Member Engagement

Association staff and executives share how they successfully responded to COVID-19, providing support for their members.

Association and chamber of commerce professionals share some of their organizations’ most successful responses to COVID.

Crisis-specific membership renewal letter templates for associations and chambers.

Membership renewal letter templates specific to COVID and similar situations.

A compilation of strategic ideas to help organizations move forward. Over the past six weeks and after thousands of one-on-one conversations with chambers and associations, the GrowthZone team has learned a lot. Many organizations have risen to the occasion, reinventing themselves and are emerging better equipped to provide benefit to their members. Conversely, others have held on to a business-as-usual approach. As a result, demonstrating value has been a challenge. There are two paths forward: Return to business as usual […]

Membership Communications Expert, Melynn Sight recently shared her presentation “Crisis Communication Strategies to Strengthen Membership.” It proved to be one of our most popular webinars in recent years. The free, on-demand webinar is ideal for anyone interacting with members using the written word. While explaining the Top 6 Principles for Association Crisis Communications, Melynn discussed strategies for credible communication with members during periods of uncertainty. She also walked through the messaging basics and best practices for structuring association communications. A […]

Frank Kenny provides five easy marketing tips any association can implement. Marketing has changed a lot over the past decade. Social media now plays a major role, as does word of mouth and digital reviews. Brands are also creating experiences, and your members likely expect some of that from you. Before you start worrying about your budget or your time, make sure that your social media marketing is as effective as possible. To do this, you need to: Be present. […]

Most people consider themselves good listeners, but genuinely listening to others is a rare skill. What is effective listening? Everyone wants to be heard and understood (especially your association’s members). To truly listen, one must actively absorb information, show interest, and provide feedback that reassures the speaker that you’re receiving their message. It sounds simple, but in reality, most of us haven’t mastered this art. Any number of things can interfere with our ability to listen actively – our thoughts […]

Remember when events were a huge source of non-dues revenue for associations and chambers? With COVID-19 canceling event after event, times have been challenging, to say the least. But what about golf tournaments, which are go-to money raisers for many organizations? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered with this comprehensive guide for putting together low-touch and successful golf outings. RUNNING A GOLF TOURNAMENT AMID COVID-19 Many golf courses have new rules and capacity requirements now. Be sure to work closely […]

Editor’s note: This article was originally posted on November 18, 2018. It has been updated. The concept of telling good stories isn’t new. Even Greek philosopher Aristotle, born in 384 B.C., understood the importance of a good story and gave advice on storytelling. Why has it been such a powerful tool for so long? Because stories Inspire people to take action. They activate the imagination and engage emotions. A story activates parts in the brain that can make a listener […]

Now, more than ever, to maintain a sense of connection even while being physically isolated, associations need to take advantage of technology to engage with co-workers and members. Like most associations, you are likely evaluating upcoming meetings and events to identify those that can be facilitated virtually so you can continue to provide valuable information and member benefits. If you’re new to hosting virtual meetings, chats, or events, here are five quick tips: 1. Select a virtual conference tool that […]

crisis [krahy-sis] noun: a stage in a sequence of events at which the trend of all future events is determined.   Often used in conjunction with a negative event, by definition, the term crisis doesn’t typically refer to an actual occurrence. It is a condition, a stage in a sequence of events when a decisive response or change is necessary. During a crisis situation, timely communication and reacting in the present are essential for associations. Determining the how or why […]