Best way to run a curated online events listing?

November 3, 2023 2:09 PM

My friend publishes a really great monthly substack that lists cool events in our city. The fact that it is monthly creates some not-ideal outcomes for users. For example - On Oct 3, he hears about an event on Nov 3. But users don't hear about it till Oct 30, because that's the next edition of the newsletter. What are some other ways to run an online events listing?

It's a pretty curated list of events - maybe ten or so per month.

posted by ManInSuit to Computers & Internet (9 answers total)

Publish it weekly?
posted by bowbeacon at 2:21 PM on November 3, 2023 [1 favorite]

He could publish them on a blog as he hears about them but still put out the substack on a regular schedule.

He could also offer different subscription options with a higher fee to subs who get the events right away (be the first to know!) vs the once a month option.
posted by jacquilynne at 3:12 PM on November 3, 2023 [3 favorites]

I would couple the newsletter with an online calendar that can be viewed at any time--it should be easy enough to set up, and then the newsletter would serve as a reminder.
posted by carrienation at 3:12 PM on November 3, 2023 [1 favorite]

Sorry if I'm missing an additional nuance here, but what about just listing the events on the website as they hear about them, and then reminding folks in the newsletter that they can always check that?

Many of the events sites I use use this hybrid format of listed on the webpage + email newsletter. (Though the newsletter is usually weekly, not monthly.)

One very popular example: https://sf.funcheap.com/events/
posted by rhiannonstone at 3:12 PM on November 3, 2023

Or put out the November newsletter on October 20 or 25 instead of Oct 30. Do most of the events come in early or at the last minute?

Or put it out on Oct. 15 and it includes everything from that day till Nov. 30. So there will be overlap (or a "Don't forget from last month!" section), but nothing will be last minute.
posted by gideonfrog at 6:14 PM on November 3, 2023

My day job has a fortnightly newsletter, as well as an online calendar. The online calendar helps with events that may be too late for a newsletter but also as a holding spot for events that are far flung into the future so it doesn't make the current newsletter edition too cluttered.
posted by creatrixtiara at 7:03 PM on November 3, 2023

One approach: consider how he would name his curation style/criteria. If it's, say, events with emotional connection, excellent date ideas, the most fun-sounding events for families with kids, or events suitable for people afraid of the color orange, or "Things Alan Likes" - clarify that, add a note that he can put in other stuff if he "feels it", then change the newsletter to a notification service whenever one of those events surfaces.
posted by amtho at 7:40 PM on November 3, 2023

A Google Calendar that people can subscribe to. You get e-mail notifications when new things are added. You can have different calendars/categories for gigs, food, etc.
posted by alby at 2:05 AM on November 4, 2023

I have long run the website Queer Things to Do in San Francisco. In the early days I hand-edited the HTML. At a certain point I switched to an embedded Google calendar. I have the Google calendar on my phone calendar app so I can easily add listings. I used to export the listings and send a weekly email but I got lazy.
posted by larrybob at 9:13 AM on November 4, 2023 [2 favorites]