Growth

The Challenge: It’s no secret that many industries were affected by the economic conditions of the Great Recession. As a result, some trade associations were impacted more than others. For example, printing associations experienced a decrease in memberships due to consolidations, buy-outs, and increased digital marketing and communications. A New Idea: One printing association in particular, when faced with lost membership and non-dues revenue, recognized it was critical to evaluate their programs and member benefits. They determined that, in the […]

The GrowthZone team is again providing a free “Shop Local First” Facebook cover image (the image and download instructions are below). We’re also including a “Top 10 Reasons to Shop Local First” list. Use it for social media posts for a “Small Business Saturday Countdown” or for talking points when promoting the “Shop Local First” message.   Top 10 Reasons to Shop Local First To shape and preserve our distinctive community character Local competition and diversity leads to more product choices It keeps and recirculates money in […]

Exceptional new member experiences are key to association success. In this FREE, on-demand webinar, membership expert Amanda Kaiser explains why associations are focusing on new members in order to successfully engage all members. In her interactive presentation, Amanda helps association professionals: learn how to turn the renewal process entirely upside-down for better results. see why engaging new members within 3 days to 3 weeks is critical. walk away knowing the most powerful (yet most under under-leveraged) key to engaging new […]

It’s a fact that a member’s decision to renew is profoundly influenced by their experience when they first join – is your association fueling exceptional new-member experiences? Join us on Thursday, October 11th, when membership expert and guest presenter, Amanda Kaiser, will explain how associations can focus on new members in order to successfully engage all members. In her presentation, “Fueling Exceptional New Member Experiences,” Amanda will help attendees: • Learn how to turn the renewal process entirely upside-down for […]

Membership pro, Frank Kenny, explains how to build a board of directors that is representative of your members (and why it’s important you do so). When you scan the faces of your board members, what do you see? How many are men? How old are they? Are they mostly of the same race? When I am prepping for facilitating a strategic planning retreat or board orientation I always ask the CEO, “How well does your association’s board reflect your members […]

LinkedIn is the world’s largest professional network with over 562 million users in more than 200 countries. It is a powerful tool, especially for associations who want to reach members, legislators, journalists, and prospects. With persistence, associations can benefit from utilizing this platform to bring better visibility to their organization. Having a robust LinkedIn association page isn’t enough, engaging current followers attracting new ones is key. Just like all social media, it may take some time to grow, but with […]

Holiday observances are a great way to keep your association’s social media feeds active. Talk Like a Pirate Day, Truck Driver Appreciation Week, and Service Dog Month are just a few September holidays. Here are several more September holidays to inspire you: Monthly Observances Baby Safety Month Hispanic Heritage Month Square Dancing Month Honey Month Service Dog Month 30 More Ideas for Your Association’s Social Media Posts » Weekly Observances September 1 – 7 Nutrition Week September 2 – 8 […]

Case Study: Converse Economic Development Corporation, Converse, TX THE CHALLENGE Kat Lindquist plays a significant role in the success of the Converse Economic Development Corporation (TX) as their Business Retention and Marketing Manager. With a master’s degree in Environmental Design and Consumer Economics, her passion for continuous improvement has added value to the Texas-based EDC’s efficiencies and customer service. How to choose software for EDCs » Soon after joining the organization two years ago, Kat was frustrated with the customer […]

Any association worth its salt should provide their board of directors members with a detailed manual. Specifics are the key to efficiency; outlining them in a manual will reduce the potential for confrontations and misunderstanding. A robust association board book should include: Welcome letter Board roles, responsibilities, and requirements for involvement Conflict of interest policy and questionnaire Outline of the board’s structure and how it relates to the association Information on board insurance coverage Board policies and procedures (e.g. travel […]

The Big Book of Association Ideas: Building Industry Associations Edition showcases the 7 award-winning program and event ideas from the Association Momentum Awards Competition. Featured programs and events include: Annual Playhouse Showdown: Asheville Home Builders Association Membership Marketing Video: Pennsylvania Builders Association Meet the Trades: Tidewater Builders Association Construction Connections: University of Cincinnati Construction Student Association Build with The BIA: BIA of Okaloosa-Walton Counties, Inc. A.L.M. Home: Charlotte-DeSoto Building Industry Association Monthly Legislative Forum: Desert Valleys Builders Association Packed with program, strategy, and […]

The GrowthZone AMS 1st Annual Association Momentum Awards Competition for Construction Trades and Building Associations yielded extraordinary results, with entrants submitting details of their most inventive and forward-thinking programs. The competition recognizes innovative programs, events, and ideas that challenge the status quo.  Entries were received from an array of organizations and the winners were selected by a distinguished panel, including Membership Expert, Mary Byers, AMS expert, Ashwin Tutak, and GrowthZone Senior VP of Marketing, John Cook. The Big Book of […]

We recently hosted a webinar presentation with membership expert, Mary Byers, entitled “Permission to Win When Nothing is Certain.” It’s now available on-demand free of charge! Mary explains how rigorous experimentation and planned leaps allow associations to lead and adapt consistently while still meeting the day-to-day demands of their organization. Learn what should you do when your association is being outpaced by change, your member market has changed significantly (and your association hasn’t), or when your very existence is threatened. Sit back […]