Unlike a travel, food, or photography post, conducting a meetup takes more steps.
Here are the 5 easy steps to conduct a meetup on LG Connect.
Step 1.
Start with Creating a Banner for the Meetup
Use the simple Paint program of Windows or the free Paint.Net program.
In Paint, press Alt + F + E to bring up the Image Properties dialog and set the size to 1030 x 350
In Paint.Net press Ctrl+R and set the image size to 1030 x 350
**
Tip:**Use a gradient background for a cool looking banner
In MS Paint, there is no gradient tool so you may use the PineTool Gradient Generator to create one.
Download the generated gradient image file and copy-paste it in MS Paint for your banner.
In Paint.Net use the Gradient tool or the shortcut key G to create a gradient background.
** Tip:**Create placeholders in the shape of rounded rectangles so that the banner can be used in a subsequent meetup series.
In Paint, the shapes are available directly in the Home tab of the ribbon.
In Paint.Net shapes are available in the Tools palette or use the shortcut key O O
** Tip:**Do not use images in the banner that do not belong to you. Use Paint.Net instead to create art.
The above image was entirely composed using Paint.Net
Tip: Preferably put the time and date in the banner itself so it is easily visible.
Step 2.
Apply for the Meetup
Go to https://maps.google.com/localguides/meetup/create
• Click the Add Photo button at the top and select the banner you have created.
• Select a date and time for the meetup.
• Provide a name or description for the meetup. The character limit for the Meetup Name is 30.
Test this out in MS Word by typing the meetup name and then from the Review tab, select Word Count.
Note the number including spaces.
• Use an ampersand sign & in place of the word and to save characters and use similar tricks to keep the name within 30 characters.
• If it is an online or virtual meetup, mention this in the name or in the description.
• Also, select the meetup type from the pull-down list and then type in the description.
• Use a lengthy description and try to use consume full limit of 1500 characters for this.
• The description should clarify the background, the purpose of the meetup, what they should expect during the meetup from the hosts and other attendees, any preparation they should come along with, what activities will be carried out, and if it is a virtual meetup mention this as well.
** Tip:**You may also include text in scripts other than Roman in the Description.
Use Translate.Google.com or install the Chrome Plugin.
• Finally, specify the exact Google Maps address if possible for the meetup and the number of attendees if you want to restrict.
Submit the meetup and wait for approval.
Meanwhile, you will also get an acknowledgment about the submission via mail.
Step 3:
Post-approval Activities
When the meetup is approved you will get a confirmation mail.
If your group will go to more than one place during the meetup, make a list on Google Maps and share them with the attendees via announcements.
To make a list, go to Google Maps in the Chrome browser on the desktop, and from the main menu, select Your places.
Then take the Saved tab and click the + icon in the bottom to create a new list.
Give the list a name and a description and make it public from the list’s sharing options.
You can make up to 3 announcements before or after the meetup.
Publish the link of the list in the announcements.
Step 4:
Post Meetup activities.
Go to Photos.Google.com and create an album to share photos taken during the meetup.
Make the album public so that attendees can also contribute photos.
You need to capture a video of the meetup to upload later.
Shoot or record a video of the meetup or create a video from the photos using online tools like ImageToVideo or any other.
To compose a video offline, download a free video composers like DaVinci Resolve or any other.
Return to LG Connect and under the Meetup, section write a post describing your meetup.
You are free to write whatever you feel like reporting from the meetup - experiences, lessons learned, and so on.
** Tip:**Use the prefix [RECAP] in the title of the recap post as in this example.
Step 5
Rounding up the Meetup Experience
Soon you will receive an email from Google asking how the meetup went.
The mail provides a link to open a form where you can provide the feedback and also upload the links to the photo album, recap post, and the video.
** Tip:**Announce the recap post link in the announcement of the meetup so that attendees can read and participate in the post-meetup discussion.
Plan for your next meetup and have fun… 
Here’s a timelapse video that demonstrates creating the first image in this article about people chatting in a meeting created using Paint.Net
BR,
Tushar Suardkar
