Using data to get a better idea of member preferences helps associations provide them with a better experience and boosts engagement.
The Urgent Care Association knew it was time for a reset to better meet member needs because of a tidal shift in its industry due to the pandemic. With a small staff, planning and a realistic timeline are key ingredients for a successful overhaul.
Reaching out a little farther to lapsed members with better, more relevant communications has yielded some excellent results for one association. Find out why.
A zero-dollar strategy for retaining and recruiting members is hidden in plain sight on an unlikely, but very common, association tool: a job board.
Sparking better member engagement is all about talking like real people do in everyday life. Conversations are not one-sided—they are a give and take—a concept that is often absent in member communications. Here’s how to do better.
An avalanche of messaging was never a great idea, and it is much less so now when everyone is wading through a seemingly constant influx of, well, life. Keeping communications concise respects members’ time—and their frame of mind.
A helpful and popular added benefit gives members a more in-depth and time-saving connection to their professions—and their peers.
Looking for a simple, inexpensive way to consistently provide member value? Hint: It’s something obvious that you might be overlooking—streamlining the member login process. When so many associations are transforming digital experiences, it’s important not to overlook an often-obvious problem when trying to improve membership: Be sure to update the member login process. “Great member […]
A benefits program tailored to member needs helps them improve their businesses—and their lives. The popular offering also saves members millions of dollars.
A new benefit provides a streamlined search tool for members to showcase their expertise and generate new business leads, delivering added value.
A newsletter became a free marketing resource for one association’s members to help them reignite their businesses after a particularly difficult time for the travel industry.
Showing members you have their back during turbulent times keeps the community together and is a way to increase renewal, retention, and engagement.
What happens when your members need a comprehensive resource that would require a ton of staff time you don’t have? Engaging member expertise in the process and serving as a hub is a great low-cost solution.
Preparation is the key to success. Before going to leadership with a new membership-related proposal, it’s essential to have the data to back it up—then test the presentation out on trusted colleagues.
Making onboarding all about the member is an excellent strategy for recruitment, retention, and engagement.
Need some help coming up with different ways to engage members? Create a swipe file for inspiration to help you think outside the box.
Asking members surprisingly simple questions can help start conversations that build much more meaningful engagement, rather than bombarding them with an avalanche of information in the hopes of finding something that sticks.
Getting staff involved in regularly fostering and sustaining member connections helps boost engagement and retention.
The Massachusetts Society of CPAs goes the distance for members facing mental health issues and stress. Here is one way the group is helping members cope.
Communicating directly—and personally—with members is a great way to highlight new resources and other benefits without sounding like a sales pitch.
A new benefit gives an association’s members access to comprehensive resources that help them expand their businesses and optimize innovative technology tools in their field.
In addition to boosting membership rolls, extending membership to employees of organizational members gives employers a chance to provide professional development opportunities to staff in an uncertain job market.
Taking the time to celebrate members who excel in their field fosters a sense of personal and professional achievement and exemplifies the value of association membership.
The American Library Association’s ReMember Fund enables library workers who are currently unemployed to retain membership and stay connected to ALA’s vital resources and peer network.
Showcasing member achievements boosts engagement and promotes the benefits of an association’s certification program.
Communicating with video adds a personal and authentic touch to member outreach.
Highlighting media stories about members opens the door for increased engagement and peer-to-peer connections.
A successful way to engage members virtually has an early wake-up call, but it’s worth it.
The Healthcare Financial Management Association offered a trial membership last year, which led to a notable increase in members—and great insights to help improve offerings.
A popular fitness competition gets members up and moving to help diffuse stress during their profession’s most demanding time of year.
Informal, online monthly meetups give members a chance to connect with peers, explore hot topics, and enjoy small-group discussions.
Giving members the option of a dues grace period can be mutually beneficial.
Finding out what a member wants from your association as soon as they join establishes an immediate connection and creates a customized experience—for the member and the association. That’s a win-win.
Looking for simple, inexpensive ways to keep members engaged in a virtual world? Here’s one solution.
A system designed to connect members to in-person business opportunities morphed into a way to connect virtually.
A program initially conceived as a recruitment tool for a hard-to-reach membership segment became a successful renewal incentive when the pandemic hit.
Instead of overwhelming new members with a long list of benefits in a traditional printed brochure, the International Society of Arboriculture uses email to give them a handful of easy first steps to get involved.
A new membership type responds directly to member needs by providing affordable education options when they need them most.
A series of recorded member orientation webinars helps introduce an association to members who don’t typically come to its events, creates microvolunteering opportunities, and attracts new—and sometimes elusive—members.
Associations offering trial memberships need to make sure the trial is appealing enough for people to see value in upgrading, says membership expert Joy Duling.
The traditional meet-and-greet isn’t exactly compatible with the new normal, but that doesn’t mean you can’t think creatively about keeping the networking flame alive.
Rather than reinventing the wheel every time you send a message to a member, consider using a text-expansion tool that can save you time with the help of a template.
Marketing General Incorporated’s annual report on membership has some predictably dire findings. But there are also lots of positive trends and revelations about how associations weathered a mighty storm and never lost sight of meeting member needs.
The American Medical Association didn’t wait for members to tell them what they needed to avoid burnout and improve their careers. Instead, AMA conducted proactive research that revealed a path to effective solutions that will significantly improve each member’s professional journey.
Asking the right survey questions—and adapting your strategies as needed—can help associations learn a thing or two about their professional development tools.
We heard a lot about how quickly associations made hard pivots to perform during the pandemic. What if getting there didn’t have to be so hard? Experts suggest using scenario planning to create a strong underpinning that allows your association to be nimble in uncertain times. Many associations were able to pivot quickly last year […]
By focusing on member experience, associations can build a program that boosts membership value and provides resources that improve members’ personal and professional lives.
Diversity is critical to board effectiveness, and the right representation doesn’t happen by accident. These tips can help you make an honest assessment of where your board stands now and whether you need to add new perspectives.
A new CEO saw opportunity in multiple challenges and brought about real change—including a significant boost in membership and initiatives to dismantle systemic racism in higher education. Here are insights into how he achieved an ambitious agenda.
Transformation and a year full of challenges galvanized the Consumer Brands Association after a high-profile rebrand. A sharpened focus and a new strategic direction led to increased membership, despite adversity.
Associations long relied on the same channels to engage, recruit, and retain members. And then everything changed. Now what? A membership expert shares her ideas for switching course and finding new opportunities.
Highly experienced and nearing retirement age, members who are far along in their careers deserve focus from the organization that represents them, too. An association executive breaks down a few ideas for serving their needs.
Associations responded remarkably well to an onslaught of challenges in 2020. A membership expert offers suggestions for navigating the start of a new year with your members in mind.
Is 2020 ending with a bang or a whimper? Hard to say, but it’s almost over, and that is a good thing. The challenges of this year, however, were no match for the fortitude of associations. Here are some reflections.
When everyone is affected by the same crisis, figuring out what you can do to help others is not always easy. Here are three ways one association, inspired by its members, helped them during a critical time.
Bringing in new members with a health crisis in full swing and the economy reeling sounds pretty daunting. But it is possible, according to an expert who sees hope for associations amid adversity.
Breaking down unnecessary barriers to recruitment will serve your organization. Also: An empathetic leader can build relationships and help employees grow.
One association’s unwavering commitment to achieve a membership goal sustained it through a crisis, allowed it to reach its goal, and gave it a blueprint for future success.
Wondering what to do about member incentives during a global pandemic? You’re not alone. Here are some tips and real-world examples to help you navigate this tricky question in difficult times.
When marketing to members in a crisis, focus on providing value. Also: how to offer quality customer service when members can’t reach you in person.
Ask yourself how you’re using volunteers and whether they have the right resources. Also: Keys to a successful video job interview.
While it’s time for me to say goodbye to ASAE and Associations Now, before I go, let’s reflect on the power of human connections and how associations can use these relationships as a force for good.
How event professionals can maximize their time as event attendees. Also: Tips to boost your email marketing efforts.
In the weekly Membership Hack column, we share small ways that associations save time, money, and resources while delivering value to members. Here are some of our favorites from the past year.
The International Documentary Association connects members to an online database of grant funding. Members can also ask questions about grant applications using the Twitter hashtag #FunderFriday.
Your messaging on membership’s return on investment is often as important as the benefits you provide. Consider whether you’re striking the right tone.
Need more chapter volunteers? Develop your recruitment strategy. Also: why you should start a mentorship program.
To recruit the next generation of members, you have to meet them where they are. And that might require a look at your membership model. Also: ways to add wellness to your next meeting.
Volunteers can help keep your online community strong.
The American Homebrewers Association gives members an easy way to track discounts and savings using an app, which helps AHA make the case for membership value and ROI.
Offering a giveaway? Let fashion retailer Forever 21 give you a lesson in what not to do. Also: the difference between workflow and process.
The American Cleaning Institute created a consumer-focused for its members’ customers. The content includes practical cleaning tips as well as safety information.
An awards program of the Academy of Osseointegration recognizes top-performing dental students. The recognition comes with a free membership, plus some additional member perks.
A new report indicates that partnership development is critical for rapid business growth. That’s the main reason why the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States recently created a partner membership category.
To successfully solve problems, teams must be proactive and understand the data to map out potential solutions. Also: social media’s shift to customer service.
Service-oriented jobs are gaining favor with college grads—and nonprofit paychecks are catching up. Also: Meeting planners, your time is money.
If the wrong visitors dominate traffic on your association’s website or if pages targeted at members aren’t carrying their weight, look at ways to change that conversation. Here are a few ideas.
Trying to reach your audience with an email newsletter? You need the right tools, the right processes, and the right people behind you. Consider these tips for newsletter success.
Certifications are in high demand, so now's a great time to update your association’s application process. Also: your online community engagement checklist.
Engagement might be the top priority of a membership portal, but it can generate revenue from your other offerings too. Also: a lesson in retaining young members.
Amazon’s growing strength, driven by its popular retail membership program, is helping to encourage consumers to subscribe to similar services, a recent survey finds.
Not every employee thinks of "promotion" the same way. For execs, that's an opportunity to rethink how you assess staff and set goals for them.
An app from the American Board of Anesthesiology assesses members on their professional knowledge year-round to help them maintain their certification, replacing its traditional exam.
A potential member wants to join your association. Here’s how to help them persuade their employer to pay their dues. Also: how vertical video fares on social media.
It’s hard work managing chapters across the country and around the world. Here are a few essentials component relations staffers rely on to stay organized and better manage their time.
As expenses rise, particularly for cultural organizations, membership programs become more important than ever to maximize support. Also: Before AI hits marketing full force, here’s how you should approach personalization.
In the weekly Membership Hack column, we share the little ways that associations save time, money, and resources while delivering value to members all year long. Here are some of our favorites from 2018.
Struggling with event data management? Research shows 4 out of 5 associations are, too. Also: ways to make your meeting more sustainable.
Journalism is emphasizing reader experience as a key way to boost revenue. Here’s what associations can learn. Also: creative ways to thank meeting attendees.
If you’re having a hard time with membership recruitment or retention, it’s time to seek a new strategy. Also: a conference badge that doubles as a working computer.
From privacy scandals to algorithm changes, handling social media for associations is harder than ever. Here’s how the experts are keeping up.
Yes, young professional members have specific needs. But are you meeting those needs, or just stereotyping a key member base? Also: hosting sustainable events.
Associations have never had a monopoly on the concept of membership, but as it becomes more common online even for the smallest of creators (thanks, Patreon), now might be a good time to consider how to up your game—both with tech and strategy.
A fresh look at your membership database can serve as the key to improved communication and higher member satisfaction.
How the Romance Writers of America capitalizes on content marketing strategy to create a flourishing industry. Also: A firsthand account of the Carr Fire.
If you’re looking to become more influential within your industry, follow this instructive guide from HubSpot. Also: How to change the metabolism of your events.
When your organization’s website, app, or newsletter doesn’t work the way it’s supposed to, it potentially creates a frustrating experience for your members. As with traditional membership issues, those problems can add up.
A few more ways you can get your staff firing on all cylinders when it comes to learning a new software tool.
A new approach to funding philanthropic organizations adds a layer of accountability. Also: Should you sell your education offering to corporate members?
Don’t let a lackluster renewal program be the reason you lose out on members. Also: As digital technology changes the world at light speed, mindfulness can help leaders shape the future of organizations more strategically.
No one wants to implement a program that is doomed to fail. To prevent an expensive mistake, use a trial program. Here’s how to get started. Also: If your volunteers aren’t as productive as you need them to be, the problem could lie with the timing of your request.
At the TRSA, it’s the CEOs job to think critically about audiences the association wants to reach through a revamped content strategy. Here’s why he does it—and how he fits it into his workload.
Associations have always used their awards programs to drive engagement, increase member loyalty, and generate nondues revenue. But as member demographics change, associations are discovering the need to adjust and evolve their awards programs as well.
As members interact with the latest tech from the corporate world, their expectations of association offerings will change. Also: Do anti-discrimination laws apply to a women-only coworking spaces?
Everybody wants to climb the ladder, but that doesn’t mean they don’t need some institutional encouragement. Associations can take some lessons from how they court members to make it happen.
A Rhode Island museum offers up free membership to newly naturalized citizens. Also: Twitter rolls out a new bookmarking feature.
An Association Success writer discusses the next level of personalization for organizations. Also: seemingly harmless questions you shouldn’t ask your employees.
Take a cue from the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses and track how your members move.
The American Nurses Association’s #fitnursefriday social media campaign engages members and keeps them accountable for their New Year's resolutions.
Association professionals should make it a resolution to use project management tools to deliver better experiences for their members in 2018.
One year in, our Membership Hack column has become your weekly two-minute read for ideas for saving time, money, and other resources while delivering value to your members. Here’s a look back at some personal favorites.
Associations excel at launching new offerings, but they aren’t nearly as good at letting go when something outlives its usefulness. Discontinuing a product offering or service—whether a legacy favorite or a program that held high hopes but didn’t pan out—can be painful, but it pays off to manage your portfolio with a focus on meeting member needs and the organization’s goals.
Designing a membership journey map will help your group better understand what your members go through when interacting with your organization. Also: Stop trolls from ruining your online community.
Roundtable discussions provide engagement experience for members and a learning opportunity for you. Here are some tips for facilitating roundtables.
What’s the secret to a thriving membership program? Industry leaders reveal what has worked best for them. Also: how the smartphone is changing the very nature of physical spaces.
Polarizing politics have made it harder for many associations to lobby, and many fear blowback from members on political stances. But there are still opportunities to hone your message and get it heard.
A new trade group, the Subscription Trade Association, looks to aggregate resources and jump-start a creative and responsible community for the thriving monthly subscription box industry.
Before you migrate your membership data to new software, make sure you're fully prepared. Also: Don't let a cybersecurity hack force you out of a job.
Need some quick tips on effectively engaging new members? Here are a few strategies shared by speakers at this week’s YourMembership conference.
Here are five factors to focus on to get the most out of your membership data. Also: How one news organization tackled its digital bugs and upgrades with a hackathon.
Encourage membership growth by addressing potential trouble spots in your membership experience. Also: How to write the perfect Instagram caption.
The last hour of the day can feel like a productivity killer. But a workplace efficiency trend, called the “soft project” hour, might help you to refocus and tackle those small membership to-do items.
Joint membership can offer big benefits for associations with component relations for both the national organization and state or local chapters. Members gain advantages too, from discounted dues to access to more programs and services. Here’s how it’s working for two associations.
The American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation finds that a focus on purpose yielded new memberships and increased revenue. Here’s some tips on how you can do the same.
With all the noise around different marketing strategies, find out which ones the pros are actually employing. Also: The New York Times smartly adjusts headlines for mobile.
Membership renewal is catching up to our faster lives.
Health and wellness programs at the workplace seem to fail almost as often as personal health and wellness New Year’s resolutions. Here are a few thoughts on turning things around in 2017.
Tips for using marketing automation to maximize your membership reach. Also: Instagram announces some useful improvements to its service.
Strong relationships are the key to engagement, whether with members or nonmember customers, according to a new report on global associations. To build connections, you don’t necessarily need the famously well-connected movie star, but you do need a few good multipliers.
In a move to help physicians and physician assistants work together both inside and outside the hospital, the West Virginia State Medical Association is adding PA’s to its membership lineup.
The story of #eventprofs, one of the most popular online communities in the event space. Also: Let's talk collecting dues.
For one association's new two-tier membership offer, the deciding factor between the two options is a member's desired engagement with one primary activity: certification.
Battling a bloated inbox? Need to send a quick message to a coworker? There’s probably a productivity tool that can help. Here’s a look at the latest apps and software that are helping association professionals perform at maximum efficiency.
The odd job of managing membership.
An association focusing on virtual assistance offers some tangible benefits to help members advance their careers.
An association magazine gives you the ability to highlight and double down on your business goals—particularly membership issues.
In theory, multiyear membership could be a useful offer for associations to lock in commitments from its most loyal. But thinking far into the future does funny things to our willingness to make decisions.
The author of a chapter in the new edition of Membership Essentials shares advice on getting colleagues in other departments invested in the value of membership.
One state chapter of a national association found an unlikely path to improving its membership numbers: It ensured that the basic functions of the association were on-point. Also: Are 20 percent of your members doing 80 percent of the work? One association pro suggests boosting engagement could even things out.
Your intrepid membership blogger returns from two conferences at regional societies of association executives with a roundup of tips and ideas on membership, including great questions for member research and the power of delegating metric measurement to staff
Mariner Management and Marketing's Peggy Hoffman offers suggestions on how to handle chapter restructuring efforts.
A sense of belonging can spur member referrals.
The American Association for the Advancement of Science has set a lofty goal: 500,000 members. Such radical growth requires full-scale re-envisioning of how the organization conducts its membership operations. Here's how AAAS plans to get there.
Discover a cornucopia of useful tips for keeping your members happy and engaged. Plus: Wordpress has news for Mac users.
One association executive's method for operational planning offers an example of how membership objectives can be tested, measured, adjusted, and repeated. Could a little discipline in experimentation drive success in your membership program?
The story of a secret society's quest for growth is a fascinating tale that illustrates the fundamental challenges facing any membership group—young or old, private or open.
Associations new to going global can find the process daunting. Smart planning, risk management, and a board that’s on board can help.
Associations may need to make big shifts to strategy and culture. One association expert shares her advice for helping staff make the transition.
A frustrating customer experience can such all the joy out of membership, according to an exec who's had some bad luck with his cereal boxes over the years. Also: Maybe a video could help calm the nerves of your first-timers.
An association industry consultant thinks it's worth taking a look at groups that are successfully holding their own during a difficult period for membership growth. Also: Think you can keep your emails to just five sentences?
Has Slate's push to turn readers into paying members paid off? Plus: What's going on with Facebook Instant Articles?
Technology is one of a universe of things an association executive needs to stay on top of. But you don't have to get stuck in the weeds.
How can content marketing drive business? Ann Handley, chief content officer at MarketingProfs, shared several tips and words of wisdom with the audience at ASAE’s 2015 Marketing, Membership, and Communications Conference on Monday.
Associations know a lot about their members, often enough to customize products and services based on each member’s individual qualities and preferences—if only they had the right technology and know-how to do it at scale. That capability is rapidly evolving, though. As some early examples from associations show, personalization may finally be a problem we can solve.
As Ray van Hilst, director of client strategy and marketing at Vanguard Technology, puts it, the technology of personalization is becoming the easy part. Deciding what to personalize, and why, “that’s where the hard work comes in.”
It’s your first day as the new CEO at an association. What’s on your agenda?
Sometimes the best way to market your organization is via the people who are already a part of it. Not sure how? Here are some words of advice from three marketing insiders.
Introducing lifetime value: The multiplier metric that goes beyond today’s dues.
The American Medical Association, after a period of sharp downturns in membership, is seeing a reversal of that trend. Part of the reason? A focus on attracting students and easing some of the biggest annoyances for members.
If you’re going to lead an association, it would be a good idea to understand its foundational business model, right? Here’s a crash course for volunteer leaders on how membership works and what your role is in shaping and promoting it at your association.
A new survey of associations on their membership performance shows some still lack a clear view of vital membership statistics like retention, engagement, and market share.
No joke—Santa can really teach you how to improve membership communication. Plus: the best ways to open a conference.
A trade group focused on the B2B publication space credits increasing financial stability for the ability to offer free membership. Also: Tips for live-tweeting events.
At the Kentucky Pharmacists Association, Roamey the Gnome is popular guy. He travels the state, posing for pictures and talking KPhA membership. And it's all just playful enough to work.
When one association hosted a membership-development idea exchange for its chapter leaders (a great idea itself), the recruitment and engagement ideas got members talking. Here are four creative examples.
A Florida nonprofit receives $100,000 in free marketing help, and looks all the snazzier for it. Also: A tool that can help you choose the right words.
An association-membership firm offers tips to move beyond the traditional one-size-fits-all approach. Also: What nonprofit marketers should know about Google's new Inbox platform.
A chip in your conference badge that monitors your meeting activity? It might sound a little creepy, but that chip is improving the meeting experience. Many associations are taking advantage of technology such as NFC and RFID and carefully weighing the benefits, risks, and security concerns.
Launching a new video? Emily Graslie, host of the online educational series The Brain Scoop, shared a few tips for producing shareable video during last week’s Online News Association Conference.
With four different generations sharing the office these days, age gaps are bound to happen, and younger employees may end up with a direct report who’s twice their age. One YP shares some tips for managing that age gap.
Rethink your concept of membership with insight from a public-media pro. Plus: An underappreciated source of information on your members.
How a target built excitement for a membership drive for this association.
Associations have embraced the business of content marketing, but there have been growing pains along the way. According to content marketing expert Joe Pulizzi, speaking at ASAE’s 2014 Marketing, Membership, and Communications Conference, it’s because they aren’t being strategic enough.
A conference featuring some of the best and brightest in the association space homes in on membership advice. Plus: Which social features could be bogus?
Associations may be more similar than we think to for-profit membership programs, where flawless service quality is a must.
Positioning itself as an alternative to other groups that have tackled the issue of movie piracy, the just-rebranded CreativeFuture coalition hopes to gain some footing on an issue that's often fallen out of the movie industry's grasp.
Is it finally spring yet? It's time once more to declutter your membership practices, and these five ideas are a great place to start.
If your newsletter isn't on target with your readers, these tips might help. Also: Boost your nonprofit’s profile via email in three simple steps.
Traveling for work can be fraught with delays, mechanical difficulties, and missed connections as a new study by the Global Business Travel Association recently found. Here are some tips from one association professional and travel pro to help make your next trip go as smooth as possible.
Prevent distraction, sluggishness, and the other things that cause afternoon procrastination. Plus: Do your website's priorities align with your association's?
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.
The rise of a third-party online community for doctors could be viewed as a cautionary tale for associations—or, instead, a reminder that a membership count isn't the only measure of success.
The success of a young social network for doctors serves as a reminder that associations need to keep their focus on member needs.
Tips to nudge long-timer members into renewing and prospective ones into signing up. Plus: There are 71 million millennials worldwide—making it a big pool to sift through when looking to boost the membership count.
Pinterest gives social gurus a new tool to geotag their bookmarks—something that might be of note for meeting planners. Also: The importance of reputation management for organizations.
The story of one organization that eliminated membership cards, while keeping everyone's interests in mind. Also: Communication techniques for the defensive.
Three tips for starting up a new product development initiative.
What Unlocking the Truth, a heavy-metal band made up of 12-year-olds, can teach you about your own creative process. Also: Your onboarding approach could make all the difference.
Tips to boosting member engagement, the personal way. Plus: How mobile technology can benefit your recruiting efforts.
How one association turned around its membership decline by moving away from a one-size-fits-all model. Also: A new content marketing platform's plan for success involves leveraging what's already out there.
Is the label “young professional” harmful or helpful? It probably depends on when and where it is used, according to a group of YPs who discussed its implications at ASAE’s NextGen Summit.
How the association and membership landscape has changed in the past five years. Also: Why you should always double-check email messages before hitting the send button.
Secondary associations, such as the International Association of Forensic Nurses, maximize their niche.
A recent survey finds that while most nonprofits consider video valuable, few know how to track results from their online video efforts.
What are the major developments and trends in the field of association management systems and online member communities? I visited several industry partners at ASAE's 2013 Marketing, Membership & Communications Conference to find out.
For membership dues payments, not so much anymore, thanks to the decline of the physical check.
Two Michigan entrepreneurs recently developed an app that helps consumers find member benefits they're entitled to, but aren’t getting. And it's starting to catch on. Co-founder Andrew Bank explains the benefits for associations.
How 2012 reshaped association membership: Social media campaigns, the analysis of member data, and specialized loyalty programs are a requirement.
How the American Association of Museums completely relaunched its image, brand, logo and membership structure.
The Microsoft Surface, a potential iPad killer, gets a price. Also: When focusing on the small stuff may be better than the big picture.
Thinking of changing up your site's design? Use the eBay redesign as a template: Go for something bold. Also, an example of what you could do with your association's magazine.
If your association has an events app but no in-person events these days, all is not lost—as long as you utilize them for ongoing engagement.
[Sponsored] The simple-yet-effective tactics the American Hospital Association uses to determine what its members want.
Looking to sponsors as thought leaders and content creators can boost nondues revenue and increase member engagement and retention. Find out how.
Associations became a lifeline for members when they needed it most. Having a place to build and foster relationships highlighted the necessity of communities. Three association professionals share their stories and lessons learned in crisis—and beyond.
Associations have a responsibility to communicate with their members and the public about COVID-19 and vaccination. Here are some pitfalls to avoid when doing so.
With an eye on attracting a new generation of members and more effectively representing existing ones, the Massachusetts Society of CPAs updated its acronym and logo. Getting stakeholder buy-in and other strategies helped the process go off without a hitch.
Member onboarding doesn’t look quite the same as it did a few years ago, but it’s still important to get it right. Check out a few insights from our archives.
[Sponsored] Texas Aggregate & Concrete Association President and CEO Josh Leftwich breaks down his simple approach for making a meaningful impact with social media.
[Sponsored] ASBO International marketing pro Annie Henderson breaks down how she utilizes tech to create a supportive environment for members.
A new report shows associations did a fantastic job communicating with members during multiple crises, but a top challenge remains: How to better sustain member engagement. An association expert offers some ideas for breaking through the noise.
Figuring out how to hold on to a record number of new members sounds like a good problem, but it requires a long-game strategy. The American Nurses Association shared tips during #ASAE21 about its success in crisis—and how to sustain it.
Boards interact differently now, but they can still easily get lost in the weeds. Two strategy experts share tips for adjusting volunteers’ perspectives.
A good volunteer program should benefit both your organization and the people offering a helping hand. Here are a few tips for doing just that from our archives.
How to make member engagement easy, fast, and effective.
[Sponsored] Offer more value to your community while earning more revenue for your mission.
New associations launch to fill a void in their sector. Here, a group for short-term and vacation rental homeowners tells us what got them started, what they’ve been up to, and what’s on the horizon.
Welcome packets and emails can offer a good starting point for new members, but that may not be enough to keep them around. Here are some tips to help supercharge your member onboarding process.
A surge of free offerings for members and nonmembers during the pandemic led to increased engagement and stronger advocacy efforts. Find out how to keep leveraging those offers to enhance value and build relationships.
Community management policies need regular updating to match the needs of your membership, says Community by Association’s Marjorie Anderson. But sometimes, changes might need to happen on the fly.
The pandemic has a silver lining in the form of a new, potentially compelling line of messaging for your organization. Read on for some tips on uncovering and presenting that story.
Associations connected with members more thoughtfully and deliberately out of necessity during the recent period of isolation and uncertainty. A membership expert offers advice on ways to sustain those relationships by fostering more personal and responsive connections.
A meetings expert says that while asynchronous events differ from live, real-time gatherings, on-demand content offers advantages that benefit learners. But planners need to know when the format works best.
A new report shows a downward trend in association membership over the past year. But it points to strong leadership and the ability to serve members in a more customized way as promising factors in ensuring long-term sustainability.
One association got a boost in membership, engagement, and retention by listening to members, tailoring resources to directly meet their needs, and being open to new ideas.
From messy desktops to old passwords, it’s time to make sure your digital life is up to date. Not just because it makes your job easier, either—it could help prevent organizational security risks.
Tips on choosing the right management option.
Video provides connection, emotion, and authenticity, says the CEO of a video-sharing platform.
Chances are your association’s business operations are largely digital already, but print communications and direct mail still have their advantages when it comes to invoicing. Which is right for you? Consider these tips.
A new study finds that people are more likely to give to friends and family in crowdfunding campaigns. Also: Detroit replaces its auto show with a “car crawl.”
Whether it’s a tablet, a laptop, or a microphone, there are lots of technologies to leverage for better note-taking. Association pros share a few of their preferred tactics.
[Sponsored] Not every type of remote engagement has to look like a videoconference. When you’re trying to reach your members in today’s largely virtual environment, clever content deployments are key to keeping audiences’ attention.
John Graham IV, FASAE, CAE, will be inducted into the Events Industry Council's Hall of Leaders. Also: A medical association stands up for a doctor facing criminal charges for distributing the COVID-19 vaccine rather than wasting it.
[Sponsored] It’s different, and in some ways, it’s even better.
[Sponsored] An expert in events gives advice for how to succeed in an ever-changing business climate.
Making continuing education and certifications key benefits creates a win-win for members and associations.
The Consumer Technology Association expects 150,000 attendees at its all-digital CES this week. Also: the cool thing Google did that your organization may want to try.
The American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living has created a toolkit to encourage residents and staffers in long-term care facilities to get vaccinated. Also: Nashville raises money to rebuild after the Christmas Day bombing.
If your career hasn’t progressed as you’d hoped in 2020, focus on turning the page in the year ahead. Here’s some advice from a career counselor with an association insider’s point of view.
Want to know why members left? Ask them. Effective exit surveys can give you insight into what your association can do to better retain current and future members. Here are a few best practices.
The organizer of the annual charitable holiday says donations surged in 2020. Also: tips for curating content more effectively.
Knowing how to communicate with members—and when—consumes many hours of discussion even in good times. Add multiple crises in a single year, and things really get complex. A communications expert offers some tips for engaging members in uneasy times.
Listening to member needs, especially during turbulent times, helps in providing responsive and relevant programs. One association’s updates to a members-in-transition program are helping members stay engaged, even though their employment status has changed.
As virtual meetings become the new norm, more associations will need to Zoom strategic discussions. Here's how to make that process effective.
Members continue to engage with their associations, even in crisis, according to a new report, which reveals a surprise top member benefit and one that is rapidly emerging. Here are some insights to light the way forward.
Wondering how to show new members the most value during digital onboarding sessions? Here are six tips to make them aware of all the benefits that can help them maximize their membership and—ultimately—prompt them to renew.
A clever election-oriented organization sees a coronavirus-era surge. Also: A pandemic celebrity wedding announcement that puts a focus on a nonprofit’s mission.
Are you investing enough in data hygiene? In the final installment of our three-part data series, learn how regular data housekeeping can strengthen one of your organization’s most important resources.
[Sponsored] Associations have long used paywalls to their advantage. But there are strategic opportunities for tapping nondues revenue that they could be leaving on the table.
Demonstrating the real-dollar value of membership makes a compelling case for your prospects and members to join and renew. Here are some tips for shaping a persuasive member ROI brochure that clearly demonstrates the return on every dollar invested in membership.
Delivering useful, actionable information to members throughout their first year will have them ready to renew.
A new resource hub has pandemic survival essentials for business owners. Also: Nonprofits led by people of color are wrestling with COVID-19 alongside systemic racism, and the Building Movement Project’s new report reveals the challenges ahead.
Influencers can drive a lot of attention and engagement toward your cause. But for the partnership to work, it takes the right influencer and an association that knows how to negotiate and collaborate effectively.
The film industry makes an economic case to save movie theaters, many of which face threats of closing permanently. Also: why the holiday season is coming earlier than ever—and it’s not because Christmas music is already on the radio.
Associations have more information at their fingertips but often struggle to put it to good use. A new study suggests a few ways to connect data and strategy.
To win back lost members, associations need to craft communications with a tone, structure, and messaging that reinforce the value of membership.
As associations shift their events to all-virtual formats, there are several elements to rethink, including how to manage language interpretation. Some tips for breaking down language barriers in remote meetings.
Ruth Bader Ginsburg wasn’t just an iconic Supreme Court justice; she was also a leader in the world of nonprofit advocacy. Also: Music venues learn the value of working together on policy issues.
[Sponsored] In the pandemic, every moment matters—and Indy is making moves.
The weekly Associations Now tech blog is going away, though our tech coverage will very much be sticking around. Here’s a reflection on eight years of nerding out on association tech every Tuesday.
[Sponsored] A behind-the-scenes look at the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development’s COVID response strategy.
Employee development doesn’t need to cost a bundle—and it could save money, done right. Also: The art of innovation.
Show members they belong by helping them connect to your organization and its community. Also: Ways you can improve your work-from-home setup.
Start by setting clear guidelines, boundaries, and expectations. Also: What is drawing users to subscribe to email newsletters?
Don't underestimate the need to keep your workload manageable and take time time to rest and recharge. Also: the rise of the Substack generation.
Your daily or weekly newsletter may be set up as a list of links right now, but many inbox competitors these days have grown much chattier and voice-driven. Should you follow suit?
One association recognized well before the global pandemic that its members needed resources to help them manage stress, depression, and other mental health issues. Then COVID-19 hit, and the online resource became timelier than they ever anticipated.
Keep meetings focused and to the point to avoid wasting board members’ time. Also: What associations can do to grow their membership during the pandemic.
Employees can stay motivated without positive reinforcement from leaders. Also: how to change jobs during the pandemic.
The search engine will start ranking sites based on “page experience” starting next year. Also: Rethink your mindset on A/B testing.
The keys to bringing others together even when they’re physically separated. Also: how virtual meetings can get more members to contribute during conferences.
Every word counts when it comes to marketing your association to potential members. Also: Balance video calls with other forms of communication to avoid Zoom fatigue.
For some associations, the growing reliance on digital communication could prove a problem for areas where there are gaps in broadband access. It may be worth considering whether your communication options are leaving anyone out.
Users of the popular social network can more easily delete negative comments and promote positive ones. Also: tough questions to ask and answer during a crisis.
With many people now working remotely and worried about the coronavirus’ impact, it’s time to change up your email marketing formula. Focus on subject lines, word choices, and infusing the present into your campaigns, one expert advises.
In today’s blazing-hot job market, most employers venture online to find strong candidates. Tom Aley, group vice president of software solutions at Naylor Association Solutions, has advice for getting the most from the online portion of your talent search.
Associations that focus on changing up traditional member engagement are more likely to succeed during—and after—the turbulence caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a recent report.
How to make each version unique for members. Also: what to do when your organization’s strategic plan is suddenly outdated.
How to protect your organization and its brand image from cyberattacks. Also: Figuring out the appropriate length of your next piece of content.
Offering career opportunities to young professionals could bring them to your association
Micropayments, a still relatively untested approach to tying content to revenue online, could benefit publishers—like associations—that are focused on niche content, experts say.
If you’re looking into building an app or digital service for your members or even the public, a key goal should be to create something that’s worth going back to. Build utilities, not novelties.
A recent report from the National Association of Corporate Directors and the Internet Security Alliance makes the case that boards are taking a lead role on cybersecurity issues. Good thing, too, because cybersecurity and innovation are often at odds.
Work with outside voices to build a more trustworthy brand. Also: Don’t get overwhelmed by member data.
Finding new ways to reach potential members. Also: Establish an association culture that promotes community and collaboration.
Take a deeper look at the feedback your organization receives. Also: providing services for multiple member types within your organization.
While an attendee’s experience is typically thought to be the responsibility of the meeting pros who put it together, their managers can also help make their time onsite more valuable. Some ideas for getting managers more involved.
Can association CEOs have a hand in board nominations without looking like they're just looking for rubber stamps? Two execs say yes, but care and diplomacy are in order.
A crisis communications plan will help you expect the unexpected. Also: Want to be a better leader? Find out what matters most to your employees.
A professional photographer shares tips on how to put members front and center in the photos you take at your events. Done well, these images can capture the “human side of an association.”
What to do when you encounter a chapter in turmoil. Also: Print should still have a place in your communications plan.
An abandoned cart could be a missed opportunity … or a potential second chance, depending on how you play it. Here are some ways to make the most of your e-commerce strategy.
For some, the social media platform is no longer a part of their marketing plans. Also: What associations can do to attract new members.
Principles of user experience design can help associations help their members move easily around their websites and other digital properties. A UX strategist shares how some associations are applying a UX mindset to improve member services and experiences.
Everyone has biases, whether they’re aware of them or not. For leaders, unconscious bias can have a crippling effect on everything from staff diversity to member retention to innovation. For associations to thrive, leaders must tackle their own biases head on.
How to jump back into the swing of things after an extended break. Also: designing your nonprofit website.
Encourage membership renewals from lapsed members with these three strategies. Also: how to drown out the distractions and improve concentration at work.
New research shows that users are moving away from public social platforms. Also: revamping meetings in 2020.
Continuing education matters, but should it come just from meetings? Research shows members might want other options. Also: member management tips from National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.
Reserve funds are there to keep associations afloat during lean times, which is why it’s crucial that you have the right amount tucked away. Experts offer tips on determining what that number should be.
Many associations operate on a calendar-year dues cycle with renewals late in the year, which means their members are currently deciding whether to join up again. Here are three tips to boost the chance of a renewal.
When employees serve in multiple roles, leaders are under pressure to manage better—which calls for a more questioning, encouraging management style.
Various research suggests that subscription services lead to unconscious overspending by consumers and more selectivity about what they’re willing to pay for. Could subscription fatigue create problems for membership programs?
Use online tools and your existing network to build your audience. Also: Fun ideas to boost member engagement.
Attention to user experience isn’t just for website development. Membership teams that think like their members and step into their shoes get better retention results. A new guide offers some UX tips and tricks to use during a member’s renewal period.
Don’t change your brand identity for the sake of change. Be sure you have data and intention to support it. Also: the power of sharing personal experiences.
With many industries facing a shortage of workers and a skills gap, associations can play a critical role in addressing workforce development.
Making a difference is a main reason why volunteers give their time. Show them that impact to keep them engaged. Also: What is “content”?
Membership retention goes beyond providing value—accessibility and public image play a role, too. Also: Understand attendee goals before your next meeting.
Making a plea for new tech? This is how you should position your conversation with the board. Also: Nonprofit leaders should pave the way for social good.
Without engagement from all stakeholders, your grand plan for a new strategy is likely to fizzle. Making strategy discussions inclusive can help.
Outlining new organizational initiatives can be a daunting task. Here’s where to start. Also: Be flexible on how members pay dues.
Trust is essential for healthy communities—and members who participate in rituals are more likely to develop it. Also: how to inspire a demotivated team.
Dark social shares mean your team could be basing its marketing insights—and budget—on inaccurate data. Also: ideas for a website relaunch.
[Sponsored] Associations that embrace this new wave of technology won’t just survive, but stand to experience explosive growth, says JP Guilbault.
With members seeking help advancing their careers, associations are creating rich mentorship programs that assist students and early-career professionals by tapping into the knowledge and generosity of experienced members.
Members of the Society of Wedding Professionals team up to craft a couple’s perfect day.
Let prospects experience your association’s member journey, benefits included. Also: how one nonprofit is using yoga to alleviate stress for students.
Inviting industry partners to join your community pushes its mission forward. Also: Online communities meet organizational and member needs.
Leading a chapter can be a high-pressure job, but creating the right leadership environment makes it manageable. Also: community management’s loneliness factor.
One year after GDPR, many planners are struggling to adhere to the guidelines. Talking with vendors about processes can help. Also: Steer members away from snail mail membership renewals.
Want the director of the NIH to speak at your conference? Women better be included, too. Also: Can associations cure loneliness?
When bad stuff happens—whether it be a financial scandal or a cyberattack—associations need a communication plan. An expert offers tips to help your organization get it right when it matters most.
Potential members often make first impressions about an association by visiting its website. A UX expert says that designing a homepage with head and heart appeal can help prospects feel welcome.
Benefits can account for as much as 30 percent of an employee’s overall compensation package. Discover which benefits are crucial and peek at what other associations are doing via data from ASAE’s Association Compensation & Benefits Study.
Member engagement can be broad, and calculating its success can be—well, complicated. Here’s a formula that can pinpoint return on engagement. Also: An interesting way to make your main speaker feel extra special.
Whether for wireless or an annual discount on baggage, air travelers these days are faced with an array of add-ons. Are they worth paying for, or should you stick to paying as you go?
Leverage your association’s community by connecting online groups to your organization’s larger mission. Also: Unless board practices change, gender equality won’t happen until 2055.
A virtual chapter might fit in with an increasingly digital-first world, but it can also present organizational obstacles. Also: easy actions for planning sustainable meetings.
Association professionals are human, and they make mistakes. How you handle talking about those mix-ups can pave the way to better member relations. Also: Career success is about more than passion.
A security breach involving Microsoft’s web-based Outlook service reveals some major customer service challenges. Also: why many millennials job-hop.
A new report finds small associations want more nondues revenue but haven’t focused on achieving it. To remedy that, report authors recommend quick tech fixes to bring in more money.
To add energy and excitement to its Capitol Hill fly-in, the American Dental Association partnered with the American Student Dental Association. The joint event expands opportunities for engagement and future membership growth.
About 77 percent of Americans own a smartphone—and now many want a smart office building too. Also: turning attendees into new members.
Yes, your organization comes with benefits—but that’s probably not why members join. Also: the importance of language in online communities.
Netflix’s recent success in the film industry has created new membership opportunities—and fresh tension with theaters and directors. One recent debate: Should it be eligible for the Oscars?
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association released a new virtual assistant to bring some beefy knowledge to your nearest smart speaker or phone.
A new report analyzes webinar viewing habits. Take advantage of a few trends to increase the likelihood that members register, attend, and engage with your virtual events.
The Coalition to Protect and Promote Association Health Plans warned that a court decision last week overturning Labor Department rules for AHPs could result in thousands of people losing health insurance coverage.
Give your members more than one place to connect with colleagues.
A successful online community can help your association meet its business objectives—but it takes a lot of work to get there. Also: De-stress your Mondays.
A needs assessment isn’t a once-a-year (or longer!) gig—it’s something your association should be focusing on habitually. Also: networking opportunities for remote employees.
Podcasts are growing in popularity right now, and it could be a medium ripe for associations to recruit, retain, and engage members.
Meeting registration technology is changing. With it comes the need for greater data security. Also: Finding a learning management system fit for your organization.
With several associations as boosters, Pi Day became an official national holiday a decade ago, with March 14 dedicated to the mathematical constant 3.14 and promotion of math education.
Associations often use ad retargeting to encourage people to register for their events or buy other products. But they can also consider another tactic to boost nondues revenue: selling retargeted ads to outside vendors.
When members gather at conferences, you have a big opportunity to collect their stories to showcase the people who make up your community. Some specific tools, distribution channels, and strategies will help you put them in the spotlight.
The Mount Rushmore Society, a supporting organization for the popular South Dakota national monument, keeps things presidential throughout the year for visitors ready to make the trip in their general direction. The organization recently had to step up to offer support during the federal shutdown.
Planning and adapting for the future is an ongoing process—that's why you need to incorporate it into your daily schedule. Also: three phrases that sell membership.
Keep members plugged in to your association with a member portal designed for success. Also: Amp up your meeting’s content strategy from all sides.
Preparing speakers for your association’s conference is a necessary step, but it can be one that’s overlooked. By telling your speakers about your attendees and the industry, you’re likely to have a more successful event.
Long, unintelligible URLs can make it hard to differentiate real URLs from fake ones. Now, Google wants to change how URLs are conveyed to make the web easier to navigate. Also: Avoid these video mistakes.
Analyzing the state of your membership? Don’t just lean on one type of research over the other. Also: Suggestions for a stronger email list.
The member experience ebbs and flows with activity throughout the year, which is why a content calendar can help you plan for member engagements in 2019. Here are a few tools and techniques to get you started.
A robust event marketing campaign can be expensive—but you don’t have to have a big budget to succeed. Try these free strategies, from the Event Manager Blog. Also: embracing remote workforce culture.
An unclear business strategy can spell disaster for your organization. Leaders should develop a pragmatic approach that allows team members to be productive through ambiguity. Also: Give stakeholders a volunteer management report.
Research shows leaders don’t feel that digital transformations are successful. Here’s how to set changes up for success. Also: habits that help meeting planners save time (and their sanity).
Improve your member renewal rates—and gain new members—next year with these tips. Also: why people flake on meetings.
Your members have a unique view into the industry they represent. When it comes to generating content, add their perspectives into the mix. Also: What if pizza places were funded like nonprofits?
Putting a price on membership, products, and services can feel fraught with risk and uncertainty. How do you define the value of something? Will members revolt against a price increase? But pricing shouldn’t be guesswork: Patience, testing, research, and a little courage can lead you to the right number.
Five tips to take your association website from a clunky experience (at best) to one that users will love.
Here are four strategies that will help set the foundation for strong communication between members and staff.
Affinity partnerships can be a boon for associations, but only if they’re done right. Read on for a few of the risks that can come with such partnerships.
Nearly 320 billion emails will be sent each day in the next three years, and with them the potential for a shrinking work-life balance. It’s time to set your email boundaries. Also: Are meeting planners doing enough to protect attendee data?
GitLab, a software company, has 350 employees who all work remotely. The organization made $10.5 million in revenue in 2017. Here’s how they did it. Also: how longtime members can increase the value of your association.
Recent research from Pew notes that online video, particularly on YouTube, is increasingly becoming a key way that the public informs itself. An embrace of online video could offer a potential opportunity for associations to stand out.
Your members (and potential members!) lean on your association’s online presence. Here’s what you need to ask to make sure it delivers. Also: gamifying your meeting.
Industries are always changing—which means people need to be flexible to succeed. An agile development plan can help you grow. Also: uncovering unconscious bias.
To create a meeting with high impact, you don’t need a big budget or a huge crowd. You may just need the right people in the right place with the right expectations for a small event that delivers big value.
Relaxed and creative networking formats can go over big.
The contest, focused on the opioid crisis, aims to encourage students to take a deeper dive into the potential of a career in statistics—while highlighting the value of public data.
Microsoft's new “verified” feature is intended to help organizations boost their email credibility. Also: email-writing best practices.
The National Geographic Society offers cautionary tales and valuable lessons from its membership program. Also: the downside of popularity-based grants.
Nike’s new ad campaign spotlighting former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick has lessons for associations—in particular, that embracing controversy can be worthwhile if you go about it thoughtfully.
A Harvard Business School professor warns that the wrong tactics could harm employees’ ability to come up with new and creative ideas. Also: Make sure your influencer marketing strategy makes sense.
Digital communities offer a lot of benefits, but if your association is only seeking increased engagement, it might be time to consider another strategy. Also: why traditional sponsorship tiers need to be rethought.
Taking a vacation is supposed to be relaxing, but working overtime to prepare for one is not. Here’s what to do to minimize stress before, during, and after your time off. Also: what the meeting business wants from speakers.
Small steps can help you build courage in leadership. Also: leveraging blogs as your conference’s content home base.
Former members left your association for a reason. Talk to them about why—and strategize how to fix the issue—to encourage a boomerang effect. Also: event inspiration from the 1990s.
Multiple sessions of the ASAE Annual Meeting made the case that virtual work—whether full-time or on a freelance basis—is increasingly becoming a compelling option for many associations. The tech is ready, but is your culture?
Online community engagement is important for members, but the value it brings to your association is more significant. Also: how to implement new ideas from the ASAE Annual Meeting & Exposition.
The American Philatelic Society’s membership numbers are well down from its 1980s peak. Youth engagement is central to its new recruitment strategy.
What the future of paid membership subscriptions could look like on Facebook, from The Membership Guys podcast. Also: how bad data hygiene can mess up your direct mail campaign.
Your membership base can pivot at a moments notice. Here's how to adapt and follow along.
What does it take for an association to come back from a near-death experience? Following substantial declines in revenue and membership, three associations changed course and restructured their business, leading to a more prosperous future. Their turnaround stories have a lot in common.
Programs and activities that tend to cleave to the traditional—board meetings, sponsorship, and grassroots advocacy—can go from formulaic to fresh when staff employ creative thinking. Here’s a look at what emerged when three associations looked past the predictable to the possible in these areas.
Renewal reminders work best when received at the right moment.
New exhibitors at your tradeshow? Business News Daily shares how to make them confident at your event. Also: Leverage your association’s online identity to increase member engagement.
Keeping new members engaged requires a lot of communication and a little exclusivity. Also: Navigating Facebook’s new political ad rules.
When in need of organizational change, David King recommends planning, patience, and sometimes, the need to jump.
A new report looks at how associations are using marketing automation tools to improve marketing efficiency, boost member engagement, and drive growth. If it sounds intimidating, a few simple steps can help you get started.
A community engagement pro makes the case for nuanced thinking about what makes a good association community. Also: Is it possible to get some personal space during an airport layover?
People use their mobile devices for communicating, reading, learning, and just about everything else—and apps make much of that activity possible. Associations have increasingly embraced consumers’ affinity for apps, using them to put resources and benefits at members’ fingertips.
Planning to shed your old technology for a hot new product or service? You’ll need to condition your staff to accept and adopt the upgrade. Here’s how to build an agile, multiphase training plan that targets their needs before and after implementation.
To align what you do with your members’ needs, you need to stop talking and start listening. Two sessions at ASAE’s 2018 Marketing, Membership & Communications Conference highlighted this theme, including the closing keynote from business leader Charlie Norris and NBA star Byron Scott.
A recent analysis of online job listings suggests that organizations expect their chief information officer to be able to deftly handle a million things. Perhaps employers should be looking for a master delegator rather than master juggler.
To makes its annual meeting more welcoming and inclusive, the American Alliance of Museums created a Code of Conduct. Here’s a few tips they learned along the way.
After a price increase, Amazon announces a new Prime benefit. What can associations learn from the consumer giant’s lead? Also: Get more traffic from Google with these SEO tips.
A grassroots movement for increased school funding inspired the Arizona Education Association to help—first, by not getting in the way.
Studies show that executives manage more tasks and have more direct reports—and receive less feedback than they should. Successful leaders have broad networks, and know how to expand them.
Want to make your association’s messaging to members more effective? Here are three tips to make it more personalized and relevant.
Global Meetings Industry Day honors the positive impact of meetings on local economies. Also: Making the most of your online directories.
One member engagement expert applies three of the most famous scientific laws to everyone’s favorite topic. Also: A few suggestions on how to pass the CAE Exam.
As industry leaders, how associations respond to sexual harassment matters—to the individual and to their community. Associations are facing challenging questions about how to set the bar for acceptable conduct in their field, enforce fair policies, and promote a positive professional culture that attracts the best talent.
May 25 is the looming deadline for organizations to comply with the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation, and many are not prepared for this fundamental shift in how personal consumer information must be processed and secured. Ready or not, enforcement is coming. Here’s what you need to know as May approaches, especially if you’re behind the curve.
When it comes to self-care, leaders need to manage both themselves and their staffs. From sabbaticals to kitchen cabinets to dedicated reading days, association executives have multiple options.
How SHRM brought its affinity program back to life.
3 tips to get started on a mentorship program.
Steps to running a well-oiled nonprofit from Engine of Impact.
A new report says many associations have a “passivity problem” with members. If that describes your organization, consider how you can refocus your product and service offerings to appeal to the needs of your disengaged members.
How to create emails that make your readers want to come back for more. Also: When it comes to internal promotions, try elevating leaders from different departments.
There are skills required to reach the top, and there are skills needed to move an organization into greater success. Unfortunately, those two skill sets aren’t always the same thing. Also: ASAE’s Great Ideas Conference is off to a big start in Colorado.
Gathering information from your donors doesn’t have to be aggravating. Here are a few unobtrusive tactics to try. Also: social media marketing hacks worth experimenting with in 2018.
The Tampa Bay chapter of the Public Relations Society of America appointed its first ethics officer to help its members navigate ethical dilemmas in their professional lives.
Great leadership requires more than just the respect of your staff. Learn how great leaders get everyone to follow along. Also: How to handle employees who fail cybersecurity tests.
Why your organization should consider ways to keep passionate volunteer leaders active even if their term is over. Also: the value of membership mapping.
Before you go online to find a Valentine’s Day date, check out an infographic from the ABA Foundation and the FTC for signs you’ve been targeted for online dating fraud. Also: how to find the perfect venue for your next meeting.
The Wing, a membership club for women, is coming to several U.S. cities, offering a space to work, meet, and network. Should your association be worried? Not if you’re focused on building an inclusive space for women. In the last year, women have played a key role in large-scale social movements. Look no further than […]
The organization that puts on the Oscars has detailed concrete steps to handling widespread issues of sexual misconduct within the industry—issues that have led the academy to ban Harvey Weinstein and could lead to further actions in the coming months.
AARP puts in an incredible amount of effort to respond to all Facebook comments, and it pays off by informing members, expanding reach, and humanizing the huge organization. Also: How to get meeting attendees to try new things.
The Association for Jewish Studies’ 49th Annual Conference begins next week in Washington, DC. More than 1,100 attendees are expected.
“Artificial intelligence” gets picked as one association’s marketing word of the year. Also: How the IoT is disrupting the event space.
You don’t need to be a UX pro to understand the basic tenets of digital usability. By adopting a “don’t make me think” attitude, associations can add an element of ease to the member experience.
For membership organizations, one of the primary benefits of artificial intelligence is that it adds a hook to member engagement. Here are three examples.
Empathy is vital when it comes to managing a team of remote employees. Also: how a change in marketing messaging helped The Guardian’s membership revenue outpace its ad revenue.
Associations shouldn’t put all of their revenue channels into the membership basket, but your organization could probably be smarter about your nondues money sources. Also: how to recruit young volunteers.
Don’t just rely on email to retain members. A phone call may be more effective. Also: Halloween tricks for association leaders.
Online communities can reveal a treasure trove of local chapter information to national chapters. Also: Are leadership development programs keeping women out of the boardroom?
There's more nuance to membership engagement than you may think. Also: how to create an ambassador program for your next conference.
If offering exercise classes isn't the right call for your meetings, consider providing DIY fitness and wellness options. Your health nuts will appreciate it.
Improve the ROI of your next conference by implementing the following cost-cutting measures.
Membership is growing for many associations, but they're not all seeing the same return on investment for member acquisition. With new digital marketing tactics and growing sophistication in reaching members in their favorite social media channels, associations are finding ways to both recruit broadly and target narrowly, resulting in high-value returns.
Storytelling is a powerful way to communicate. Here’s how the International Sign Association incorporated a storytelling strategy in its marketing efforts.
A young professional shares four key actions for his fellow young professionals to take when transitioning to a management role.
If you’re new to the association world, it can feel overwhelming at first to connect with peers. One association exec who successfully made the transition two years ago shares her top tips.
From email to events and everything in between, Aptify reveals how to examine data to increase membership engagement. Also: Executive strategic planning determines the future of your organization. Here's how to make your internal planning meetings more productive.
An analyst lays out how the European Union's General Data Protection Regulation could create some headaches for membership-based organizations. Also: Insights from a big association-space merger.
After nearly three weeks of natural disasters, many associations are responding by offering support and resources to members in some of the hardest-hit storm zones—prioritizing what and how they communicate to keep the focus on recovery.
Your members are inundated with email every day. When you know and cater to their habits and preferences, you make it far more likely that your next email will be received, opened, and read. Here are the important takeaways from two new reports on the email marketing landscape. Do you suffer from email fatigue? According […]
Concerned about membership retention? Here's how to create an effective renewal process. Also: Gauge your social media performance with a new benchmarking study.
The Digital Analytics Association found ways to work in partnership with a community of Slack users, expanding membership and increasing member engagement.
In its newly released Member Loyalty Study, Community Brands offers tips for connecting with members and boosting retention rates.
From what attendees expect as the "new status quo" to how venues—and entire metropolis’— are being forced to upgrade their technology infrastructure.
There’s a new generation of leaders entering the C-suite, and they’re bringing fresh ideas, talent, and experience to the job. But taking the express elevator to the top comes with unique challenges. Here’s how three young association CEOs are overcoming them and making their leadership mark.
If you only look directly ahead while planning next year’s expenses and revenue, you’ll miss what’s running alongside you or gaining from behind. And staffers sometimes ignore red flags. Being candid about the numbers and setting up guardrails can improve the process and the outcome.
Chapters provide the help associations need to reach members locally. But to keep things running smoothly, associations must also make sure components have the help they need to fulfill that purpose. Organizations of all sizes can find networking, technological, or financial solutions to make sure chapters can leverage the power of their association.
In an increasingly competitive market, an association’s brand may be its most valuable asset. Also: A different way to think about loyalty and your organization.
Your organization has no shortage of membership growth ideas. But do know how to strategically pick the best one? Here are several validation tactics to try before you pull the trigger on an idea. Also: If your website is underperforming, it may be time to take a second look at your content.
How to use the latest Facebook and Instagram features to reach and engage with millennials online. Also: Tips for delivering a perfect pep talk.
Toolkits are a proven way to address member challenges, but not all toolkits are equal. One expert shares tips for toolkits that meet members’ needs.
How to keep new members invested in your organization. Also: Discover the best ways to manage your rock star employees.
You don’t have to make radical changes to improve engagement at your meeting. Here are a few simple things to try. Also: Does lowering the cost of membership dues lower your association’s value?
Ross Brown, the marketing & membership director of the Association Of State Dam Safety Officials in Lexington, Kentucky, is an advocate for treating an association like a business.
Don’t abandon potential members who can’t afford your fee. There are things your organization can do to keep them involved. Also: Asking lots of questions during an important board meeting can do more harm than good.
If you’re trying to reach modern audiences with your content strategy, your association needs to be multiple places, offering multiple contexts. But a quick reminder: Not every piece of content may be so easy to mold.
Discover ways to galvanize your team to be happier and more productive. Also: Webinar marketing tips to help grow your membership.
Snapchat is a great platform for associations wanting to raise brand awareness among younger audiences. Here are a few tips on how to incorporate Snapchat advertising into your next event or campaign.
What do you know about your lapsed members? They may be gone but shouldn’t be forgotten. Some associations are bringing old members back into the fold.
Snapchat is one of the best ways to tell your meeting's story. Also: Are you following these four inbound marketing phases?
A recent deal in the association technology space raises some interesting questions about the state of the sector and what’s next. What’s holding associations and their vendors back, and what needs to happen to push things forward?
How to use your meetings to create valuable content. Also: Refine your call-for-presentations process. Don’t let another annual meeting go by without taking advantage of the gold mine of content that your event generates. Association Adviser shares a few ways to create unique content that you can use all year. Start with your speakers. Take […]
Why tile? The Tile Council of North America teamed up with other industry groups to answer that question—and to extol tile’s benefits.
Offering volunteer opportunities can be one of the most effective ways to bring members closer to your association. But the work they do needs to benefit the volunteer as well as the organization. One way to deepen member engagement is create enough different opportunities to match your members’ volunteering preferences.
Associations are rightly enthused when their public-policy actions get some attention, but that attention means little without action. Two scholars have some ideas on how to get there.
As industries change, associations have been challenged to reassess who qualifies as a member. Many have found strength and greater engagement in expansion.
Building diversity and inclusion into governance structure.
All associations are in the business of sales, whether they want to believe it or not. Here are a few tips for changing the culture around the office, as well as an example that shows these tips in practice.
Don’t lose potential members because of a cumbersome application form. Simplify your membership process with a few key tweaks to your site. Also: Avoid magical thinking while planning projects.
A few suggestions for keeping costs down when adding technology to your event. Also: Get basic with your member-recruitment strategies.
General Mills generates buzz on bees with a new campaign that associations should take pointers from. Also: In honor of American Associations Day, check out a fascinating infographic on the power of associations.
A viral video has put the company’s CEO in hot water, but that’s not Uber’s only concern. Help is on the way, but help for troubled organizations is complicated. Some are born great leaders. Some achieve greatness. And some have leadership training thrust upon them after video of them berating an employee goes viral. OK, […]
For any membership organization, raising nondues revenue is a must. Here are a few creative ways to do just that. Also: What the architectural design of legislative assemblies reveals about governments
Competition, which takes many forms, can prove a threat to retaining your membership base, according to a Monday Great Ideas session. Meanwhile, another session noted the issues that implicit bias can create both in recognition and member retention within an industry.
With heightened immigration enforcement policies coming into effect, agricultural industries may feel the strongest effects. These organizations are making sure their members are ready to navigate the increased oversight.
Don’t leave your introverted members out in the cold. Create opportunities to get them engaged by respecting their personality traits. Also: Give your boomer members a little notice.
Go behind the scenes of Valentine's Day flower delivery to find out how they arrive at your home via the Miami airport. Also: Why you should employ structured content.
You could use a break. In honor of National Plan for Vacation Day, use today to plan your vacation time for the rest of the year. Also: What alumni associations can learn from other membership organizations.
While most associations are plotting out recruitment strategies for millennials, membership professionals need to be thinking about a younger generation entering the workforce this year. Generation Z, it’s said, will be even more digitally savvy and globally focused.
Recruiting small businesses to join your organization is difficult, but these tips could help. Also: It’s Community Manager Appreciation Day; show your community builders some love.
Don’t let your online community go stale. Here’s how to keep people engaged. Also: The tactics Coachella uses to redefine the concert experience.
A new report says that busyness is a common mark of social status. While we all say we're too busy, chances are good that you and your members have five minutes to spare.
Why member security is becoming a more important issue as the online landscape evolves. Also: Why online communities usually fail.
The Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture designs a platform to help member schools manage graduate school applications more efficiently.
In an age when social media replicates most of what your private community is doing, how do you compete? Also: An iconic office chair gets a redesign.
Are your members afraid of trying new things? Why it's important to understand the answer to that question. Also: A new startup wants to turn stories into nonprofit action.
In light of the creepy clown hysteria, the World Clown Association is speaking out and hoping to clear the good name of clowns everywhere. It’s also equipping its members on how to stay safe and acclimate.
The smartphone manufacturer's leadership made a tough move this week when they decided to stop selling the company's flagship Galaxy Note 7 after a series of problems. Also: One association's bold pitch to potential members.
Associations contract with host cities and conference venues years in advance, but the political winds blow on their own timeline. In a year marked by adoption of controversial legislation in a handful of states, associations have been challenged to consider whether these laws align with their values. And that has forced hard choices about where and how members gather. Here’s how two groups responded.
Associations can learn from the legacy of Steve Jobs. Plus: How should your association handle data?
Young professionals can serve your association well in that these digital natives will help you keep up on the social media front. And by having a solid social media strategy, your association will also appeal to young professional member prospects.
Moving your data from one AMS to another? Check out this guide for tips on how to make the process less painful. Also: how other firms “borrowing” your ideas can be a boon for innovation at your organization. Switching from one membership software platform to another can be a total pain, particularly because large amounts […]
Managing an association’s finances can be a complicated job, as a recent study shows. How can associations stay on top of all the complexities, compliance issues, and potential staff turnover that can often characterize the job?
Associations have the infrastructure to help remake the education industry, according to a new white paper. What's lacking is the will to promote that fact.
Collecting data from inside your own organization can be difficult, but organizing and analyzing it may help with future strategic decisions.
How one podcast network juiced engagement with its most die-hard users through Slack. Also: Why you should consider what might happen if you fail.
A group of marine industry organizations created a career center to reduce the labor shortage by connecting hiring dealers and job seekers.
Making sure your four key governing documents are aligned will help you define the day-to-day operations and goals of your board.
The big collaborative office, driven by a backchannel of software like Slack, is becoming more of a thing than ever. What if we took that strategy with us to our annual meetings? It'd have a lot of benefits: For one thing, it could help us take better notes.
Millennial member engagement isn't easy, but letting go of a little control could make things a little easier. Also: Instagram's latest feature takes more than a few cues from Snapchat.
Here’s a little secret from membership-savvy associations: While new- member acquisition offers the thrill of the chase, member retention brings long-term stability. It’s built on engagement, value, and connection, and it starts the day a member joins.
The association for public accountants and the association for management accountants joined forces to create an international organization to serve all accounting professionals.
The process of finding an AMS that can meet your needs isn't easy—because it ultimately doesn't fit any other association. Also: If you want to avoid phishing attacks, focus on good employee communication.
The Internet Creators Guild, the brainchild of one half of YouTube's most famous double act, hopes to offer an organized voice for a new class of creative—people who make content for online fanbases. Hank Green says the goal of the guild is to "increase the number of people in the world who can be creators professionally."
Amazon's persistence in driving users to "Try Prime" is a lead associations ought to follow and just one of many highlights from this week's ASAE Marketing, Membership & Communications Conference.
While an in-depth look at the state of membership retention in associations awaits in the mid-summer issue of Associations Now, get a preview with these bonus ideas on boosting retention from several association pros and experts.
As technology evolves and association professionals require more tech tools to get the job done each day, the responsibility for learning and understanding technology is not just for IT anymore. From membership to communications to business operations, staff teams need to brush up on few crucial tech skills.
How to help international members engage across borders.
Knowledge is power, and it may also be your biggest asset for building membership. Plus: Restaurant professionals gathered to get a taste of the industry's future.
Don't miss these essentials when designing your membership program. Plus: A buzzworthy rapper creates a fan event that's worth taking pointers from.
And that's not necessarily a bad thing. Facebook's recent controversy involving its trending topics is yet another sign that brands aren't in the driver's seat on social networks. Who is? Well, for starters, the members who make up your organization.
In the past month a transit-industry association lost a key member and its CEO. That experience offers a few warnings for associations in terms of PR, governance, and membership.
Though its 2017 annual conference is only 11 months away, the American Counseling Association is moving the event from Nashville following the passage of a controversial Tennessee law.
Turn passive web visitors into active members of your community with the latest marketing trend. Plus: How to deal with "free riders" in your organization.
By pursuing both quantitative data and qualitative input from its members, the Construction Financial Management Association discovered a gap in its member value proposition—and how to fix it.
Check out these three tips to keep your membership thriving as more and more millennials enter the workforce. Plus: How are associations using email these days, anyway?
Don't let your approach to member marketing stagnate—switch up your strategies every once in a while. Also: Dropbox eyes a plan to make cloud storage a little less painful on your hard drive.
The American Numismatic Association celebrates its 125th anniversary with a membership drive that coin collectors ought to love. Also: A few more apps for event planners to embrace.
Automation is a big buzzword these days, and there are reasons to be excited—and scared. But mostly excited. Check out our list of interesting apps that automate your job just enough to make your work life a little bit better.
A multilevel membership structure that varies by benefits chosen, not by company size, could eliminate the headache of verifying member revenue or staff numbers. One trade association shares its positive experience with its fledgling tiered-benefits system.
Africa has a growing economy and burgeoning professional class. What’s missing are professionals leading their industries and opportunities for them to meet. With a new society, Africa is getting serious about association management.
The report from the American Association of University Professors says that Title IX enforcement has chilled discourse at colleges and universities, but not all agree.
A young startup hopes to rekindle the business of news with an experimental micropayments-driven application. Plus: How has an increase in cybersecurity changed our office conduct?
A Google executive explains the best ways to use content marketing to engage members. Plus: Facebook becomes the newest company to dump BlackBerry.
Your new members have a lot of energy and excitement. How do you ensure that excitement doesn't fade? Also: tips to handle PR crises at your event before they get out of hand.
While the Open Connectivity Foundation is far from the only group focused on integrating the myriad Internet of Things approaches, the new foundation hopes to use its wide membership base to its advantage.
A roundup of five great reads for association membership pros that will get you thinking differently about how to get members engaged, how members view your association, and what benefits they'll want next.
To help reduce redundancies in costs and advocacy efforts, the European Window Film Association became a chapter of its U.S.-based counterpart.
Like any important asset, governance needs to be actively managed.
When it comes to climbing the leadership ladder, successful. volunteers keep an eye on the next rung, while helping those behind them.
Every member has a story, but most people aren't polished storytellers. An author and expert on business storytelling offers advice for turning raw member stories into tales that inspire.
For most of the year, community managers turn the spotlight on others. But on Community Manager Appreciation Day, it's their time to shine.
As the amount of content marketing continues to rise, a new survey of B2B and B2C marketers looks into some of the factors that may be cutting into the effectiveness of this type of marketing.
A British newspaper installed monitoring devices across its office, and the backlash has been swift.
CEOs have the tricky job of working with a board without taking leadership out of the board's hands. One former executive and governance expert offers some tips on managing the balance.
It's been a busy year for associations, as their work has continued to shape the news every day. We dug into our readership numbers to give you a look at the most popular Associations Now stories of 2015.
Members and prospects often complain that associations push marketing messages to them without thinking about whether they’re relevant. Organizations have plenty of content to share, but knowing its purpose, place, and intended audience can help shape a strategic content marketing plan that helps you deliver on member needs and build deeper relationships.
Online learning can encompass much more than certifications, as Barry Kelly, CEO of Thought Industries, explains.
New leaders can come to an association eager to make bold changes. That’s a good thing, but you can’t do it alone.
The Consumer Electronics Association announced on Tuesday that it would change its name to the Consumer Technology Association. CEO Gary Shapiro says the move was made to get beyond the limits of "electronics," and it comes with a new lobbying strategy.
A new initiative led by MPA: The Association of Magazine Media promises large advertisers that magazines can still drive big results—and it's putting its members' money where their mouth is.
Right as National Cybersecurity Awareness Month began, the American Bankers Association (ABA) announced it had been hit by a malicious intrusion that targeted member online purchases and event transactions.
A new app is causing a buzz, but not for the best reasons. Plus: How to move past the fear of rejection.
No question about it—associations are conducting more surveys than ever as they hunger to know everything about their stakeholders.
At the National Cattlemen's Beef Association, member-get-a-member is more than a one-time campaign. Its long-running Top Hand Club confers elite status upon members who refer new members to the association. Here's how NCBA turns its true believers into busy recruiters.
Turing Pharmaceuticals and its CEO became a lightning rod for critics after the company hiked the price of a drug by more than 5,000 percent. Turing Pharmaceuticals, which over the past two weeks has received a flood of criticism over what many say is price gouging, is being kept at arm’s length from industry groups […]
Take a peek at some findings from a new SmithBucklin report that analyzed what services associations are outsourcing and how frequently they turn to third-party vendors.
A planned change to guidelines for cybersecurity acquisition has raised significant questions for trade groups in the federal contractor space, who say the rules come too late in the game and don't go far enough compared to what individual agencies are already doing.
There's no one way to make a member-get-a-member program a success, but recognition for recruiters is a must. Here's why.
September 10 is as good a day as any to encourage your association to swap ideas. Plus: a new batch of must-follow accounts for #Eventprofs.
Google's big announcement has organizations wondering, how do you make your brand pop? Plus: What #assnchat is up to during #ASAE15.
Most people see CEOs as the main influence-wielders, but persuasion guru Robert Cialdini shows how simple “small-Big” shifts in language or approach can help anyone positively change others’ behaviors—and even their own. When Clarke Price, FASAE, CAE, was president and CEO of the Ohio Society of CPAs, he faced a serious challenge. A task force […]
Giving away product is an essential way of doing business. But associations should also consider moving prices in the other direction.
Why you shouldn't let your guard down just because a new report suggests a drop in spam email. Also: If you're focused on charitable donations, a membership mindset could still work for you.
Social-network research shows just a few influential members of a large group can take a new idea and make it seem like everyone's talking about it. Here's why that matters for associations.
Why a poor communications strategy could hurt your chances to get to know your potential donors. Also: Why constituent outreach is such an effective lobbying strategy.
As the resident experts, the association online community manager often serves as internal consultant to teach other staff about online member engagement. In the future, though, we may all be community managers.
The American Grandparents Association's latest partnership will provide a new healthcare service to AGA members.
Eyeing the opportunity to add the term "thought leader" to your resume? Perhaps a curated newsletter written under your own name—rather than your association's—could do the trick. Principled Innovation's Jeff De Cagna highlights the lessons he's gained from launching his own newsletter.
The BioCommunications Association’s 85th Annual Meeting opens next week in Santa Fe.
A couple of recent surveys on email marketing reveal some important stats and trends, including the importance of quality email content.
Didn't make it to the 2015 Marketing, Membership, and Communications Conference in Washington, DC this week? Don't worry—we were there, and we have a couple of smart things that you can take home with you.
A new study suggests smartphones could provide a way to more accurately gauge crowd size. Plus: Where to look for social updates from the 2015 Membership, Marketing & Communications Conference.
Not every city has the built-in appeal of major meeting destinations like Chicago or San Francisco. But competition for conference business is heating up as cities nationwide have invested heavily in the infrastructure necessary for top-notch meeting experiences. Why would you book your meeting in a place like Pittsburgh or Detroit or Reno? You might be surprised.
Mark Gross, CEO of Digital Conversion Laboratory, shares some tips on the content conversion process.
Authenticity goes a long way when it comes to your association’s marketing and communication efforts. In fact, it could mean more engaged members and revenue.
Drafting a strategic communications plan is hard enough, but keeping it relevant can be more difficult. One piece of advice: Don't ever put it on a shelf.
It's prime time to give your website the sprucing up it deserves, and these tips can help. Plus: an Instagram strategy that enters "meatspace."
Five years ago, the tech device that redefined what it meant to use a computer got its start—and we've been tapping ever since. Also: How HBO cleverly used social media to take advantage of critical comments.
At MMCC, get inspired by bold ideas and innovative solutions.
With its new Businesses on Messenger strategy, Facebook wants to help replace annoying customer service phone calls with less-annoying chat messages. Also: A little help on understanding legislative issues at the state level.
A new report found that millennials are not willing to pay for news and that while they don’t actively seek news through social media, they often get their information through Facebook and YouTube anyway. How does these findings affect associations?
Associations have long wondered how to get more members to update their profile info. One association says the key is realizing data management is a multi-channel, every-day job.
The National Association of Veteran-Serving Organizations, which formally launched late last month, hopes to boost coordination and services among veterans groups. The enterprise is the result of a widespread belief among military nonprofits and federal agencies that more organization is needed.
A new survey of nonprofits forecasts employment growth within the sector in 2015, but many nonprofits report they’re struggling with recruiting and retaining employees. Find out some of the challenges posing this HR conundrum.
When dealing with concerns, complaints, or questions, a new study highlights the importance of immediate resolution. Plus: a source of inspiration that could suplex your social strategy.
The Society of Interventional Radiology has overhauled its programming to provide in-depth learning experiences. Plus: A conference explores the intriguing intersection of religion and medicine.
The foundations of your industry have a huge influence on your association's events. Plus: How to combat complainers.
We're living in a world of data, so it's about time you learned how to harness a powerful data tool. Plus: How to create a presence on Instagram.
With APSP University, the Association of Pool and Spa Professionals aims to educate a very diverse industry, and beef up its status as a thought leader in the process.
Think it’s hard for your board to work effectively? Try doing so while under constant scrutiny from the public and media—and even Congress. That’s exactly what the NCAA, college sports’ governing body, faced as it restructured its governance model. The story of how its volunteer leaders did it has lessons that all association boards should heed.
Even though the NCAA is large and complex, plenty of lessons from its restructuring are valid for all associations and their volunteer leaders.
Why market research is important to do before you dive too deep into building that private hub for your members. Also: The value of gamification at events.
Association leaders can find plenty of excuses to stick with the safe and familiar. Holly Duckworth, CAE, has a few ideas on how to shake things up.
College sports’ governing body gathered for its annual convention last week, and for the first time in its 109-year history, student-athletes had a seat at the table. One student volunteer leader shared his experience.
The North American Veterinary Community is bringing attendees together with candid talks at its conference. Plus: EMS physicians learn to handle global crises.
The ins and outs of launching a successful network of local chapters. Also: Why evergreen content matters—but so do topical stories.
A meetings expert may have found the replacement for paper to-do lists. Also: An AMS-world acquisition worth watching.
People attend meetings for many reasons, but often at the top of their list is networking opportunities. Is your association doing everything it can to create connections and build relationships among attendees?
Think one (or more) of your organization’s chapters ıs veering away? You might be right. Learn how to spot the warning signs and what to do when chapters go rogue.
How do you get one alliance of five national associations, six regional associations, and a research consortium to reinvent itself as a single association? Years of consensus-building, for one. Learn from the tale of SHAPE America and the mother of all association mergers.
Idea fair gets chapters engaged with membership development.
Colorado's legal marijuana industry may still be in its infancy and facing tough marketing restrictions, but that hasn't stopped retailers from employing ambitious tactics to get people in the door, especially during the holidays.
What happens when you avoid increasing your dues for the wrong reasons. Also: The value of a social media voice document.
For a notion to be truly original, there has to be a chance it won't even work, one association CEO says. Also: the role political polarization plays in the news we read.
After a major overhaul of its application process, the Peace Corps saw a major jump in the number of candidates applying to serve. One membership professional identifies some lessons learned for associations.
Polling professionals say that fewer people are responding to surveys, which dilutes the credibility of the results. What can associations do to keep their survey findings reliable? The leader of a researchers’ organization shares some tips.
How one industry group leveraged softball to boost membership camaraderie—and it worked so well that the league spun off into a nonprofit of its own. Also: Which company makes the most reliable hard drives?
The International Coach Federation saw LinkedIn as an untapped reservoir of potential members, and a $25K membership campaign paid off in a big way.
In an effort to consolidate operations and create a broader voice for their industry, four associations combined forces and formed the Washington State Tree Fruit Association earlier this month. With the mergers, though, came goodbyes for longtime leaders.
Looking to bolster your association's media presence? Take some advice from a pro. Plus: Brace yourself for the Internet of Things culture clash.
Facing a series of political setbacks in recent years, the Michigan Education Association recently lost a case regarding the August window when union members can drop out. A judge ruled that members should be allowed to quit throughout the year.
One executive at a state association has taken the lead on educating healthcare workers on a pressing national issue via a MOOC. How do you get more attention for your association? Maybe it’s a membership drive. Maybe it’s a meeting or an ad campaign. For Jan Grimes, it’s meant building a lot of partnerships and putting together […]
Even if your association is growing, the churn of recruitment and lapsed members means you likely have more past members than active ones. What should your relationship be with them?
What's endlessly overhyped, and what's ready to go mainstream? Gartner's latest hype cycle study breaks it down. Also: how extroverts can break the ice with a tough cube to crack—the introvert.
Intros, welcomes, recognition. The keys to driving online community engagement are all about people, not technology. One association community manager shares her common-sense approach.
The role organizational culture plays in how we treat our members. Also: how one concert drew millions for a good cause more than four decades ago—and, in the process, introduced a major trend in charitable giving.
In crafting your organization’s growth strategy, don’t go with your gut. You need hard facts about your audiences and your competition. Get them by conducting a disciplined market assessment.
Members want more options, but there's only one of you. What do you do? Also: The benefits of repackaging your best stuff in different forms.
In what looks like a continuing trend, another association plans to offer multiple tiers of benefits and dues and explains how both members and the association stand to gain.
Sure, you can ask members what they want, but designing association benefits isn't their job. It's yours, and it starts with seeing the world from your members' eyes.
The Software & Information Industry Association is launching a news curation service for an industry always on the lookout for fresh info. In the process, the association is using the benefit to give a new member some time in the spotlight.
Gamification could provide that extra incentive for your members to stay engaged. Plus: What you should be asking prospective employees.
Tips on how to encourage relaxing habits after you've left work for the day. Also: how one association found success with shorter emails.
Why a one-tab strategy might be worth considering for your web-browsing habits. Also: MMCC attendees reflect on the conference in their own words.
As a recent session at the 2014 MMCC conference highlighted, for all the skills that your IT department has, the best place to start might be by building a good working relationship with your technical co-workers—so when you want to fire up a big project, they'll be ready to help.
The tech tools that were the talk of the 2014 Marketing, Membership & Communications Conference. Also: The things that marketers want most, according to a poll taken at the conference.
Advice on how fears and concerns about your work can be used to your advantage. Plus: A call for communications directors.
Privacy-minded social network Secret wants to bring its approach to the workplace. Also: why you should go all-in on your first-year member-conversion efforts.
The New England Human Resources Association gives members a benefit that helps their employees better see the world—literally.
Tips on how to deal with cleaning up old, messy member data.
The best type of app “really depends on the association’s membership and organizational goals.” Do you want differentiated tools or one mega app?
An association executive director shares how spending up to 20 percent of her work time in her online member community helps build relationships—and happy members.
The online private community of the future is growing, fast—thanks in part to lots of funding. Also: This new Twitter feature could help save your sanity.
A national 24-hour fundraising campaign officially breaks a record. Plus: Stay up-to-date on your members' contact info.
A membership expert talks about a member experience that knocked her socks off. Also: a Silicon Valley human resources fiasco that offers plenty of lessons to learn from.
A revealing look at one woman caught in a national scandal that directly affected the events industry. Plus: the power of segmenting your communications. The lingering effects of the General Services Administration (GSA) conference-spending scandal aren’t limited to the association space. To put it simply, lives were turned upside-down. Find out about the personal impacts […]
A PR specialist breaks down the essential elements of a perfect event. Also: modern ways to generate new membership leads.
A new association with big goals for membership gives affiliate marketing a try, in hopes of connecting with its target audience via groups already working at the ground level.
A call for the resignation of the American Angus Association's CEO ultimately led to the departure of multiple employees. Can you be transparent about staff turmoil without fueling gossip?
It's not them, it's you. Curb online communication flubs before you lose another member. Also: An executive explains what adjustments associations can make to satisfy their members from different generations.
Tips for retaining your membership numbers. Plus: Don’t turn off the introverts who attend your events. We’re still a ways from the release of this year’s Membership Marketing Benchmarking Report, but Marketing General’s senior vice president, Tony Rossell, is offering fresh details to stew over. In Rossell’s latest data release, the study found that 27 […]
Management teams must reassess their staff when a poorly performing executive brings them down. Also: Look to data to enhance your association’s website.
The tale of an association that eventually fell apart when it failed to keep up with its changing membership. Also: all the infographics you could ever want on the demise of Windows XP.
At FHRBOC, get business savvy and great networking all in one conference.
Big changes make for stressed-out staffs. What can a CEO do to get the team behind a new vision?
AARP's way of getting in on the Oscars conversation shows that newsjacking isn't just limited to social media. Also: When longtime members start to fade, how do you win them back?
Writing for the web doesn't always mean you need to pack an editorial calendar to the gills. Before my presentation at the 2014 Great Ideas Conference next week, let's talk about some of the content techniques we use on this site. Maybe they'll help you percolate your own ideas.
Last night's wins in major categories for films made by black and Latino directors show the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' progress as it focuses on diversity. But as recent statistics show, its voting body remains strongly male and white.
Five easy ways to tweak your old membership renewal strategy. Also: Swapping services with other organizations can save time and money while fostering collaboration.
A glaring security concern has emerged for Apple iPhone customers, and we know what you can do to fix it.
Two trade groups focused on the budding space of wireless charging announced a new collaboration this week that could help take the concept mainstream.
Trying to offer your members great educational content? Make sure you're pricing it according to market demand. Also: Advice on working your way up the association ladder.
Where your association's community managers fit within your organizational structure. Plus: Use your Twitter account to its full potential.
A new meetings advocacy movement plans to build a sustainable marketing campaign for an industry with wide impact. Also: Why Microsoft ultimately decided to distribute updates for Windows XP until next year.
The World Wide Web Consortium, which has been considering controversial new digital rights management rules, says the Motion Picture Association of America—which has a vested interest in DRM—joined the group this week. Technology critics are skeptical.
From email newsletters to Facebook updates, the outlets that nonprofit marketers rely on most. Also: why you shouldn't ignore online advertising as a potential source for membership leads.
Numerous trends have affected the larger meetings industry and the know-how meeting planners must have. What new skills do today’s planners need?
What you should look for, before signing the contract. Plus: The value component of your email strategy.
If a niche within your membership feels underserved, you can either adapt to meet its needs or let it go elsewhere. How do you decide?
As many organizations prepare to close the books on 2013, one of the last events on their calendars is likely the office holiday party. One HR professional offers some tips for a successful and safe end-of-the-year bash.
ASAE's 2013 Technology Conference & Expo's path-oriented approach illustrated something long clear for both associations and vendors: Technology is a bigger conversation than ever, and our needs often might diverge—even when we have a common end.
Your creative listening skills can prove key when identifying innovative opportunities. Plus: Tips to get you moving along the membership engagement track.
A new report on online video marketing looks into some of the latest trends, including incorporating video into email. Find out one association’s creative approach to video-inclusive email.
The National Retail Federation recently sponsored a virtual career fair for students and young professionals to explore the variety of job opportunities that lie in the retail industry. Find out what made this association’s first foray into the world of online job fairs an unexpected success.
These approaches may not be the ones your association needs now, but they could be the ones that drive the future of the industry. Put these disruptive ideas in your back pocket for later.
Why the size of your conference matters. Plus: the importance of a strong email list.
You can learn a few things about member engagement from a popular online game. Plus: diagramming the modern association member. Ever played Candy Crush on Facebook? If you haven’t, you might want to start. Lessons in member engagement from the popular online game, and more, in today’s Social Media Roundup. Candy Crush Course https://twitter.com/saforian/status/390141259311898624 Game […]
Nothing kills credibility faster than poor research and bad fact-checking. Plus: How to work with multiple chapters within your organization.
A sense of ownership among members is what sets associations apart from other forms of business. Micro-volunteering—if managed well—can be a key route to building ownership among members far and wide.
Well-known keynoters, high attendee numbers, and hundreds of education sessions are nice, but they don’t guarantee a successful meeting. What does? Designing a learning experience your members can’t re-create or find elsewhere. Take a cue from two associations that have been there, done that—and ended up with more engaged attendees.
Four organizations will study and develop models to address member engagement.
Don't overlook the power of wearable messaging. Also: how to create contagious content.
Every time you turn around, it seems someone is saying something stupid on social media. And because of that, you might be wary of jumping into the fray yourself. But before you decide, hear me out.
Telltale signs that it’s time for an online redesign. Also: how to draft a compelling value proposition. A website redesign is serious business. In almost any case, it amounts to a difficult and expensive undertaking. But there are times when it’s also necessary. How to tell when your association’s online home is in need of […]
A study by a Canadian association consultancy shows that members value networking over education—something that matches a U.S. study. Also: The logistics of the March on Washington, coordinated entirely without computers, cell phones, or months of lead time.
Get more out of your annual conference experience. Also: How to diffuse tension in the workplace.
According to Decisive author and Closing General Session speaker Dan Heath, a smart process can result in organizations that are better decision makers.
Veteran CEOs and newcomers offer perspectives on how they got to the corner office—what they’ve learned along the way, what they wish they knew going in, and what they would tell others on their way up.
Career paths at associations aren’t always clearly defined. But young professionals who want to stay the course can pave their own way with solid strategies they can use at every point along the way.
How to determine if a new tech tool might benefit your association. Also: Tips for attracting new members.
Hey you, are you listening to your members or just talking to them? Here's how to improve the balance. Also: Five tips for making your office space more productive.
How one association put its data to work to determine the true cost of serving its members—and whether its dues rates matched up.
If one great member benefit lasts longer than your dues cycle, a lot of people will join to get it and then leave for a few years. How do you get your association off this roller-coaster ride?
Innovation is on the rise at this year's MM&C. One company is using 3-D art to change the way we commemorate success. Also: Don't over promote to your audience. Engage with the 4-11 rule.
What your association can learn from Medium's collaborative network. Also: Gmail gets more organized, sorting emails into categories.
In the past ten years, the blogging platform WordPress has become one of the most widely-used pieces of open-source software on the internet, but (like associations) it's the community that's driven its growth.
According to a new study by the Mobile Marketing Association, the field is experiencing rapid growth in both investment and employment—something which associations could certainly benefit from. But the association's study, beyond promoting the industry, also has a secondary motive.
Social media predicted The Great Gatsby would be a hit, even when the film got subpar reviews. Could it predict attendance during your next conference? Also: Your members are champions, but it's up to your association to help them along their professional path.
After 18 years of service, Microsoft nixed Hotmail and migrated all of its users to Outlook.com. Also: Do you find yourself switching back and forth from thinking and doing?
Feel like you need a CFO survival kit to understand the ins and outs of being an association CEO? Follow these tips below.
Charting an association’s future increasingly means knowing its numbers as well as its operations. Brenda Hargett, CAE, has mastered a dual role—CFO and COO—and saved millions.
What to expect from ASAE’s packed spring meetings lineup.
With smaller budgets and fewer meeting attendees likely, associations that serve government employees—especially groups affiliated with the military—are trying to find ways to do more with less. And potential host cities are feeling the impact, too.
Associations need to stop putting the experts first and the audience second. It’s time to throw away the traditional expert-driven education model and implement a participant-centered one.
The scale has tipped: Spending on mobile data sprinted ahead of spending on mobile voice services, according to a new report. Associations should take notice.
A recent study shows that professional development and relationship-building—two things associations shine at—are exactly what workers are looking for. Also: Some tips and tools for pulling off social media campaigns.
If your association is giving away products or membership at zero charge, and you're not getting anything else in return, you're doing it wrong.
From shoe leather on the Hill to crafting the right media message, the National Retail Federation’s Mallory Duncan helped put the spotlight on hidden credit- and debit-card fees. This is one association’s advocacy success story.
Fierce competition among associations with similar interests is out. Collaboration is in. Working together makes dollars and sense, as three organizations in the finance industry discovered when they joined forces to attract members and leverage opportunities.
What social media trends should you follow to stay in your members' limelight? Also: Bring your association members to your blog space.
At the Entrepreneurs' Organization, the United States is just one country among many, and EO members near and far reap the benefits of its global mindset.
The Entrepreneurs’ Organization’s new governance system stretches to meet the needs of members all over the planet.
Why less is more when using social media effectively. Plus: How to deal with the big bosses.
Have you seen Facebook’s latest development? The new search function could lead to big opportunities for associations.
The state is reeling from the unusually strong (and early) flu season. Statewide healthcare associations are stepping up to offer assistance.
Technology advances and personal engagement are likely to influence how companies will enhance the customer experience this year, according to a new forecast.
To offer a taste of its benefits, the National Speakers Association announced it is opening its official publication Speaker magazine to nonmembers.
The 2012 ASAE Technology Conference & Expo is this week, and two membership software companies are making some big news already.
Conventions and expos are hard work. But the people who perform these logistical miracles make it look easy. Welcome to three days in the life of one of the greatest shows on earth.
The National Council of University Research Administrators shows how clear roles and simple opportunities can boost a volunteer base.
19 association website designs to check out again and again. Also: New tips for membership engagement.
Build a consistent message when creating your membership renewal campaign. Also: Can you actually learn something from spam?
Newsweek’s digital audience will soon become its only audience as it moves to an online-only format early next year.
Finding that members aren't sticking around? Maybe you should focus on your closed community's ROI. Also: Building a LinkedIn community from scratch.
In the shoes of the Apple CEO, would you have apologized? Also: Some tips from an event pro.
From shaking up the board to loosening up the management structure, association bloggers offer tips on changing things up.
