesses and institutions, allowing them to manage multiple groups and gain insights into their communities. This service is useful for organizing employee wellness programs, professional development workshops, or customer engagement events.
Event Management
- Meetup features an advanced ticketing system that includes capabilities such as early bird sale options, promo code offers, and PayPal integration. This system helps organizers manage attendance more effectively by ensuring that attendees who have paid for tickets are more likely to show up.
Member Connections
- The “Connections” feature allows members to stay in touch with people they meet at events. This feature is mutual, meaning both parties must agree to connect, and it is not public, focusing on building friendships rather than prestige.
Search and Joining Groups
- Members can search for groups by name, keyword, category, or interests. The platform provides various sorting options to make it easier to find relevant groups. Members can RSVP to events, which helps organizers plan and also adds the event to the member’s calendar.
Communication Tools
- Meetup offers messaging features that allow members to contact each other directly. Members can send messages through the group page or via the messages icon, facilitating communication among group members.
Member Insights and Goal Setting
- The platform provides features like “About our members” which gives insights into the demographics and interests of group members. Additionally, members can set monthly attendance goals and track their progress, enhancing their engagement with the platform.
Organizational Tools for Organizers
- The Meetup for Organizers app supports editing all events in a series, adding event topics, and managing event chats. Organizers can also use features like the Speaker Section to display information about event speakers.
Revenue Model
Meetup generates revenue through organizer subscriptions, Meetup Pro subscriptions for businesses and institutions, partnerships for sponsored meetups, and advertising displayed throughout the website and app.
In summary, Meetup is a robust platform that combines online networking with offline community building, offering a range of features and tools to facilitate meaningful connections and organized events.