--- title: "Social Media Roundup: Thinking About Tiered Membership" id: "21695" type: "post" slug: "social-media-roundup-thinking-about-tiered-membership" published_at: "2014-02-12T23:43:20+00:00" modified_at: "2014-02-12T23:43:20+00:00" url: "https://associationsnow.com/2014/02/12/social-media-roundup-thinking-about-tiered-membership/" markdown_url: "https://associationsnow.com/2014/02/12/social-media-roundup-thinking-about-tiered-membership.md" excerpt: "Having only one membership rate doesn’t work for everyone, but switching to levels can be tricky. Also: When your members signed up, you made a promise to them. Remember to keep it." taxonomy_category: - "Membership" taxonomy_post_tag: - "AssociationsNow" - "Member Engagement" - "Membership" - "tiers" taxonomy_content_format: - "Article" taxonomy_role: - "Association CEO / Executive Director" - "Director" - "Executive Team" - "VP" taxonomy_persona: - "Association Professionals" --- [Home](https://associationsnow.com/) » [Articles](https://associationsnow.com/format/article/) » Social Media Roundup: Thinking About Tiered Membership Most associations have some members who are always asking for more, as well as some who never take full advantage of their benefits. Creating membership tiers might make it easier to provide products to those who really want them—but doing it wrong could backfire. Advice on switching to tiered membership, and more, in today’s Social Media Roundup. ### Motives to Membership > Interesting membership pricing thoughts for associations [http://t.co/69H96CFFvt (opens in a new tab)](http://t.co/69H96CFFvt) > by [@MemberWise (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/MemberWise?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) > on [@XYZUniversity (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/XYZUniversity?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) > [#AssnChat (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/hashtag/AssnChat?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) > ASAE > > — Amanda Lea Kaiser (@AmandaLeaKaiser) [February 12, 2014 (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/AmandaLeaKaiser/status/433609284417777664?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) **There are levels to this:** There’s no problem with having membership rates that vary depending on what your members request. However, changing to a tiered system from a one-size-fits-all model could backfire if associations fail to do their research. On the *XYZ University* blog, MemberWise Network’s Richard Gott [explains how to manage tiered memberships (opens in a new tab)](http://xyzuniversity.com/2014/02/delivering-effective-membership-tiers/) , offering tips for switching systems. As most tiered membership structures have three levels—basic, standard, and advanced—switching over could result in many members dropping to the basic package, only having access to networking events, your newsletter, and conference discounts. To prevent that, Gott suggests, make your current membership level the basic level and consider advertising that a higher tier will provide “an enhanced professional status.” Associations should also consider economic factors, as increased pricing could turn members away and drastically hurt your annual income, he writes. The bottom line? Try surveying what your members want before making the big leap. *(ht @[SmoothThePath (opens in a new tab)](http://twitter.com/SmoothThePath) )* ### Keep Your Vows > What are [#associations (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/hashtag/associations?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) > doing with the information they have about members? [http://t.co/5uvoUmMdkb (opens in a new tab)](http://t.co/5uvoUmMdkb) > [#assnprofs (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/hashtag/assnprofs?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) > [#assnchat (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/hashtag/assnchat?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) > > — Momentus Technologies (@momentustech) [February 12, 2014 (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/momentustech/status/433417712170057728?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) **Just desserts:** Considering the immense and occasionally chaotic workload of association executives, something or someone is bound to be overlooked. [Ungerboeck Blog contributor Rob Hamlin (opens in a new tab)](http://ungerboeck.com/blog/how-your-association-can-mind-its-members) reminds leaders to uphold and deliver on the promises that got members to sign up. Among his tips: Keep members engaged by tailoring your content, meetings, and conferences to satisfy their personal and professional interests. “Enhancing the member experience does not mean saying more; it means listening better,” Hamlin said. “If you’re tracking member information and interactions, and then acting on this information, you will increase the member engagement and satisfaction.”*(ht @[ungerboeck (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/ungerboeck/status/433417712170057728) )* How do you keep members interested, anyway? Share your thoughts in the comments section below. (iStock/Thinkstock) [Alexis Williams](https://associationsnow.com/author/alexis-williams/) Alexis Williams & Alexis Davis are contributors to Associations Now. [More articles by this author](https://associationsnow.com/author/alexis-williams/) [Alexis Davis](https://associationsnow.com/author/alexis-davis/) Alexis Davis is a contributor to Associations Now. [More articles by this author](https://associationsnow.com/author/alexis-davis/) Tags: [#Member Engagement](https://associationsnow.com/tag/member-engagement/) [#Membership](https://associationsnow.com/tag/membership/) [#tiers](https://associationsnow.com/tag/tiers/) **Stay Informed** [Subscribe to our free newsletter](https://associationsnow.com/newsletter/) , *Associations Now Daily News*, to find out what’s happening in the association world every business day. ## You Might Like - [PodcastAssociations Now Presents: Beyond the Tech Stack: How AI Is Changing the Association PlaybookOctober 29, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/10/29/associations-now-presents-beyond-the-tech-stack-how-ai-is-changing-the-association-playbook/) - [TemplateMembers onlyMember Onboarding ToolkitNovember 5, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/11/05/member-onboarding-toolkit/) - [VideoThe Career Moves Every Association Leader Needs Right NowSeptember 24, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/09/24/the-career-moves-every-association-leader-needs-right-now/) - [VideoNCRA: Safeguarding Cancer Surveillance: An Advocacy Response to FY26 Budget ThreatsSeptember 24, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/09/24/ncra-safeguarding-cancer-surveillance-an-advocacy-response-to-fy26-budget-threats/) ## Comments **Comments are for ASAE members.** [Learn more about comments on this site.](https://associationsnow.com/comments/) [Log in](https://associationsnow.com/login?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fassociationsnow.com%2F2014%2F02%2F12%2Fsocial-media-roundup-thinking-about-tiered-membership%2F%23comments) to your member account or [join ASAE](https://my.asaecenter.org/select-a-membership-type/) !