Blue Sky eLearn

OCTOBER 9, 2019

If you missed their webinar, Association Value Prop Remix & Laying the Track for Member Persona Creation , we’ve recapped it below and have made the recording available here. Chances are, your members aren’t getting all of the things they need from your association. What do they assign value to and are you providing it? While most associations are focusing on acquiring new members, we can’t forget about retaining our current ones.

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Association Value Analysis Survey Committee 131

Moery Company

APRIL 1, 2019

How well can your association articulate your value prop? Defining member value and what differentiates you from other organizations in your industry is often a challenge – and, it can’t be developed by a group on K Street. The opportunity for associations to adopt and develop a strong value proposition is by asking your members what the heck they find valuable about your organization. Ask them to be specific about what they value in these areas.

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Association Value Member Experience Resources Content 241

YourMembership Blog

NOVEMBER 22, 2019

A recent Community Brands study shows that job opportunities are one of the most important benefits to members, yet associations have work to do in this area. According to the Community Brands Member Engagement and Loyalty Study, job opportunities rank in the top 10 of most important benefits to members of professional associations. The post Does your association value job boards as much as your members do?

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Association Value Member Engagement Software Marketing 209

Smooth The Path

AUGUST 6, 2018

Here is another way to look for gaps in your association’s value proposition. If your professional or trade association is one where you hope members stay members their entire career while they are in the profession or industry you want to make sure that the association is providing value to members at all three stages. Some associations focus heavily on personal success but not at all on team success or success for the industry or profession.

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Association Value Team Industry Member Research 76

Smooth The Path

JULY 24, 2018

Shaming around professional development is unthinkable to many of us but, some professionals say it happens at their organizations and this is a problem association can solve. When associations offer soft skill training (i.e., The post Improve Association Value With Soft Skill Training appeared first on Smooth The Path. Association Value association conference communication conference conference experience professional development professional skills soft skills

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Association Value Team Course Leadership 76

Smooth The Path

DECEMBER 4, 2016

One of the best ways to engage members early is by ensuring they have contact with your Association’s Value Trigger Point. How do you identify your Association’s Value Trigger Point? Many times staff don’t know if their association has an Association Value Trigger Point (AVTP) or what it might be. In phone conversations, I ask 3-5 year members this question: when did you first realize the value of this association?

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Association Value Resources Conference Review 83

Principled Innovation

MARCH 25, 2013

This post originally appeared on the Associations Now Leadership Blog on March 7, 2013. In a recent post , Associations Now blogger Joe Rominiecki shared what both he and I regard as a startling fact: 53 percent of associations surveyed in 2011 had raised their dues in the previous three years. To put it another way, during the most severe economic decline in most of our lifetimes, more than half of associations surveyed still moved forward with a dues increase.

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Association Value Revenue Survey Price 158

Eric Lanke

FEBRUARY 25, 2013

Lego Value Meal Another subject we tackled at the dinner I mentioned in a previous post was the much-reported sickness of the association value proposition. We had both association executives and consultants to the association community present at this dinner, and I couldn't help but notice that the battle line seemed to be drawn between those two camps and the perspectives they each brought to the table. Associations Leadership

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Association Value Revenue Education Report 145

Principled Innovation

APRIL 2, 2013

This post originally appeared on the Associations Now Leadership Blog on March 28, 2013. In Part I of this series earlier this month, I identified the association value gap as an underlying structural problem within membership-centric business models. Put simply, associations are unable to drive profitability solely by delivering on the membership value proposition and must find alternative ways to monetize membership to maintain their existing business models.

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Association Value Revenue Leadership Resources 133

Robert M Barnes

MARCH 14, 2012

Working for, consulting to and volunteering in Associations is especially rewarding when you see your peers have lightbulb moments that you know will be a defining point in their involvement. Often these come after long periods of stagnation, frustration and … Continue reading → A Dangerous Mind

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Association Value 75

Associations Now

MARCH 28, 2013

Building sustainable business models depends on association leaders adopting a 21st-century sensibility as they imagine and co-create new forms of value in collaboration with their stakeholder networks. In Part I of this series earlier this month , I identified the association value gap as an underlying structural problem within membership-centric business models. The problem for associations is that the member market does not really exist.

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Association Value Revenue Innovation Resources 62

Smooth The Path

NOVEMBER 17, 2020

Right now, some associations are overreacting. The trouble is, these leadership teams might cut and layoff so severely there may not be enough person-power to figure out how to add member value in this new environment. Other associations find themselves paralyzed.

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Team Leadership Industry Member Experience 101

Smooth The Path

NOVEMBER 6, 2018

Sometimes we have to tell people things we do not think we should have to say to them: The vibrant association is dynamic because members like you tell professionals like you all about the association. There is a lot of value in your membership, here let me show you. Gentle reminders go a long way toward improving our member’s value, experience, and culture. When association professionals assume positive intent.

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Member Experience Association Value Industry Strategy 205

Smooth The Path

NOVEMBER 5, 2020

Often associations highlight the bright spots. Related: The post Associations Need to Provide Imperfect Hope appeared first on Smooth The Path. Association ValueI’m going, to be honest with you, I had a hard Spring.

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Association Value How To Organization 85

Smooth The Path

OCTOBER 1, 2019

Why don’t people join associations anymore? Well, it could be because they do not hear about your association. When I talk to members, the vast majority say they become aware of the association because someone told them about it. Most association awareness happens because enthusiastic current members are out there promoting the association (or their chapter, or the conference). Related: The 40-year old association problem.

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Recruiting Recruitment Conference Member Experience 83

Smooth The Path

OCTOBER 3, 2019

” New members want emails from the association. They crave emails from the association. We immediately respond with a message whose goal is providing them with a bit of value. Instead, the message should be just a few sentences leading them to a value-packed, but easy to access, and quick-to-consume valuable piece of content. The first three-week window is usually the association’s best opportunity to influence members.

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Association Value Email Marketing Content Member Experience 85

Smooth The Path

MAY 7, 2020

The association landscape has been slowly changing for at least the last decade. Associations with individual membership see the opportunity to reach more members with organizational membership. While those with organizational membership realize the problem associated with reaching and engaging second-degree members. Some associations are considering the good, better, best membership levels that online platforms use.

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Project Revenue Course Association Value 65

Smooth The Path

OCTOBER 13, 2020

What more can your association do to help members with these issues right now? Related: Back to school for associations and members. Association response to big, hairy problems. Associations dump new ideas too quickly.

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Project Industry Marketing Member Experience 85

Smooth The Path

AUGUST 27, 2019

Related: Associations need to swing more. The problem with association problems. Before you can change the organization you have to… The post The First Step to Increase Your Association’s Value appeared first on Smooth The Path. Association Value association change association value change management delivering value innovation champion innovation culture key value proposition membership value perception of value

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Team Association Value Organization Innovation 65

SCD Group

OCTOBER 23, 2012

Louis Institute for Association Leadership (STIAL) meeting got a personal look at the strategies and tactics of the Composite Engagement Score system. I really like the concept of “scoring and tracking” member engagement of your association. 0- As I listened to Matt, I was impressed at how well the CES system helps Aptify enhance its thought leadership position in the association community. He focused on explaining CES and how it could benefit our associations.

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St. Louis eBook Association Value Leadership 54

Smooth The Path

MAY 7, 2017

At some associations, members do feel this way, and your members can feel like this too. The good news is size is not holding associations back. The only thing preventing our association from becoming the top of mind resource, the organization members are trying to figure out how to become more engaged with, and the one members rave to their colleagues about is… Simply, our understanding of members. My sleep study illustrates the problem with association data.

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Member Engagement Case Study Member Research Association Value 76

Smooth The Path

MARCH 7, 2017

Ask engaged members when they realized the value of the association and many could tell you the exact moment. The moment new members understand the value of the association is the Association’s Value Trigger Point (AVTP). Now that they experienced the AVTP and understand the value of the association they are more likely to be engaged in other ways. They look to the association first for information.

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Member Experience Association Value Products Conference 76

Smooth The Path

OCTOBER 24, 2019

Associations oscillate between two different trust states with members. There are so many things that build members’ trust in an association. It starts when another member recommends the association and continues as each prospective member samples the association’s benefits by attending a chapter meeting or browsing the website or reading an article. Once a new member joins, the trust continues to build as they interact and receive value.

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Sample Cost Member Experience Tips 65

Smooth The Path

SEPTEMBER 19, 2019

Navigating these challenging transitions is another way associations can help members. How can associations help? What are associations really selling? . Understand the three professional stages to improve the value. Association Value association value creative problem solving delivering value innovation mindset key value proposition membership value perception of value solving members' problems

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Industry Association Value Marketing Innovation 65

Smooth The Path

APRIL 23, 2017

Our thoughts around value are changing. In fact, our perceptions of value are becoming more sophisticated. Some experts define value as quality + price. There’s a new definition for value. Value is one part solution, another part story, another part experience. As you think about the value your association delivers to members consider these new trends. Related: Association trend watch: member experiences.

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Class Price Association Value Member Experience 69

Smooth The Path

AUGUST 23, 2017

”, an association CEO and big thinker in our industry asked me yesterday. Many indicators point to a member engagement problem for associations. Many associations are facing shrinking annual revenues, low retention ratings and, are having a harder time recruiting volunteers and quality volunteer leaders. I do not know of one person, or organization, or firm, or consultancy out there solving the association engagement problem for our industry.

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Member Engagement Member Experience Recruiting Recruitment 65

Smooth The Path

JANUARY 31, 2019

From university presidents to CFOs, to fundraisers, to engineers, to financial planners, to association professionals, none of us have enough time. Being involved in an association usually takes time. But what if our association could give back time to our members? And this is something many associations already do. Association online communities can save members time because they don’t need to sift through the mess of some public communities.

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Content Survey Association Value Products 69

Smooth The Path

OCTOBER 11, 2018

What is the real value of associations for members? I have heard members say, “I felt very uncertain, even scared, about taking the next step in my career but, the association helped me be confident.” ” Or, “I was assigned a big project no one in our company had attempted but, I found help through the association.” ” I feel valued. . How does your association make members feel?

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Project Conference Member Experience Association Value 139

Smooth The Path

MAY 11, 2017

Do people like me join associations like this? Is this new iPhone of value to me? If we help then answer yes, their membership is worth it, and yes, people like them join associations like this, we will keep them engaged, very engaged. How to exponentially improve member engagement at any association. Are you delivering the right value to members? There is a short window of opportunity to engage new members.

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Member Engagement eBook Member Experience Association Value 89

Smooth The Path

JUNE 19, 2018

On paper, your association has an organizational-type membership structure. But, most often when they think about the value of the association, they are not thinking about the value to their colleagues, or even the value of the membership to their organization, they are thinking about the value of the membership for themselves. This single individual makes the determination to renew based on the value they, themselves get from the association.

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Association Value Organization Member Experience 69

Smooth The Path

NOVEMBER 27, 2016

Related: Storytelling is the new association marketing. Association Marketing Member Marketing association benefits association story telling association value association value trigger point channel developing a story marketing story member benefits member marketing storytelling

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Marketing Social Media Products Innovation 89

Smooth The Path

APRIL 12, 2018

If you work for an association where membership is required or an association with a 98% retention rate and no competition, your association might be able to get away with a bit of friction. Try standing in your member’s shoes and list all the points of friction between members and the association’s policies, or staff, or systems. Related: Association trend watch: member experiences. Member-proofing your association.

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Newsletter Project Association Value System 75

Smooth The Path

MAY 14, 2020

One role associations can play is to help our members become indispensable. Many associations excel in providing this learning. Right now is the perfect time to question what an association is and what your association should be doing. Related: Improve association value with soft skill training. Association Value association change association solutions creating member experiences engaging members soft skills solutions trends

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Industry Member Experience Organization Association Value 78

Smooth The Path

APRIL 30, 2017

Member value is complex, and members are evaluating whether they are getting value from the association all the time. But the value of their benefits is not the only element they are considering. Member value is all of these elements and more. Types of experiences – do I have great memories of association related experiences? Am I proud to be associated with an organization that looks like this?

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eBook Maine Association Value Member Experience 85

Rapid BI

JANUARY 2, 2018

Over on Association Success, my friend Arianna Rehak crowd-sourced a great idea (here is her post). So in a very unscientific way, I tallied all of these discussions in my mind, and these are the most impactful articles of 2017: Is It Day 1 or Day 2 for Associations? Belonging to an Association Could Make You Happier. The post These Are Not the Most Read Articles But They Are the Most Impactful For the Association Community appeared first on Smooth The Path.

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Social Media Report Conference Association Value 34

Smooth The Path

AUGUST 9, 2017

Who are the Stephanies in your association? Member Engagement association value association value trigger point attendee engagement creating a member experience delivering value engaged members member engagement member experiences membership value perception of valueRelated: . The new member engagement rule of three. Good moods are contagious at conferences. The post The Formula for Member Engagement appeared first on Smooth The Path.

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Member Engagement Conference Member Experience Association Value 60

Smooth The Path

MARCH 5, 2017

One of the most frustrating dynamics for association staff is noticing that some members join but then never take another single action. Usually, they are fuzzy on the exact value they will get, but they do expect to get some value. New members are profoundly disappointed when they notice they are not getting any value. At the same time association staff know that the new member has many opportunities to engage. How associations push new members away.

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Member Experience Association Value Communications How To 83

Smooth The Path

JANUARY 30, 2017

A staff member or association member calls them and invites them to join. As a former member of another industry association, they know the value associations can provide. Members often join not knowing very much about what the association can do for them. They join hoping that joining will be worthwhile somehow even though they have no idea what that value will be. Related posts: Association trend watch: member experiences.

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Member Experience Conference Association Value Strategy 84

Smooth The Path

JUNE 21, 2018

Philip Tedesco, CEO of the Rhode Island Association of Realtors , noticed that when they got the Past Presidents’ Council together with the Young Professionals Network, there was more than just a one-way dialogue. Long-time members may find that new members can add a ton of tangible value to the relationship as well. New members can bring value to the relationship too. Related: Why long-time members are reluctant to leave the association.

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Rhode Island Certificate Conference Process 65

Smooth The Path

JULY 7, 2020

Members also feel valued because they give to the community. Value is necessary, but so is cultivating exceptional member experiences. Related: Behind the mask of the association. Innovative association leaders borrow and apply ideas. Member Experience association benefits association value attendee experience conference experience creating member experiences member engagment member experience new member new member experience

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Member Experience Innovation Association Value Member Engagement 65