Member Engagement

If you’re like many people, you keep hearing about AI (artificial intelligence) but have no idea what it really means. It’s okay to stop pretending. Take a couple of minutes to learn about AI. What is AI? Artificial intelligence (AI) is an area of computer science that emphasizes the creation of intelligent machines that work and react like humans. Some of the activities computers with artificial intelligence are designed for include: Speech recognition Learning Planning Problem-solving So, where do you […]

So, you’re in charge of planning and running association meetings. Congratulations! That’s like being the captain of a boat, but instead of navigating the high seas, you’re navigating a sea of opinions and agendas. We don’t envy you, but maybe these tips can ensure a fruitful and pleasant experience for all who attend: 1.     Set a clear purpose and agenda. Before planning any meeting, it is important to define the purpose and agenda of the meeting. What topics will be […]

One thing you can always count on is change. While it is necessary to focus your attention on attracting new association members, it is important to know why existing members choose to leave. Sometimes it is just a life change like a relocation, but what if members leave because of a lack of open-mindedness in your organization, or because they stopped feeling valued? There could be any number of reasons why one decides to exit, and you should make it […]

A Guest Blog by Elizabeth Weaver Engel. Association executives know that the Millennial generation, which will soon be the majority of our workforce and membership base, is the most diverse generation we’ve ever had in the US. And the yet-to-be-named generation coming up behind them is even more so. We are also aware of the expanding number of studies showing that increased diversity and authentic inclusion produce more innovation, better decision-making, faster and more creative problem-solving, better outcomes, and an […]

Our GrowthZone AMS blog series, 6 Proven Ways Associations Improved Member Engagement, explores different tactics that can increase member engagement. In this installment, we dive into programming strategies used by associations with strong member engagement rates. In yearly surveys, over half of respondents reported that their year-over-year engagement rates increased. Of the respondents indicating increased engagement, 11% attributed the improvement to new or updated programming. How they did it: Programming Increased focus on program promotion Updated / improved new-member onboarding […]

Your members don’t need to attend all your events to be engaged. It’s time for associations of every size to walk away from 20th-century rules and fully embrace online marketing. Here’s one of five proven tactics to increase member engagement through online interaction and websites. Use Storytelling to Drive Digital Engagement Content is critical for engaging members and prospects, so don’t overlook the power of storytelling. Start with a member success story with a storyline that typically goes like this: […]

Kyle Sexton explains how professional staff of associations get more done with less. How do they do it? Leverage: Leverage man-power by adding volunteers Leverage investments by aligning with sponsors Leverage assets by rebuilding the membership model This means teamwork, of course. They say a team isn’t defined by their ability to work together, but their trust in each other. High-functioning organizations have balanced accountability systems with high levels of trust among the team. Having served with a high-functioning team for […]

Frank Kenny Guest Blog: A deep dive into steps for successful new-member onboarding.

Developing a plan for communications is an integral key to retaining new members. Statistics show that keeping a current association member costs 7X less than obtaining a new member AND first-year members have the worst renewal rates. So, when it comes to new-member onboarding, time spent now is time (and money) saved in the future. Creating a system for communicating with and engaging new members increases efficiency and improves retention. Hook (and keep) your new members’ interest by implementing the […]

The top three strategies consistently utilized by growing associations: They keep fresh and relevant content in front of prospects and members. They provide value by offering incentives to new/renewing members as well as advocate on behalf of members and prospects. They maintain an engaged, open-minded, performance-oriented Board of Directors. Some specific tactics include: Blogging regularly: 25% of growing associations report actively blogging vs. 18% of those reporting no growth. Offering incentives: 55% of growing organizations offer membership incentives whereas only […]

When a new member joins your organization, an email welcoming them should be your top priority. It’s an effective and efficient way to reinforce their decision to join. It’s important to note that a Welcome Email should NOT be a quick, generic email sent simply to check it off your to-do list. Learn More: How and Why to Create an Email Welcoming New Members If that’s how you’ve been rolling, you need to change your approach – like now. Sending a […]

No one email strategy will work for every association. Therefore, it’s important to understand which types of communications and cadence work best for yours. Whether you are just getting started or need a few pointers, these four tips will help you to hone your email campaign planning: 1) Segment and Personalize the email Segmenting and personalizing go hand-in-hand, allowing you to go beyond the usual “Hi {FirstName}.” Companies that excel at personalizing emails are successful because they have defined—with the […]