Growth

One thing you can always count on is change. While it is necessary to focus your attention on attracting new association members, it is important to know why existing members choose to leave. Sometimes it is just a life change like a relocation, but what if members leave because of a lack of open-mindedness in your organization, or because they stopped feeling valued? There could be any number of reasons why one decides to exit, and you should make it […]

For associations to progress, they must adopt best practices for planning, execution, and analysis. There are millions of articles about how organizations can accomplish this. However, what may be right for one association may not be a fit for another. Enacting overall best practices for organizations of all kinds allows associations to establish a general foundation for success. Typically, businesses, non-profits, educational institutions, etc. rely on the following strategies to navigate their way to success:   1. Mission Statements for […]

A Guest Blog by Elizabeth Weaver Engel. Association executives know that the Millennial generation, which will soon be the majority of our workforce and membership base, is the most diverse generation we’ve ever had in the US. And the yet-to-be-named generation coming up behind them is even more so. We are also aware of the expanding number of studies showing that increased diversity and authentic inclusion produce more innovation, better decision-making, faster and more creative problem-solving, better outcomes, and an […]

Kyle Sexton explains how professional staff of associations get more done with less. How do they do it? Leverage: Leverage man-power by adding volunteers Leverage investments by aligning with sponsors Leverage assets by rebuilding the membership model This means teamwork, of course. They say a team isn’t defined by their ability to work together, but their trust in each other. High-functioning organizations have balanced accountability systems with high levels of trust among the team. Having served with a high-functioning team for […]

When creating your association’s marketing plan, you don’t want to miss the opportunity to clearly differentiate between a strategy and other plan components. “Strategy” refers to the long-term planning and implementation of methods to help an organization achieve its membership goals. However, “strategy” is often misused to refer to a mission, goals, objectives, and tactics. A well-defined marketing plan with a clear strategy is vital for an organization. An excessively diverse, reactionary, and scattered strategy known as the “kitchen sink” […]

Medical and healthcare association professionals across the U.S. and Canada replied to GrowthZone’s survey in the fourth quarter of 2022, providing a look at their organizations’ inner workings. The survey results indicate that their most significant challenge to growing membership is difficulty reaching prospective members and attracting and retaining younger medical professionals. For today’s associations, the challenge of recruiting and engaging young professionals is never-ending. For medical associations and societies, it can seem utterly impossible. Young medical professionals keep rigorous schedules. […]

Frank Kenny Guest Blog: A deep dive into steps for successful new-member onboarding.

Developing a plan for communications is an integral key to retaining new members. Statistics show that keeping a current association member costs 7X less than obtaining a new member AND first-year members have the worst renewal rates. So, when it comes to new-member onboarding, time spent now is time (and money) saved in the future. Creating a system for communicating with and engaging new members increases efficiency and improves retention. Hook (and keep) your new members’ interest by implementing the […]

Sales Funnel: A method (using software) to guide a prospective customer through a series of stages, ultimately converting them to a member, sponsor, customer, etc. It’s described as a funnel because it’s large at the top, tapers through the middle, and narrows at the bottom. The process begins with a broad pool of prospects. At each stage, the pool narrows. Prospects are filtered, and those somewhat likely to convert advance through the funnel. Eventually, the prospects with the highest likelihood […]

The top three strategies consistently utilized by growing associations: They keep fresh and relevant content in front of prospects and members. They provide value by offering incentives to new/renewing members as well as advocate on behalf of members and prospects. They maintain an engaged, open-minded, performance-oriented Board of Directors. Some specific tactics include: Blogging regularly: 25% of growing associations report actively blogging vs. 18% of those reporting no growth. Offering incentives: 55% of growing organizations offer membership incentives whereas only […]

Your association spends a lot of time (and money!) putting together in-person events – the last thing you want is an empty room. Putting on an event is no small task. But no matter what type of event you’re organizing – a large expo, a small conference, a golf tournament, an educational seminar, or your association’s annual dinner, promotion is key. Get more out of your event marketing with our guide, Before, During & After: The How-To Guide to Successful Event […]

When a new member joins your organization, an email welcoming them should be your top priority. It’s an effective and efficient way to reinforce their decision to join. It’s important to note that a Welcome Email should NOT be a quick, generic email sent simply to check it off your to-do list. Learn More: How and Why to Create an Email Welcoming New Members If that’s how you’ve been rolling, you need to change your approach – like now. Sending a […]