Liveblogging is an excellent way to connect with event attendees, as well as nonattendees who could be tempted into registering in the future. Some associations liveblog their meetings, but too many are lax on one of its most critical elements: planning.

Social Media Examiner provides a helpful preparation guide for effective event liveblogging.

Start with establishing goals—whether it’s simply showcasing thought leadership or attracting more attendees to next year’s meeting. Depending on those goals, you may want include a call-to-action on all of your posts. For instance, you can ask readers to sign up for a mailing list to learn about more events or request that they follow your social media accounts.

You should do a lot of the editorial work before the event. If you plan on covering certain speakers, read their bio information before the meeting. “The more you know about speakers ahead of time, the better you’ll understand what they say during the live session,” says Holly Chessman. “You’ll also be able to add context and interesting links to your article.”

And don’t forget to prep a few graphic templates that you can quickly plug speaker quotes into for use on social media.

Referral Programs

Easy ways to create a member referral program: @MemberClicks #assnchat https://t.co/QGal6DARCJ

— Muster (@MusterAdvocacy) November 16, 2017

Does your organization have a membership referral program? Word-of-mouth is a powerful tool for recruitment, so don’t make the mistake of giving your program short shrift.

The MemberClicks blog provides direction for building a robust program.

Consider if your program is lacking a specific type of member. “Before creating a member referral program, think about your organization’s goals, particularly as they relate to recruitment,” writes Callie Walker. “Are you trying to recruit all types of members (student, associate, organizational, etc.)?”

Walker goes on to make recommendations for incentives, setup, and promotion.

Other Links of Note

Second gifts are coveted amongst fundraisers. But The Agitator says there are a few wrong ways fundraisers think about getting them.

How’s the health of your organization? Smooth the Path looks at the macro reasons why some associations are thriving , while others are hurting.

Thinking about hosting a silent auction? Fundraiser Help shares 10 amazing items that people will want to bid on.

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