Communications: Group Development and Resales Using The Social Web

Raines Cohen

The classic approach of cohousing groups to the internet—throwing up a simple brochure-like site—just doesn't cut it anymore. Learn how your group can weave every member's social network into an integrated “Web 2.0” marketing and outreach campaign that helps build support and recruit members, either for new groups or for resales in existing neighborhoods. We'll look at a variety of cohousing websites with common structural issues and do some “virtual makeovers,” showing best practices for using your directory entry, YouTube, FaceBook, MeetUp, Craig's List, MySpace, online calendars, regional boards, and newspapers, thereby making your online presence into an engaging conversation.

Raines Cohen is a Northern California Cohousing regional organizer and a Cohousing Coach, teaching Cohousing 101 online and in person and launching Cohousing.TV. A Certified Senior Cohousing Facilitator and Certified Green Building Professional, He's been in the movement for a decade and building community for more than a quarter century and has served on the Coho/US board and helped organize the 2001 national conference; he currently serves on the FIC board and lives at Berkeley (CA) Cohousing (originally at Swan's Market in Oakland), with his wife Betsy Morris.