The weekly list of free educational events and resources for the association community…
The American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages transitioned into a benefits-based membership model. At Association Success, Howie Berman said they created membership packages with different levels of benefits “to give members a meaningful choice, and to provide them with value for their dues. We also wanted the flexibility to expand beyond traditional member profiles, offering a home to other stakeholders who might not have felt welcomed or included in the traditional categories.”
The best marketing for educational programs is content marketing, said LMS provider WBT Systems—and I agree. Content marketing helps you develop a relationship of trust with the reader because you’re providing them value, not spewing promotions at them.
The consensus on the value of marketing personas is starting to shift. Digital strategist Brandon Andersen suggested moving from assumptions about what a category of people wants to insight based on data that identifies their needs and pain points. “People put themselves into their own buckets. This self-identification through a buyer’s own actions gives us a much clearer picture of their true pain points.”
When you’re shopping for new technology, look beyond what the software does. Spend time evaluating whether the company behind the software is the right one for you. Eventpedia explained how to choose the right partner when shopping for an event app—advice that holds true when shopping for any technology.
Some quick hits before we get to the list of next week’s free webinars:
- Website advice: Above the fold is a myth. It’s not 1997 anymore. (Rob Lafratta)
- Symantec certificate users: Google Chrome will label thousands of websites as “unsafe” in the next few months. (TechRepublic)
- Wells Fargo customers: here’s a devious social engineering attack you need to know about. (KnowBe4)
- How to keep your resolution to read more. (The Millions)
Off-topic: Check out my Grabbing the Gusto blog if you’d like to see the list of recipes I’ve made this week or plan to make in the coming weeks, and my list of recommended fiction and non-fiction ebooks on sale.
Finally, the free professional development events for the association community scheduled in next week or so. If your organization has a webinar coming up, please send me the link. I’ll be happy to feature it as long as it’s not product-centric.
Tue 3/6 at 2 p.m.* – The Influencer Economy (Association Chat)
Watch/participate live or view the recording.
Host: KiKi L’Italien, founder, Amplified Growth
Guest: author Ryan Williams
*All times are Eastern Standard Time unless otherwise noted.
Tue 3/6 at 2 p.m. – Nonprofit Financial Reporting Implementation: A Deep Dive
Learn techniques for implementing FASB’s “Presentation of Financial Statements of Not-For-Profit Entities” standard. Find out how to identify the standard’s requirements, determine which elements of the standard provide flexibility for preparers, and evaluate alternative disclosure and presentation approaches. CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: Johnson Lambert LLP
Presenters:
- Audrey Newton, CPA (moderator), Partner, Johnson Lambert LLP
- Andrea Wright, CPA, MBA, Partner, Johnson Lambert LLP
- Paul Preziotti, CPA, Principal, Johnson Lambert LLP
- Melanie Barthel, CPA, Manager, Johnson Lambert LLP
Wed 3/7 at 12 p.m. CST – 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
Thu 3/8 at 2 p.m. – #ReviewChat Online Customer Product Reviews
Your members’ businesses are affected by online reviews—86% of consumers read reviews often or very often before buying. Hear how the Specialty Sleep Association is giving their members resources to help them cope and thrive in The Review Economy. Learn key takeaways from a panel discussion about online reviews of mattresses, and steps your association should take to educate your members about the effects of online reviews on buying decisions in B2C and B2B markets. More info/register.
Host: KiKi L’Italien, founder, Amplified Growth
Thu 3/8 at 2 p.m. – Cultivating Thought Leadership to Build Your Personal Brand
Are you looking to build your personal brand in 2018? Thought leadership and content delivery is a valuable part of modern marketing. Learn how to identify your key thought leadership areas, overcome your fear of the launch, develop a process that ensures you never run out of content, and scale the content for multiple platforms. More info/register.
Host: The Moery Company
Presenter: J.P. Moery, founder and president, The Moery Company
Fri 3/9 at 1 p.m. – Taking a Member-Centric Approach in New Program Development
By focusing on empathy and iteration, the design thinking process helps you create solutions that are grounded in the experience of your stakeholders and informed by their feedback through a co-creation process. This helps protect your organization from costly program development that you ultimately discover has no audience. Learn how to use this approach in designing innovative, cutting-edge programs. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: BlueSky eLearn
Presenter: Carol Hamilton, Principal, Grace Social Sector Consulting
Thu 3/15 at 12/12:30 p.m. – Sexual Harassment: What Should Your Nonprofit Be Doing to Keep Itself Out of the Headlines and Out of Legal Hot Water? (webinar and Washington DC)
Find out what constitutes unlawful sexual harassment, what a nonprofit organization’s obligations are under the law, and the steps a nonprofit organization can take to minimize potential liabilities stemming from claims of sexual harassment. Through an application of real-life examples, learn about best practices, common pitfalls, and areas of particular risk to nonprofit organizations. 1 CAE credit. Online and Washington DC. More info/register.
Host: Venable LLP
Presenters:
- Cindy Lewin, Esq. (moderator), Partner, Nonprofit Organizations Practice, Venable LLP
- Todd J. Horn, Esq., Partner, Labor & Employment Practice, Venable LLP
- Jennifer G. Prozinski, Esq., Counsel, Labor & Employment Practice, Venable LLP
Thu 3/15 at 1 p.m. – The New GDPR Data Protection Regulations: What Associations Need to Know About Compliance
Learn about the GDPR and how it applies to U.S. associations; key principles behind the regulation and how they relate to compliance; mapping your data flows; GDPR gap assessment—knowing what needs fixing; and legal, technical, and management compliance issues. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Host: enSYNC Corporation
Presenter: Terrance Barkan, CAE, international association management consultant
Thu 3/15 at 1 p.m. – Lead or Lose: Seven Principles of Learning Leadership
Explore seven principles for those working in learning businesses that provide professional development, continuing education, and lifelong learning. These “leading learning” principles focus on helping your business ensure its own success and the success of the learners you serve. Leave with practical insights into how you can implement these principles to build authority and buy-in within your organization and deliver lasting impact for the audiences you serve. 1 CAE credit. More info/register.
Hosts: Tagoras and Digitec Interactive
Presenters:
- Jeff Cobb and Celisa Steele, founders, Tagoras
- Jack McGrath, president and creative director, Digitec Interactive
Thu 3/15 [time not provided yet on ASAE site] – Adapt to Attract Millennial and Gen Z Talent
Millennials make up the largest segment of the workforce. Generation Z, the oldest of whom turn 22 this year, is about to join the workforce and will further disrupt the world of work as we know it. Many associations will need to adjust their structure to attract and retain millennials and Gen Z, whose members will bring critical skills and a fresh perspective to the association community. Hear about the challenges associations face when vying for younger generations’ attention—and how to adapt. More info/register.
Host: ASAE
Presenter: Sarah Sladek, author of Talent Generation: How Visionary Organizations Are Redefining Work and Achieving Greater Success
Tue 3/20 at 12 p.m. – Chapter Roundtable in Washington DC
Wed 3/21 at 12 p.m. – Chapter Roundtable in Alexandria VA
Thu 3/22 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.
Host: Billhighway
Location: Washington DC. More info/register.
Location: Alexandria VA. More info/register.
Location: Reston VA. More info/register.
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 professional development for the association community, please send me the link via email or Twitter.
Creative Commons licensed photo by Andrew Gloor on Unsplash.
Amazon book links are affiliate links which allow me to earn a small commission on any sales that result from clicking. Thank you!
Association Brain Food 