Technology promises to give us unprecedented access to our members’ hearts and minds but does it really deliver? When you first step into a marketing role at an organization with few member insights, start with the data. We may start to repel members instead of attracting them. MORE
Improve the member experience with curated networking. Conference Member Insights attendee experience first impressions member experience member focused networking observation professional developmentA tire pressure sensor is broken on my husband’s truck. MORE
Hear how the National Association of Tax Professionals used Google Universal Analytics to uncover insights they previously only made assumptions about, and how the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association streamlined their business processes with Google Tag Manager. MORE
Over and over we hear that professional development and networking are the top reasons members join any association. Here’s another way to think about why members join. Here are some of the things they are searching for: How do we know exactly what our members are searching for? MORE
What else should the association do to support members during these extremely challenging times? Based on this input we outlined two goals for the research project: Understand member’s current challenges. Learn if there were any barriers preventing deeper member engagement. MORE
Related: The wonder of new members. A new way to think about why members join. Member Experience Member Insights member segmentation Millennials new-to-the-profession professional development professional life event young professionals MORE
It should attract new members, offer smooth onboarding and persistent attention, and ultimately embrace marketing tactics like great content, campaigns and social media outreach. NSBE was founded in 1975 and has around 30,000 members. Growth matters: five member engagement hacks. MORE
Related: Members need association help when they face change or start something new. Did you know that member surveys can be risky? Association Strategy Member Research change innovation member insights member problems risk strategy technology MORE
If you are walking into an association where one or a combination of any of these things have happened, you may see that everyone is fatigued; staff, board and maybe even members. One great way to build trust is learn about members and help everyone else to learn about members in a new way. MORE
Same with your members they think much of what you send to them does not apply to them. Here’s why your members may not be responding to your marketing communications: Use their words. Not using your member’s words sets you apart making trust that much harder. MORE
Join AENC affiliate members to discuss: How are you marketing your company and/or yourself? – Best Practices: Using Digital Metrics to Gain Member Insight. MORE
Our assumptions about our members can be wrong. We see the data footprints members leave in their wake, the renewals, the ways they engaged, the content they read. The only way to overcome this bias is to find out what is driving our member’s actions, goals, fears, and challenges. MORE
True customer (member) obsession and high-velocity decision making are the most critical but also the most difficult for associations. Think about your members. Think about your best members. Not board members but regular members who are highly engaged. MORE
For associations who want raving fans not just satisfied members think about all the things your very favorite go-to’s do. What else can we do to get members to rave about our association? Related posts: The members we should focus on. MORE
There’s an interesting dance that happens with member research. We ask the questions we think we want to know the answers to but members see those questions and find they would rather answer some other more important questions. Qualitative member research methods do. MORE
This week, the North American Meat Association (NAMA) is taking a step to put the information within its members’ reach. The association also offers a number of regulatory services to its industry members, including information-gathering, legal guidance, and 24-hour emergency services. MORE
Should we look outside the association to talk to prospective young members? The post Don’t Ask for Feedback from Members Who Are Too New appeared first on Smooth The Path. Related: Data and association decision-making. Beware of one question surveys for associations. MORE
This is great advice but it is awfully hard to do when we don’t know our members’ why. For every action (or inaction) members (and non-members) take there is a why. As established organizations, knowing our member’s why helps us develop and communicate our why. MORE
Slow data is the data we accumulate after talking to members at event after event after event, by job shadowing or in member phone interviews. When you have seemingly unanswerable questions about members it is slow data that holds the answer. Related posts: Please ask members. MORE
While all of these things are important for our members to know perhaps pushing all of the time is not so engaging. Instead of just pushing messages through Twitter here are some other ways to use this social media channel that may help you serve your members. MORE
Members don’t take the time to understand their benefits. Those chapter leaders are not communicating well with new members. There are so many situations that pit association staff against members. Dive into your member’s stories and find out how close you are. MORE
Here’s an unpopular view: association staff should focus most on those members who value the association the most. But here’s the problem, we don’t have the resources to serve every type of member with every type of problem, often competing problems, really well. MORE
Members want us to solve problems that they can’t solve for themselves – Greg Melia , Director of Membership for ASAE at MASAE’s 2015 mid-year conference. We solve the problems that nag our members, problems that no one else cared to solve or could solve. MORE
Unearth the root cause of your members’ complaints. Members should feel comfortable voicing their issues, and your association should be prepared to handle—and, at best bet, solve—their complaints. Your member doesn’t like your speakers? MORE
Likely members think the value of their membership is more than or less than we think they think it is. Likely members have better or worse experiences with the association than we guess they do. Likely members like the conference more or less than we assume they do. Often. MORE
Each time you offer members something new you have a choice. You can listen to the feedback from those members who are all in. Member feedback helps the new change or product reach its fullest potential. What is your association’s take on member feedback? MORE
At the same time, we are seeing that our professions and industries are being turned upside down by changing technology, regulations, public perception, member expectations, budgets and more. To guide our members through the turbulence, we need to change, adapt and innovate more nimbly. MORE
When I talk to relatively new members there is almost always a 3-5 year gap between when the member started in the profession or industry and when they actually became a member of the association. Members get value when we help them solve their problem. 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. At the same time invite more member collaboration. MORE
There are some things about the association we may not know unless we ask members. our long-time members are disengaging. we use different words than our members use. we are solving a problem members have already solved. MORE
Related: Don’t ask for feedback from members who are too new. Asking members to opt in after a bad member experience. The post Members Leave Associations Without a Sound appeared first on Smooth The Path. MORE
Related: Identify innovating members. We should value the members who value the association the most. Is the association providing enough value to long-time members? The post Whose Feedback Matters Most to the Future of the Association? appeared first on Smooth The Path. MORE
As a member researcher I see some validity to this statement. Research, particularly qualitative research is very good at naming member problems but members themselves are often hard pressed to articulate the right solution. We have got to ask our members. MORE
Member Insights core member engaged feedback helpful member insightsThe post Sorting Out the Opinions that Matter the Most for Our Associations appeared first on Smooth The Path. MORE
Our members won’t want to give 45-minutes to hour of their time for an interview is a common worry among many association executives. But I find that members actually do. The good news is these are exactly the members we most need to talk to. Members want to be heard. MORE
For now this outside-in approach only cares about the end user or in our case our members. What are our members’ most pressing problems? The same goes for associations: now we understand our members’ biggest problems. MORE
Wouldn’t you like to provide industry news to members without having to write it from scratch? – Overview: Using Digital Metrics to Gain Member Insight. The four-hour work week is a myth, despite what Tim Ferris says, but thankfully the four-day work week isn’t. MORE
Match your business goals, your project’s goals, your members’ goals with the right member research methodology. Why no member survey may be better than one member survey. Consider what the methodology is best at doing. MORE
Before a member joins, before an attendee registers, before a new member puts their first chapter event on their calendar, they wonder: Will I be the only one like me? Member culture: setting the tone for better learning, engagement and connection. MORE
We feel better when we can say 75% of our members do this. When making a strategic decision on the basis of qualitative data (a member survey, our own data or third party data) ask these questions: Who responded and are these the members we most need insight from? MORE
Member Insights Related Topics 
Smooth The Path
MARCH 8, 2016
Match your business goals, your project’s goals, your members’ goals with the right member research methodology. Why no member survey may be better than one member survey. Consider what the methodology is best at doing.
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. At the same time invite more member collaboration.
Smooth The Path
JANUARY 28, 2016
Member Insights core member engaged feedback helpful member insightsThe post Sorting Out the Opinions that Matter the Most for Our Associations appeared first on Smooth The Path.
Smooth The Path
MAY 23, 2017
True customer (member) obsession and high-velocity decision making are the most critical but also the most difficult for associations. Think about your members. Think about your best members. Not board members but regular members who are highly engaged.
Smooth The Path
FEBRUARY 9, 2016
When I talk to relatively new members there is almost always a 3-5 year gap between when the member started in the profession or industry and when they actually became a member of the association. Members get value when we help them solve their problem.
Smooth The Path
APRIL 19, 2016
There are some things about the association we may not know unless we ask members. our long-time members are disengaging. we use different words than our members use. we are solving a problem members have already solved.
Smooth The Path
APRIL 7, 2016
Our members won’t want to give 45-minutes to hour of their time for an interview is a common worry among many association executives. But I find that members actually do. The good news is these are exactly the members we most need to talk to. Members want to be heard.
Smooth The Path
DECEMBER 21, 2015
As a member researcher I see some validity to this statement. Research, particularly qualitative research is very good at naming member problems but members themselves are often hard pressed to articulate the right solution. We have got to ask our members.
Smooth The Path
APRIL 21, 2016
Should we look outside the association to talk to prospective young members? The post Don’t Ask for Feedback from Members Who Are Too New appeared first on Smooth The Path. Related: Data and association decision-making. Beware of one question surveys for associations.
Smooth The Path
MARCH 22, 2016
For associations who want raving fans not just satisfied members think about all the things your very favorite go-to’s do. What else can we do to get members to rave about our association? Related posts: The members we should focus on.
Smooth The Path
FEBRUARY 28, 2017
Our assumptions about our members can be wrong. We see the data footprints members leave in their wake, the renewals, the ways they engaged, the content they read. The only way to overcome this bias is to find out what is driving our member’s actions, goals, fears, and challenges.
Smooth The Path
JUNE 30, 2016
Related: Members need association help when they face change or start something new. Did you know that member surveys can be risky? Association Strategy Member Research change innovation member insights member problems risk strategy technology
Smooth The Path
FEBRUARY 21, 2016
We feel better when we can say 75% of our members do this. When making a strategic decision on the basis of qualitative data (a member survey, our own data or third party data) ask these questions: Who responded and are these the members we most need insight from?
Smooth The Path
MAY 31, 2017
Each time you offer members something new you have a choice. You can listen to the feedback from those members who are all in. Member feedback helps the new change or product reach its fullest potential. What is your association’s take on member feedback?
Smooth The Path
OCTOBER 20, 2016
Related: Identify innovating members. We should value the members who value the association the most. Is the association providing enough value to long-time members? The post Whose Feedback Matters Most to the Future of the Association? appeared first on Smooth The Path.
Smooth The Path
AUGUST 9, 2016
Related: The wonder of new members. A new way to think about why members join. Member Experience Member Insights member segmentation Millennials new-to-the-profession professional development professional life event young professionals
Smooth The Path
JULY 19, 2016
Improve the member experience with curated networking. Conference Member Insights attendee experience first impressions member experience member focused networking observation professional developmentA tire pressure sensor is broken on my husband’s truck.
Smooth The Path
MARCH 31, 2016
Over and over we hear that professional development and networking are the top reasons members join any association. Here’s another way to think about why members join. Here are some of the things they are searching for: How do we know exactly what our members are searching for?
Smooth The Path
JUNE 19, 2016
There’s an interesting dance that happens with member research. We ask the questions we think we want to know the answers to but members see those questions and find they would rather answer some other more important questions. Qualitative member research methods do.
Smooth The Path
MARCH 17, 2016
Before a member joins, before an attendee registers, before a new member puts their first chapter event on their calendar, they wonder: Will I be the only one like me? Member culture: setting the tone for better learning, engagement and connection.
Smooth The Path
FEBRUARY 9, 2017
Members don’t take the time to understand their benefits. Those chapter leaders are not communicating well with new members. There are so many situations that pit association staff against members. Dive into your member’s stories and find out how close you are.
Smooth The Path
AUGUST 30, 2016
This is great advice but it is awfully hard to do when we don’t know our members’ why. For every action (or inaction) members (and non-members) take there is a why. As established organizations, knowing our member’s why helps us develop and communicate our why.
Smooth The Path
FEBRUARY 23, 2016
For now this outside-in approach only cares about the end user or in our case our members. What are our members’ most pressing problems? The same goes for associations: now we understand our members’ biggest problems.
Smooth The Path
JULY 26, 2016
If you are walking into an association where one or a combination of any of these things have happened, you may see that everyone is fatigued; staff, board and maybe even members. One great way to build trust is learn about members and help everyone else to learn about members in a new way.
Smooth The Path
MARCH 10, 2016
Here’s an unpopular view: association staff should focus most on those members who value the association the most. But here’s the problem, we don’t have the resources to serve every type of member with every type of problem, often competing problems, really well.
SocialFish
MAY 21, 2014
Same with your members they think much of what you send to them does not apply to them. Here’s why your members may not be responding to your marketing communications: Use their words. Not using your member’s words sets you apart making trust that much harder.
Smooth The Path
NOVEMBER 6, 2016
What else should the association do to support members during these extremely challenging times? Based on this input we outlined two goals for the research project: Understand member’s current challenges. Learn if there were any barriers preventing deeper member engagement.
Reid All About it
JUNE 10, 2016
Hear how the National Association of Tax Professionals used Google Universal Analytics to uncover insights they previously only made assumptions about, and how the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association streamlined their business processes with Google Tag Manager.
Reid All About it
MAY 27, 2016
Wouldn’t you like to provide industry news to members without having to write it from scratch? – Overview: Using Digital Metrics to Gain Member Insight. The four-hour work week is a myth, despite what Tim Ferris says, but thankfully the four-day work week isn’t.
SocialFish
SEPTEMBER 28, 2015
Technology promises to give us unprecedented access to our members’ hearts and minds but does it really deliver? When you first step into a marketing role at an organization with few member insights, start with the data. We may start to repel members instead of attracting them.
Higher Logic
NOVEMBER 19, 2015
It should attract new members, offer smooth onboarding and persistent attention, and ultimately embrace marketing tactics like great content, campaigns and social media outreach. NSBE was founded in 1975 and has around 30,000 members. Growth matters: five member engagement hacks.
SocialFish
FEBRUARY 3, 2014
While all of these things are important for our members to know perhaps pushing all of the time is not so engaging. Instead of just pushing messages through Twitter here are some other ways to use this social media channel that may help you serve your members.
Smooth The Path
FEBRUARY 17, 2016
Members want us to solve problems that they can’t solve for themselves – Greg Melia , Director of Membership for ASAE at MASAE’s 2015 mid-year conference. We solve the problems that nag our members, problems that no one else cared to solve or could solve.
Reid All About it
JUNE 3, 2016
Join AENC affiliate members to discuss: How are you marketing your company and/or yourself? – Best Practices: Using Digital Metrics to Gain Member Insight.
Associations Now
MAY 28, 2013
This week, the North American Meat Association (NAMA) is taking a step to put the information within its members’ reach. The association also offers a number of regulatory services to its industry members, including information-gathering, legal guidance, and 24-hour emergency services.
Association Adviser
JANUARY 20, 2017
At the same time, we are seeing that our professions and industries are being turned upside down by changing technology, regulations, public perception, member expectations, budgets and more. To guide our members through the turbulence, we need to change, adapt and innovate more nimbly.
Associations Now
OCTOBER 25, 2013
Unearth the root cause of your members’ complaints. Members should feel comfortable voicing their issues, and your association should be prepared to handle—and, at best bet, solve—their complaints. Your member doesn’t like your speakers?
INDUSTRY INSIGHTS YOUR PEERS ARE READING
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