--- title: "Online Engagement: Take Small Talk Up a Notch" id: "22103" type: "post" slug: "online-engagement-take-small-talk-up-a-notch" published_at: "2014-03-14T17:28:05+00:00" modified_at: "2014-03-14T17:28:05+00:00" url: "https://associationsnow.com/2014/03/14/online-engagement-take-small-talk-up-a-notch/" markdown_url: "https://associationsnow.com/2014/03/14/online-engagement-take-small-talk-up-a-notch.md" excerpt: "Online engagement keeps your members involved and gives them extra value. Also: Publicity professionals share pointers on how to gain more attention for events." taxonomy_category: - "Marketing / Communications" taxonomy_post_tag: - "AssociationsNow" - "member retention" - "Membership" - "Online Engagement" - "Social Media" taxonomy_content_format: - "Article" taxonomy_role: - "Director" - "Manager" taxonomy_persona: - "Association Professionals" --- [Home](https://associationsnow.com/) » [Articles](https://associationsnow.com/format/article/) » Online Engagement: Take Small Talk Up a Notch Retention involves constant engagement. And what better way to engage your members than by socializing with them online? And it’s not just good for your retention efforts. The American Occupational Therapy Association’s Maggie McGary believes this interaction is valuable to members from an ROI standpoint—it’s a member benefit for them. Reflecting on her presentation at the 2014 [ASAE Great Ideas Conference (opens in a new tab)](http://www.greatideasconference.org/) with Socious’ Joshua Paul [on her Mizz Information blog (opens in a new tab)](http://maggiemcgary.com/blog/2014/3/5-tips-for-using-online-community-to-increase-member-retention) , McGary explains that to keep members coming back for more, association employees should commit themselves to more active participation, cross-promotion, volunteer collaboration, and other actions. “Regular communication and cross-promotion are essential,” McGary writes. “A weekly email digest of posts of interest, questions that need answers, and mention of new resources in the community are a must to drive engagement and make participation in the community a habit.” ### Tweet of the Day > How to Get More Publicity for Your Events [http://t.co/BsoMU3UlwA (opens in a new tab)](http://t.co/BsoMU3UlwA) > [#eventplanning (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/hashtag/eventplanning?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) > [#eventprofs (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/hashtag/eventprofs?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) > [#PRprofs (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/hashtag/PRprofs?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) > > — BizBash (@BizBash) [March 11, 2014 (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/BizBash/status/443508637584326656?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) **“Target each pitch carefully”:** *BizBash* writer [Alesandra Dubin relays (opens in a new tab)](http://www.bizbash.com/8-tips-for-getting-more-publicity-for-your-events/new-york/story/28047) eight bits of advice from top public relations professionals who believe event planners can gain more exposure for their events by producing exclusive, captivating, quality content for the press to devour. ### Other Good Reads: **Times are changing:** As nonprofits continue to evolve in this tech-filled era, blogger [Colleen Dilenschneider says (opens in a new tab)](http://colleendilen.com/2014/03/12/the-relevance-test-three-key-concepts-to-future-proof-nonprofit-organizations/) visitor-serving organizations like museums and cultural centers have three internal issues to fix to maintain their relevance. **“Traveling folk can contribute”:** Diversify your volunteer base by recruiting a fresh group from among the ranks of travelers, vacationers, and other adventurers who are passionate about your nonprofit. VolunteerMatch blogger [Shari Ilsen explains (opens in a new tab)](http://blogs.volunteermatch.org/engagingvolunteers/2014/03/11/how-and-why-to-design-traveler-friendly-volunteer-opportunities/) just how to inspire these wanderers to work wonders. **Give negativity the boot:** Reputation.com founder and *Inc.com* contributor [Michael Fertik says (opens in a new tab)](http://www.inc.com/michael-fertik/organizational-culture-how-to-banish-negativity.html) your business culture can flourish by rooting out the “Party of No.” **“Most organizations have limited self-awareness,”** writes *CMSWire* contributor [Joyce Hostyn (opens in a new tab)](http://www.cmswire.com/cms/customer-experience/organizations-need-to-cultivate-poets-not-mushrooms-024442.php) . To overcome this one-dimensional state, she suggests organization leaders tap into employees’ creative minds. (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/) Tags: [#member retention](https://associationsnow.com/tag/member-retention/) [#Membership](https://associationsnow.com/tag/membership/) [#Online Engagement](https://associationsnow.com/tag/online-engagement/) [#Social Media](https://associationsnow.com/tag/social-media/) **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 - [VideoOnline and On Mission by David GammelJanuary 6, 2010](https://associationsnow.com/2010/01/06/online-and-on-mission-by-david-gammel/) - [PodcastAssociations NOW Presents: More Than Marketing: The Power of Strategic CommunicationsJuly 30, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/07/30/associations-now-presents-more-than-marketing-the-power-of-strategic-communications/) - [PodcastAssociations NOW Presents: Why Slower Marketing Can Drive Stronger Member Engagement (Episode 27)June 25, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/06/25/associations-now-presents-why-slower-marketing-can-drive-stronger-member-engagement-episode-27/) - [TemplateMembers onlyMember Onboarding ToolkitNovember 5, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/11/05/member-onboarding-toolkit/) ## 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%2F03%2F14%2Fonline-engagement-take-small-talk-up-a-notch%2F%23comments) to your member account or [join ASAE](https://my.asaecenter.org/select-a-membership-type/) !