How can I promote my group to people I don't know without sending spam?

Question

I have a group, and I don't know how to promote it to people I don't know without sending Spam.

Answer 1

Promote it in other groups that are like it using messages in the group. Just make it sound like conversation and put the link to your group in it.

Answer 2

You can promote the group by posting the link on your personal website and then include the link in to the signature line of the e-mails that you send out.

Another way is to ask other owners if it's ok to post the link to your group on their site.

Answer 3

I've done it in two ways.

First, when I transformed a neighborhood e-mail list to a Yahoo group, I notified all of the pre-existing members how to join.  Those who didn't (mostly because they were confused by all the Yahoo options) I added them myself (Yahoo allows ten per day) and sent them notification that I did so, clearly stating that if they preferred not to be a member, I'd remove them.

Second, when I find somebody I think would like to join, I invite them via e-mail, but with a clear explanation that it's a once-only notice.

In general, if you word your invitations personally and conversationally, you should be OK.