The weekly list of free educational events and resources for the association community…
I thought I knew a lot about gathering requirements for new technology, so how did I miss the boat on business requirements? Apparently, I’m not the only one, says Dave Coriale at DelCor. He explains why you must start with business requirements and how they differ from system requirements. It all makes sense now.
You’re missing a big opportunity if other organizations offer online learning programs to your audience but your association only provides education the traditional face-to-face way. WBT Systems provides advice for getting your board’s approval (and budget) to develop online learning programs.
“Data has a short shelf life,” says MemberSuite. Besides having a strategy for how your association will use the data in your care, you should follow these six principles for collecting and updating member data.
Many of my content marketer friends, acquaintances, and clients will appreciate this one. Andy Crestodina at Orbit Media Studios writes about seven habits of highly effective content marketers. This article is way better than the usual productivity crap shilled all over the web. He even provides “actions for today” to get you started.
A few quick hits before we get to this week’s list of free webinars:
- The title says, “10 easy ways to hack your culture to succeed at digital transformation.” Well, they may be easy but some of these are hardcore. (TechRepublic)
- 40% of companies affected by ransomware attacks paid, but only half got their data back. Here’s how to get yours if you’re in that unfortunate position. (CSO)
- The plain English guide to XML sitemaps. (HubSpot)
Off-topic: Check out my Grabbing the Gusto blog for posts about the recipes I’ve made recently or plan to make soon.
Here are the educational events scheduled for next week plus a few extra. If you have any free webinars or events coming up, please send me the link. I’ll be happy to feature it as long as it’s not product-centric.
Tue 11/6 at 12 p.m. CDT – Chapter Roundtable in Rosemont IL
Connect with fellow Component/Chapter Relations Professionals (CRPs) to network and discuss current chapter challenges, such as how to measure and increase the health of chapters; best practices for chapter operations (volunteer tools, processes, etc.); and how to get the right statistics to prevent national and chapter level members from leaving. Lunch provided. 1 CAE credit. Location: Rosemont IL. More info/register.
Host: Billhighway
*All times are Eastern Daylight Time unless otherwise noted.
Tue 11/6 at 12 p.m. – Recharge your Member Experience
Member value propositions are rapidly changing from expectations to experience-driven experiences. Your members expect the same convenient online experience with your association that they’ve come to expect in most other areas of their lives. Learn 6 ways to recharge your member experience. Find out how to become an experience-driven organization, what micro-moments are, how to be in the moment with your members, and how easy technology can enable these meaningful experiences. More info/register.
Host: YourMembership
Tue 11/6 at 12 p.m. – Marketing Trends to Watch for in 2019
Even marketers can’t predict what will happen tomorrow. Find out what trends should be on your radar for 2019. From automated commerce to assisted development and other emerging technologies, we want to give you the competitive advantage on developing trends that affect the way we market in the future. More info/register.
Host: American Marketing Association
Presenter: Minsoo Pak, certified futurist and partner principal of EY
Tue 11/6 at 2 p.m. – Risk Management 101
Negotiating contracts is a large part of a meeting planner’s day—and arguably—the most important. From negotiating amenities to inserting risk management clauses, meeting planners must stay at the top of their game.
Get expert insight on risk management—and remember to bring your biggest questions to this interactive session. More info/register.
Host: Smart Meetings
Presenter: veteran hotel attorney Lisa Sommer Devlin
Wed 11/7 at 12 p.m. CDT – Chapter Roundtable in Chicago IL
Connect with fellow Component/Chapter Relations Professionals (CRPs) to network and discuss current chapter challenges, such as how to measure and increase the health of chapters; best practices for chapter operations (volunteer tools, processes, etc.); and how to get the right statistics to prevent national and chapter level members from leaving. Lunch provided. 1 CAE credit. Location: Chicago IL. More info/register.
Host: Billhighway
Wed 11/7 from 12 to 5 p.m. – SURGE Virtual Conference
The goal of the twelve sessions is to celebrate and make possible the potential of our associations. The sessions have been designed to make our optimism a rational one: to prepare us for what the future holds, to provide us with the skills and resources to face it, and to carve out practical pathways to take us there. 1 to 15 CAE credits. More information.
Host: Association Success
Wed 11/7 at 2 p.m. – The 4 Stages of Event Program Maturity: View Your Organization through the Lens of the Event Evolution Model
You’ve probably wondered how your event program stacks up to the rest of the market. Are you understaffed? Are your budgets lower? Are you using outdated technology? Learn about the four levels of evolution for your event practices along with practical insights and tips on how to increase your efficiency and ROI. More info/register.
Host: MeetingsNet
Presenter: Mike Dietrich, Senior Director for Platform Marketing, Cvent
Thu 11/8 at 11 a.m. – Creating a Killer Content Strategy
Learn what a content strategy is and how it can transform your organization once you put it into action; how to create a content strategy statement for your organization; how to identify your target audiences and craft content that meets their needs; why a content-first strategy is essential for a successful website redesign; tips for making your content more interesting and impactful; and tips for helping others in your organization write great content. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: Matrix Group
Presenters: Joanna Pineda, Matrix Group CEO, and Carrie Hane, Tanzen Founder and Content Expert
Thu 11/8 at 12 p.m. – Chapter Tech Tools You Can’t Live Without
Learn how other CRPs are leveraging these chapter tech tools on the job and why they’re recommending them to their chapter leaders. Originally presented during our CRP-led session at CEX 2018, these chapter tech tools and uses come straight from other CRPs, so we’re sure they can work for your association too. We’ll even have a live Q&A to give you the opportunity to ask questions about the tools we share and how you can use them. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Hosts: Billhighway and Mariner Management
Thu 11/8 from 12 to 5 p.m. – SURGE Virtual Conference
The goal of the twelve sessions is to celebrate and make possible the potential of our associations. The sessions have been designed to make our optimism a rational one: to prepare us for what the future holds, to provide us with the skills and resources to face it, and to carve out practical pathways to take us there. 1 to 15 CAE credits. More information.
Host: Association Success
Thu 11/8 at 4 p.m. – Association Chat Happy Hour and VR Adventure (Alexandria VA)
Join your Association Chat friends for happy hour while playing with the AR and VR technology being used to change the way people communicate and experience associations and events. Chat with the VR/AR Association DC chapter members and ask them your tech questions while you try out VR gear and connect over happy hour drinks and snacks. Location: Alexandria VA. More info/register.
Hosts: Association Chat and Brightline Interactive
Fri 11/9 from 12 to 5 p.m. – SURGE Virtual Conference
The goal of the twelve sessions is to celebrate and make possible the potential of our associations. The sessions have been designed to make our optimism a rational one: to prepare us for what the future holds, to provide us with the skills and resources to face it, and to carve out practical pathways to take us there. 1 to 15 CAE credits. More information.
Host: Association Success
Mon 11/12 at 2 p.m. – 3 Ways to Grow Your Membership in a Changing World (Membership Growth Online Summit)
If you ask a room full of membership leaders how their growth is going, you’ll likely hear mixed reviews. But most will agree that recruitment and retention feels tougher now than ever before. Learn the real reasons why many organizations find it difficult to hit their growth goals, and the practical steps you can take to increase your membership. 1 CAE credit. More information.
Host: Wild Apricot
Presenter: Joy Duling, Membership Growth Expert
Tue 11/13 at 12 p.m. – Chapter Roundtable in Washington DC
Connect with fellow Component/Chapter Relations Professionals (CRPs) to network and discuss current chapter challenges, such as how to measure and increase the health of chapters; best practices for chapter operations (volunteer tools, processes, etc.); and how to get the right statistics to prevent national and chapter level members from leaving. Lunch provided. 1 CAE credit. Location: Washington DC. More info/register.
Host: Billhighway
Tue 11/13 at 1 p.m. – Create Business Value with Integrated Learning Solutions
Even the most extensive course library isn’t enough to meet learners on their terms in today’s fluid, fast-paced business environment. That’s why many organizations are turning to integrated learning experiences. Learn what to expect from integrated learning experiences, why these solutions are so effective, essential elements for an integrated approach, common pitfalls to avoid when developing an integrated strategy, and how to measure, analyze and interpret results. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: Talented Learning and CrossKnowledge
Presenters:
- John Leh, CEO and Lead Analyst, Talented Learning
- Paul Morton, Regional Director, Continental Europe and Americas, CrossKnowledge
Tue 11/13 at 2 p.m. – 3 Ways to Use Google to Grow Your Membership (Membership Growth Online Summit)
Learn three ways you can use Google to attract and engage more members. Find out how to use both free and paid tools to reach the people on Google most likely to join and support your organization, and how to create content that catches their attention. 1 CAE credit. More information.
Host: Wild Apricot
Presenter: Farhad Chikhliwala, Demand Generation Expert
Wed 11/14 at 12 p.m. – Chapter Roundtable in Alexandria VA
Connect with fellow Component/Chapter Relations Professionals (CRPs) to network and discuss current chapter challenges, such as how to measure and increase the health of chapters; best practices for chapter operations (volunteer tools, processes, etc.); and how to get the right statistics to prevent national and chapter level members from leaving. Lunch provided. 1 CAE credit. Location: Alexandria VA. More info/register.
Host: Billhighway
Wed 11/14 at 12 p.m. – How the Member Experience Shapes the Association Space
Learn how to shape the member journey and take insightful actions and decisions to enhance every interaction with your members. Member expectations regarding their experience with you and your staff are higher than ever. Organizations used to focus on member benefits, but now they’re focusing on the actual member experience. Delivering that experience requires a more complete understanding of the member and their interaction with your association. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: MemberSuite
Presenters: Natalie Cheney, CEO, and Shaun O’Reilly, VP of Marketing, MemberSuite
Wed 11/14 at 2 p.m. – 3 Instagram Tips Successful Nonprofits Use to Raise Awareness and Win Supporters (Membership Growth Online Summit)
Learn how some nonprofits are using Instagram to reach the young and socially conscious generation, ensuring their organizations continue to grow well into the future. 1 CAE credit. More information.
Host: Wild Apricot
Presenter: Lilach Bullock, Social Media Expert
Thu 11/15 at 11 a.m. CST – Mapping the Journey to Long-Term Member Engagement (Chicago IL)
It’s no longer acceptable to simply have a web “presence.” A distinctive, original, and personal user experience is a requirement in today’s digital world. See how integrated technology systems can help grow, retain, and strengthen your connection to members, including email marketing and automation; harnessing email data to drive members and potential members to participate in your community; and tracking, analyzing, and maximizing user information to help deliver relevant, timely, personal content. 1 CAE credit. Location: Chicago IL. More info/register.
Host: Americaneagle.com and Higher Logic
Thu 11/15 at 12 p.m. – Chapter Roundtable in Reston VA
Connect with fellow Component/Chapter Relations Professionals (CRPs) to network and discuss current chapter challenges, such as how to measure and increase the health of chapters; best practices for chapter operations (volunteer tools, processes, etc.); and how to get the right statistics to prevent national and chapter level members from leaving. Lunch provided. 1 CAE credit. Location: Reston VA. More info/register.
Host: Billhighway
Thu 11/15 at 1 p.m. – Lessons Learned: Expanding Your Educational Programs with iMIS Integration
Explore the lessons learned by three different organizations—Society of Surgical Oncology, Home Builders Association of Alabama, and Sigma Sigma Sigma Sorority—when taking their education to the next level. Find out what challenges each organization needed to solve, what they learned during LMS implementation, and what benefits they’ve gained from integrating their AMS and LMS. More info/register.
Host: niUG
Presenter: Michelle Brien, VP Marketing and Product Strategy, WBT Systems
Thu 11/15 at 2 p.m. – 5 Things Every Digital Marketing Plan Should Have (Membership Growth Online Summit)
Are your digital marketing activities actually helping you grow your organization? Are you overwhelmed by the pressure to post on social media, pump out more emails, experiment with ads, and still not sure if anything is working? Find out how to create a plan you can actually handle while delivering results. 1 CAE credit. More information.
Host: Wild Apricot
Presenter: Amy Jacobus, Digital Marketing Expert
Fri 11/16 at 2 p.m. – How to Use Data to Grow Your Membership in Just 1 Hour a Month (Membership Growth Online Summit)
Learn the tried-and-tested process that any nonprofit can use to increase membership and donations using data-driven marketing. Even if you’ve never measured a single campaign, you’ll be able to implement these strategies. 1 CAE credit. More information.
Host: Wild Apricot
Presenter: Jason Jensen, Digital Nonprofit Tech Expert
Mon 11/19 at 2 p.m. – Life, Guilt & the Changing Pace of Work (AWTC Meet-Up)
Many of us struggle with establishing and maintaining work/life balance. Our panel will discuss a variety of challenges in navigating changing priorities brought on by parenthood, managing illness, life changes, and the desire for something new. Panelists will share their own strategies and lessons learned in designing the job that brings you balance. Any woman working within the association community is welcome to attend. As always, we’ll be having a happy hour at a nearby bar after the meet-up. Location: Washington DC. More info/register.
Organizer: Association Women Technology Champions
Presenters:
- Alex Mouw, Principal Digital Strategist, Results Direct
- Rhea M. Steele, COO, Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation
That’s it for now. If you can’t attend a live webinar, go ahead and register if the topic interests you. Most webinar hosts send registrants a link to the recording.
Association Brain Food Weekly is published Friday mornings. If your organization offers free professional development for the association community, please send me the link via email or Twitter.
Creative Commons licensed photo by Richard Hodonicky via Unsplash.
Association Brain Food 