Ideas to help you engage, empower and retain members. Being Thoughtful Takes a Minute… June 12th, 2012 | Posted in Member Engagement + Retention. I’ve written about personalizing the member experience for years now but Chris Brogan reminded me in his weekly newsletter just how far personalization can go. In his newsletter he wrote about how the folks at Social Media Camp in Victoria, British Columbia made his experience memorable. MORE
Here are six member benefit ideas that should do the trick. Members-Only Job Boards. Partner with major employers and experts in your field to create job boards for your members. All that makes job boards an excellent benefit for acquiring new millennial members. MORE
Based on what we observe of our members we may think that they will be natural joiners, or natural networkers, or that left to their own devices they will make friends. Members have told me about standing outside of a chapter meeting too nervous to open the door and walk inside. MORE
A golden pot of educational and association industry-building opportunities await leaders and their staff in Orlando. MORE
More associations than ever are adopting online community platforms for their members. Today, we welcome a guest post from Andy Steggles at Higher Logic. To learn more about the power of online communities, visit www.higherlogic.com. MORE
One of the most frustrating dynamics for association staff is noticing that some members join but then never take another single action. You may be surprised to learn this super frustrating for new members as well. Members join with the intention of engaging. MORE
There is a short window of opportunity to engage new members. Most new members join with high hopes. During the first few days of their membership, new members are inherently very engaged. We only have 3 days or 3 weeks to engage some new members. MORE
Industry News + Trends Member Engagement + Retention association members association membership growth member engagement member experience membership growth membership marketing MORE
It’s vital to growth and sustainability as well as the success of new member acquisition campaigns. Because how valuable are new members if they stay for just one year? That’s what many new association members do. 5 Steps to Increase New Member Retention. MORE
We’ve gotten used to that quirkiness, probably so have our board members and long-time members but for new members, our quirkiness is odd. Anytime our administrative systems deviate from the norm our members are mildly surprised, probably slightly frustrated. MORE
A delightful member experience doesn’t have to flashy, highly technological, or expensive which is good because your smaller association or your chapters may not be able to afford expensive options. A very pleasant member experience can just be human. MORE
Many of you were super interested in learning about the six problems attendees experience at conferences : If you don’t have me at registration, you’ve lost me. I’m a long-time member, and I’m bored with the sessions. Related: The problems attendees experience at conferences. MORE
When members talk with me about their member experience our conversations often shift back to the beginning. Members of different associations have different new member experiences even members of the same association have different new member experiences. MORE
Members love to talk about their conference experience during in-depth interviews with me. We spend a lot of time talking about their conference experience because the conference is where most members get the most value. Members remember those first experiences well. MORE
Your association membership is boosted by your members seeking credibility, professional development, competitive advantages and ways to give back. But, one of the primary reasons members join your association is for networking opportunities. MORE
To make sure that your association has the best learning management system to educate members and provide valuable skills development, you need to avoid purchasing an LMS that’s DOA. Top LMS systems allow you to incorporate tests throughout courses to see what content members retain. MORE
It may be a challenge for introverts to share their personality online, but that’s often what keeps members coming back. It’s fun to get to know other community members, especially the manager. Your workload will be more balanced and you’ll be more effective at connecting with members. MORE
Struggling to get members engaged? When associations struggle to get members engaged, they often search for practical solutions like these, special tricks for getting members’ attention. Of course, once members do get involved, they’re more likely to stay with you. MORE
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). Fueling exceptional new member experiences [e-book]. MORE
Joy Duling shows you how to avoid the pitfall of throwing away marketing dollars, by following an 8 step formula for keeping members forever. Membership renewal member-experience membership-growth membership Joy-DulingMany membership organizations struggle to grow their membership. MORE
New members are the most at risk members of most associations, but some members do engage. Knowing why they engage, might help us guide more new members in this direction. So what prompts new members to engage? Upon joining they have a great experience. MORE
Here’s a model to identify where your association management software comes up short and what to do if it does. Successful association management software is like a well-constructed wedding cake. MORE
Wouldn’t it be awesome if you could customize everything little thing you did for your members? We’re talking content, meetings, events - the whole member experience. But that’s not to say you can’t customize your member experience at all. MORE
We think new members join for the professional development and networking, but a new member joins for one of these reasons: They believe in the cause. Someone they respect is a member. They know someone who is getting a lot out of being a member. MORE
Businesses that deliver a cluttered customer experience have likely fallen victim to short-sighted temptations. Associations can avoid the same fate by fending off the forces that put other goals ahead of member needs. And that the association itself belongs to the members , anyway. MORE
Change your member’s profile photos to show a special banner, such as MVP, so it’s clear that your volunteers are some of the most valuable members of your association. Add a permanent, rotating leadership role or board member position for your volunteers. MORE
We have all felt the frustration of knowing that our members only remember a fraction of the benefits they are entitled to. The benefits list is hard to remember but the experiences our members have are easy to remember. Move membership from a transaction to an experience. MORE
The world is moving toward experiences … are associations focusing enough on member experiences? But what we are building with artificial reality is an internet of experiences.” Virtual reality, I hear, is far better when you experience it with someone else. MORE
Associations can use the Storify tool to quickly and efficiently gather social posts into online stories that highlight the member experience. The stream of posts became a way to highlight RTDNA members doing the grueling and challenging work of covering a category three hurricane. MORE
Be selective with where and how you spend your time and resources. As association executives, we all know we must evolve our business models to remain relevant. It’s not enough to do what’s always been done. MORE
Because with online learning, associations can provide training to a larger number of members in more flexible formats, something that is helping online education become a popular member benefit. Individual learning experiences are self-study courses. MORE
Easily delivered through a learning management system, video is the most engaging way to hold your association members’ and learners’ attention. Video-based learning is a widely-accepted e-learning trend, and it’s gaining momentum. MORE
For the experience. But sometimes members do not feel like they can network. Help members give themselves permission to attend and give them the opportunity to treat themselves to a few days out of the office, a few days of learning, and a few days of experiences. MORE
I met a really unusual member today. After having a bad first conference experience most members don’t attend again. After having a bad chapter event experience most members don’t go again. Not this member. MORE
It needs to meet and adapt to your members evolving and increasingly particular needs. Here are six ways that your members’ website expectations have changed in just the last few years and how you can keep up. It’s normal, which makes it an unconscious expectation for your members. MORE
How many meaningful connections does each member make during the conference? Are you wondering how that can be when members share the same profession or same title or same industry? From our member’s point of view there is actually a lot of variation. MORE
Related: The problems attendees experience at conferences. More problems attendees experience at conferences. The conference experience starts before the conference. Here are some fun things conference organizers do to increase attendee energy at the conference. Play fun music. MORE
How is your association keeping its offers relevant to members and preparing for the future? According to a recent study by Leader Networks , most associations – 83 percent – are aligning their products and services to market needs so they meet members’ expectations and stay relevant. MORE
Many associations see that their most at-risk members, the ones least likely to renew, are new members. But some new members do engage with the association, and they go on to become engaged 3-7 year members. Is the association providing enough value to long-time members? MORE
If you have ever had the experience of attending a meeting, conference or session where you saw the other participants respond enthusiastically, only to try that very same thing back on your home turf and get a lukewarm response you’ll know what I mean. Experiences are not a moment in time. MORE
One of the big questions Todd asked me was about the challenges facing organizations today; especially as it pertains to experience for their customers or members. What Challenges Are Facing Associations As It Pertains to Customer Experience? Understanding Data I think one big challenge organizations face in building the right member experience is in figuring out how to use the data associations already have. What does that experience feel like to the customer? MORE
About 10 minutes later the president came over to introduce himself and said he would send me a new member packet (which he never did). It soon became apparent that everyone in the room was a long-time member except for one other new member and me. MORE
Putting your staff in charge of web management means they’re also tasked with attracting more new visitors to your website and convincing everyone – from new visitors to current members – to come back for more. Pick Your Projects Based on Member Needs. Do more with less. MORE
Member Experience Related Topics YourMembership Blog
MARCH 9, 2017
Your association membership is boosted by your members seeking credibility, professional development, competitive advantages and ways to give back. But, one of the primary reasons members join your association is for networking opportunities.
Smooth The Path
JUNE 14, 2016
The world is moving toward experiences … are associations focusing enough on member experiences? But what we are building with artificial reality is an internet of experiences.” Virtual reality, I hear, is far better when you experience it with someone else.
Smooth The Path
MAY 22, 2016
If you have ever had the experience of attending a meeting, conference or session where you saw the other participants respond enthusiastically, only to try that very same thing back on your home turf and get a lukewarm response you’ll know what I mean. Experiences are not a moment in time.
Associations Now
SEPTEMBER 15, 2017
Associations can use the Storify tool to quickly and efficiently gather social posts into online stories that highlight the member experience. The stream of posts became a way to highlight RTDNA members doing the grueling and challenging work of covering a category three hurricane.
Smooth The Path
APRIL 5, 2016
I met a really unusual member today. After having a bad first conference experience most members don’t attend again. After having a bad chapter event experience most members don’t go again. Not this member.
Smooth The Path
JUNE 5, 2016
How many meaningful connections does each member make during the conference? Are you wondering how that can be when members share the same profession or same title or same industry? From our member’s point of view there is actually a lot of variation.
Smooth The Path
JANUARY 6, 2016
We have all felt the frustration of knowing that our members only remember a fraction of the benefits they are entitled to. The benefits list is hard to remember but the experiences our members have are easy to remember. Move membership from a transaction to an experience.
MembersClick
JANUARY 23, 2017
Wouldn’t it be awesome if you could customize everything little thing you did for your members? We’re talking content, meetings, events - the whole member experience. But that’s not to say you can’t customize your member experience at all.
Higher Logic
AUGUST 15, 2017
Change your member’s profile photos to show a special banner, such as MVP, so it’s clear that your volunteers are some of the most valuable members of your association. Add a permanent, rotating leadership role or board member position for your volunteers.
KiKi L'Italien's Acronym Soup
MARCH 23, 2015
One of the big questions Todd asked me was about the challenges facing organizations today; especially as it pertains to experience for their customers or members. What Challenges Are Facing Associations As It Pertains to Customer Experience? Understanding Data I think one big challenge organizations face in building the right member experience is in figuring out how to use the data associations already have. What does that experience feel like to the customer?
Membersuite
APRIL 12, 2017
More associations than ever are adopting online community platforms for their members. Today, we welcome a guest post from Andy Steggles at Higher Logic. To learn more about the power of online communities, visit www.higherlogic.com.
Smooth The Path
AUGUST 7, 2017
Related: The problems attendees experience at conferences. More problems attendees experience at conferences. The conference experience starts before the conference. Here are some fun things conference organizers do to increase attendee energy at the conference. Play fun music.
Smooth The Path
SEPTEMBER 18, 2017
About 10 minutes later the president came over to introduce himself and said he would send me a new member packet (which he never did). It soon became apparent that everyone in the room was a long-time member except for one other new member and me.
Smooth The Path
MAY 11, 2017
There is a short window of opportunity to engage new members. Most new members join with high hopes. During the first few days of their membership, new members are inherently very engaged. We only have 3 days or 3 weeks to engage some new members.
Higher Logic
JULY 13, 2017
Here are six member benefit ideas that should do the trick. Members-Only Job Boards. Partner with major employers and experts in your field to create job boards for your members. All that makes job boards an excellent benefit for acquiring new millennial members.
Smooth The Path
AUGUST 2, 2017
Many associations see that their most at-risk members, the ones least likely to renew, are new members. But some new members do engage with the association, and they go on to become engaged 3-7 year members. Is the association providing enough value to long-time members?
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. You may be surprised to learn this super frustrating for new members as well. Members join with the intention of engaging.
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). Fueling exceptional new member experiences [e-book].
Higher Logic
AUGUST 3, 2017
Because with online learning, associations can provide training to a larger number of members in more flexible formats, something that is helping online education become a popular member benefit. Individual learning experiences are self-study courses.
YourMembership Blog
MARCH 15, 2017
Easily delivered through a learning management system, video is the most engaging way to hold your association members’ and learners’ attention. Video-based learning is a widely-accepted e-learning trend, and it’s gaining momentum.
Higher Logic
AUGUST 10, 2017
It needs to meet and adapt to your members evolving and increasingly particular needs. Here are six ways that your members’ website expectations have changed in just the last few years and how you can keep up. It’s normal, which makes it an unconscious expectation for your members.
Smooth The Path
JANUARY 30, 2017
We think new members join for the professional development and networking, but a new member joins for one of these reasons: They believe in the cause. Someone they respect is a member. They know someone who is getting a lot out of being a member.
Higher Logic
JULY 6, 2017
It may be a challenge for introverts to share their personality online, but that’s often what keeps members coming back. It’s fun to get to know other community members, especially the manager. Your workload will be more balanced and you’ll be more effective at connecting with members.
YourMembership Blog
JUNE 12, 2012
Ideas to help you engage, empower and retain members. Being Thoughtful Takes a Minute… June 12th, 2012 | Posted in Member Engagement + Retention. I’ve written about personalizing the member experience for years now but Chris Brogan reminded me in his weekly newsletter just how far personalization can go. In his newsletter he wrote about how the folks at Social Media Camp in Victoria, British Columbia made his experience memorable.
YourMembership Blog
MAY 22, 2017
Industry News + Trends Member Engagement + Retention association members association membership growth member engagement member experience membership growth membership marketing
Higher Logic
AUGUST 1, 2017
It’s vital to growth and sustainability as well as the success of new member acquisition campaigns. Because how valuable are new members if they stay for just one year? That’s what many new association members do. 5 Steps to Increase New Member Retention.
Smooth The Path
AUGUST 16, 2017
When members talk with me about their member experience our conversations often shift back to the beginning. Members of different associations have different new member experiences even members of the same association have different new member experiences.
Higher Logic
MAY 9, 2017
To make sure that your association has the best learning management system to educate members and provide valuable skills development, you need to avoid purchasing an LMS that’s DOA. Top LMS systems allow you to incorporate tests throughout courses to see what content members retain.
Smooth The Path
MAY 21, 2017
Many of you were super interested in learning about the six problems attendees experience at conferences : If you don’t have me at registration, you’ve lost me. I’m a long-time member, and I’m bored with the sessions. Related: The problems attendees experience at conferences.
YourMembership Blog
APRIL 12, 2017
Here’s a model to identify where your association management software comes up short and what to do if it does. Successful association management software is like a well-constructed wedding cake.
YourMembership Blog
MAY 11, 2017
Be selective with where and how you spend your time and resources. As association executives, we all know we must evolve our business models to remain relevant. It’s not enough to do what’s always been done.
Smooth The Path
JANUARY 24, 2017
Members love to talk about their conference experience during in-depth interviews with me. We spend a lot of time talking about their conference experience because the conference is where most members get the most value. Members remember those first experiences well.
Higher Logic
JUNE 22, 2017
Putting your staff in charge of web management means they’re also tasked with attracting more new visitors to your website and convincing everyone – from new visitors to current members – to come back for more. Pick Your Projects Based on Member Needs. Do more with less.
Smooth The Path
JULY 18, 2017
For the experience. But sometimes members do not feel like they can network. Help members give themselves permission to attend and give them the opportunity to treat themselves to a few days out of the office, a few days of learning, and a few days of experiences.
Smooth The Path
AUGUST 21, 2017
Based on what we observe of our members we may think that they will be natural joiners, or natural networkers, or that left to their own devices they will make friends. Members have told me about standing outside of a chapter meeting too nervous to open the door and walk inside.
Higher Logic
JULY 27, 2017
How is your association keeping its offers relevant to members and preparing for the future? According to a recent study by Leader Networks , most associations – 83 percent – are aligning their products and services to market needs so they meet members’ expectations and stay relevant.
YourMembership Blog
MARCH 14, 2017
A golden pot of educational and association industry-building opportunities await leaders and their staff in Orlando.
Wild Apricot Blog
MARCH 3, 2017
Joy Duling shows you how to avoid the pitfall of throwing away marketing dollars, by following an 8 step formula for keeping members forever. Membership renewal member-experience membership-growth membership Joy-DulingMany membership organizations struggle to grow their membership.
Smooth The Path
SEPTEMBER 13, 2016
We’ve gotten used to that quirkiness, probably so have our board members and long-time members but for new members, our quirkiness is odd. Anytime our administrative systems deviate from the norm our members are mildly surprised, probably slightly frustrated.
Smooth The Path
JULY 26, 2017
New members are the most at risk members of most associations, but some members do engage. Knowing why they engage, might help us guide more new members in this direction. So what prompts new members to engage? Upon joining they have a great experience.
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