We've discussed here the reminding of past contest participants about an
upcoming event, either by mail or email. That's really preaching to the
choir, so let's take it a step farther ....
An old sales rule of thumb says it's six times easier to sell an
existing
customer than to recruit a new customer. To entice new blood into our
sub-hobby, why don't we ...
Choose a local contest -- in USA, for example, perhaps the FQP or CQP --
so that rates will be reasonable AND callsigns will be familiar. Look up,
on www.qrz.com, everyone in your ZIP code (I'm not sure how our non-USA
friends would do this). Then, ten days or so before the contest, do one of
the following ... or both, if you like:
(1) Send each ham a postcard inviting him/her to operate or observe the
contest. Make it Open House-style ... between the hours of xx and yy ...
and be sure to include food.
(2) Also ten days or so ahead, after identifying each ham in your ZIP
code, send him/her an email (a click on the callsign in the ZIP code search
in qrz.com takes you to a page that MAY have an email address). In the
email, extend the above invitation AND attach a minute or so audio clip
from your station in a high-rate SSB contest.
73 Gene N7YW (and for 42 years, K7dBV)
|