Want to grow your Scrabble club? While “build it and they will come” is a nice motto, anyone who has ever started a club knows that it’s never that simple, and that growth requires effort: not just building a place where people can play Scrabble, but building a community. Here are some tips to grow your local Scrabble club:

1. Create a website that looks fun and is easily accessible. There are lots of free places to create your own website, and feature the club in a way that attracts players through new player information, resources, pictures, links, other events, puzzles, and other enjoyable Scrabble themed activities! Remember that with all of these things, sometimes the person seeing this isn’t a player themselves but a friend or family member: make this seem like a happening place to be and appeal to everyone, not just the hardcore Scrabble players.

2. Create flyers: Create a QR code to make it easy for people to pass by and find more information. Create and post flyers at local board game cafes, bars, community centers, bookstores, libraries, other games groups, etc. and continue to advertise, especially for major events

3. Create a newsletter focusing on fun, Scrabble events, cool words, fun people, etc. Share usernames for online games, future tournaments, etc. Feature high scoring plays, tips, venues, events, interview, personal events and milestones, etc. that allows players to experience the fun and get to know the Scrabble club as a community, rather than just an activity.

4. Create special events such as Scrabble parties, road trips to tournaments, Personal events with club members, Nationals watch parties, etc.

5. Use your personal skills and interests to create more than just Scrabble at club events. If you love to cook, bake something; if you like to make crafts, create Scrabble created crafts, etc. People love Scrabble themed prizes or get together if you can offer more than just Scrabble, and once you get them in the door, they bring friends and get hooked!

6. Adapt to your players. Happy players creates a happier Scrabble club. If you have a more serious club, introduce more post-mortem activities, stats, etc. If you have a more casual audience, introduce other word games and activities that lets people indulge in the fun of words.

7. Use media releases for major events leading up to major tournaments.  Type your city and media release into Google, then contact potential reporters and journalists to talk about club and a player’s impending visit to major tournaments.