stephen blyth’s blog

How hard can it be to find 200 people sitting at their desks logged into a computer with a web browser open. On a Monday afternoon. Tummies full from lunch and legs stretched after a stiff walk around the block. Willing to join a short online conference. For just 10 minutes.

I’m about to find out.

Next Monday 26 April at 1.30pm we need 200 people to join an online event. There’s not much to it: just login in, watch what’s going on, maybe make a comment in the chat box and answer a question or two.

The online system being tested hasn’t been used with a big crowd so we want to test it out before a proper launch event in May. It’s for a good cause: a launch of a web resource for young people worried about their drinking.

If we reach 200, we’ll run a prize draw: $100 for the winner, and $400 for a charity registered on Give a little.

At this stage I’m relying on the miraculous power of networks to do their thing. I’m waiting to see if people tell people who tell other people and so on. So far, I’ve sent out a few tweets, created a Facebook event and emailed a handful of people. There’s been a mention in the ComVoices daily e-news. And more coming.

I even know more is required. So far the response has been low - participants are sitting at just 2.5% of the audience we need to run a proper test.

I’m wondering if I’ve got all the ingredients for the network effect to come into play. An appeal to both altruism and self-interest is there, but that’s not enough. Instant name recognition, snappy words (which I’ll refine through trial and error), a large personal network to call on and a direct ask might be missing elements.

All will be answered very, very soon.

RSVP here if you can help.