How to Create Your Online Scrapbooking Club

Scrapbooking is a very popular hobby.

Scrapbooks are creative photo albums that combine pictures with decorative stickers, decals and other embellishments. What started as a hobby decades ago has turned into an art, with some scrapbookers regularly competing in competitions for large prizes. If you want to meet other scrapbookers or promote the craft, you should consider starting an online scrapbooking club.

Instructions

1. Decide the purpose for your scrapbooking club. Many clubs are for the purpose of learning new techniques and completing books, while others also have a social aspect to them---they allow members the opportunity to meet new people and make friends.

   You should also decide whether you want your club to be for certain types of scrapbookers, such as those that are retired, military spouses or grandparents.

2. Determine if you will charge dues. Most scrapbooking clubs try to keep fees to a minimum, if they charge fees at all, but others that hire guest speakers or instructors for workshops may need to collect dues in order to pay for their expenses. If you charge dues, determine whether you will accept payment electronically or require that members mail in a check or money order.

3. Pick a name for your scrapbooking club. It should be descriptive, but you can get as creative with the name as you'd like. For example, you could name your club "20-Something Scrapbookers" or "The Virtual Scrapbooking Club."

4. Choose a platform for your online scrapbooking club. Most online clubs are run on a forum, and many forums are free to use, including Ning, Lefora and Forumotion. All you need to sign up is a valid email address, but you may also want to purchase a domain name so that it's easier to find your scrapbooking club.

5. Develop activities for club members. Simply talking about scrapbooking is not unique and may not encourage much membership. You can offer members video seminars, the chance to meet in person at an annual workshop weekend, contests or chances to win regular awards for the best looking or most creative scrapbook.

6. Promote your online scrapbooking club by listing it on scrapbook directories such as Scrapbooking Top 50, launching a promotional blog, posting in craft forums and placing inexpensive banner ads on scrapbooking websites.

References

• Scrapbooking.com: scrapbooking club basics