What you should look for, before signing the contract. Plus: The value component of your email strategy.

Wait to put your John Hancock on a contract until all those soon to be bound by it are on the same page. It could save you from a future headache of legal issues.

That, and more, in today’s Social Media Roundup:

Catch It Before You Sign It

Common contract mistakes (and how to avoid them) by @JoanEisenstodt #eventprofs http://t.co/PsCznIHLBV

— Adrian Segar (@ASegar) December 13, 2013

Here’s one way to learn about contracts: a lawsuit over one that’s gone wrong. Given that’s not the preferred route, here’s what you should know about drafting a quality, complete, and binding document. The prime rule, according to meetings and hospitality consultant Joan Eisenstodt: Never rush. Putting your signature on a document makes it binding—so refrain from signing until all parties have examined and approved the fine details, Eisenstodt says. Read the contract out loud to catch the nuances. Read it again, to catch the parts you might have otherwise missed. Use track changes to leave comments and ask for clarifications. “The more you ask, the more you’ll know, and that will ensure a better contract and a better meeting foundation,” she writes. (ht @ASegar)

Truth Be Told

The truth IS out there and your association is definitely needed (or should be)! http://t.co/60Ghe3udwk via yourmembership

— Jim Dougherty (@leaderswest) December 13, 2013

Let’s clarify: It’s not how many emails you’re sending, per se—but more so, how valuable is the content that you’re pushing along. YourMembership.com Industry Resource Director Rick Rutherford cites the example of Tamara, a new nurse who works multiple jobs and long days. Tamara, Rutherford recounts, knows she gets emails regarding furthering her education—though she told him she couldn’t pinpoint exactly where they come from. “There were too many [emails] to go through and not enough time in her life to get it done. Noise…too much noise, to determine what is valuable and what is not,” he writes. The point: Engagement is important, but distributing high-value content even more so. Associations should curate the information that relates to the industry they serve—and then pick and choose the important parts to pass along, Rutherford says. “Being that filter, that trusted resource, can go along way to help elevate your brand and build member loyalty,” he writes. (ht @leaderswest)

Any war stories from the battle against noise? Tell us in the comments.

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