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The years 2020 and 2021 demonstrated the value of innovation in the association world. Finding new ways to provide educational sessions, engage members, and communicate without the value of in-person events was the norm for association staff. Although new ways of handling association business and services to members were valuable, it is not enough to look back on innovative solutions…

Ask association staff members if they are good at sales, and you’ll most likely be told that sales is not their job. The reality, however, is that developing sales skills, and imbedding sales in the culture of the association, is critical for an association’s long-term success. The first step to incorporating a sales mentality into each job within the association…

The emergence of virtual meetings, remote work, and online learning in the past two years highlighted an association’s technological capabilities – or lack of resources in some cases. Nearly half of the organizations in one study report accelerating their timeline for purchase of technology to meet the changing needs of the organization and its members. Each organization’s needs will be…

While leading an association through a global pandemic required enormous focus, flexibility, and quick thinking, 2022 will be a good time to step back and reflect on how leadership has changed – or stayed the same – as a result of what associations and members have experienced. Most leaders admit that they learned a lot about themselves, their staff, and…

Association staff members are great at getting to know members. Working with members on committees, meeting them at events, and talking to them during the membership onboarding process provide valuable insights into what they want from the association – as individuals. While these individual expectations and attributes are important, it is a dangerous strategy to base a membership campaign on…

All association marketers have seen the reports listing the number of shares, likes, and click-throughs for specific social media posts. But, what do those numbers mean, and how do they impact the association’s efforts to increase retention, attract new members, and generate revenue? While social media is a great way to engage an audience, a great social media campaign captures…

Associations that report renewal rates at or above 80%, and those with increases in new members and overall membership in the past year and past five years, are significantly more likely to report their association’s value proposition is very compelling or compelling. This makes sense because members want to know that they are getting a return on the dollars and…

The 2021 Membership Marketing Report by Marketing General Incorporated shows that 47% of associations reported declines in total membership, with the median percentage drop at 9%. Member renewal rates have also declined with 45% of associations reporting decreases compared to 2020’s figure of 24% reporting renewal declines. There is no one-size-fits-all marketing campaign for association membership, but there are seven…

As association professionals evaluate what has worked well over the past two years and what changes need to occur moving forward, there is a constant struggle for resources – financial and human. Association magazines, news centers, and newsletters are an important component of member communication – and member engagement. The costs, however, can be significant if the publications are handled…

According to the 2021 Association Industry Survey, a surprising 58% of respondents reported a positive impact on their value proposition from COVID. Of the organizations responding to the survey, 88% said members definitely or somewhat recognize the association’s value proposition. Of the 35% of respondents indicating an increase in member engagement in 2020, 48% said that COVID had a major…