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The Untapped SEO Potential of Abandoned Meetups

In the ever-evolving world of digital marketing, sometimes the most innovative strategies come from unexpected places. Today, we’re diving into a little-known SEO hack that’s hiding in plain sight: abandoned Meetup groups.

The Hidden Opportunity

Meetup.com, a platform typically associated with local community building, is secretly a goldmine for savvy digital marketers. Every day, Meetup groups are being abandoned by hosts who’ve invested significant time in building their communities but are no longer willing to pay the platform fees.

When a group loses its organizer, Meetup displays this message:

{group_name} needs an organizer [Keep This Group Going]

Here’s where it gets interesting: you can take over these groups from anywhere in the world. That’s right - you could manage a New York City tech meetup from your living room in Tokyo.

The Takeover Strategy

  1. Identify and Claim: Look for abandoned Meetups in your niche, regardless of location. The world is quite literally your oyster here.

  2. Rebrand: Once you’ve taken over a group, update it with your company’s branding. This is your chance to establish a strong online presence in new markets.

  3. Leverage Existing Networks: Here’s the clever part - you don’t actually need to organize events yourself. Reach out to other hosts in your niche and offer to co-host by directing your members to their events. It’s a win-win situation.

  4. Strategic Cross-Promotion: Ask these hosts to include a marketing blurb about your company in their event descriptions. This is where the SEO magic happens.

Why This Strategy is Digital Marketing Gold

This approach isn’t just about SEO; it’s a comprehensive digital marketing strategy:

The best part? You can execute this strategy entirely remotely, allowing you to tap into markets far beyond your physical location.

Wrapping Up

The Meetup takeover strategy is more than just a clever hack; it’s a testament to the power of creative thinking in digital marketing. By identifying underutilized platforms and thinking outside the box, marketers can uncover powerful new channels for growth and engagement.

Remember, the digital landscape is constantly shifting. Stay curious, be innovative, and always look for opportunities where others see abandonment. Who knows? The next big marketing breakthrough might be hiding on a platform you least expect.

This strategy opens up a world of possibilities for expanding your digital footprint and boosting your SEO efforts. It’s time to start exploring those abandoned Meetups and turn them into your next big marketing success.


Erik Fiala profile picture
Erik Fiala

Product, UX, and growth expert

Let’s work together

Hey there, I’m Erik - a product designer with 10 years of experience building B2C and B2B digital products, specializing in B2B SaaS. My expertise covers the full product lifecycle: research, UX/UI, product design, web design, product strategy, pricing, branding, product management, web development (Astro + Tailwind), and SEO (both technical and programmatic).

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