Productivity

In essence, scalability is to associations as fast internet is to streaming.

In Part 1 of our Board Orientation series, GrowthZone focused on how associations should establish goals and define success when setting up an association new board of directors’ orientation. The next step in the process is to decide how to structure the board member orientation. There are dozens of ways to format association board onboarding and many decisions to be made. Get the Field Guide to Association Board Orientation for a step-by-step plan.  What is the orientation plan? Will it […]

Indirect costs are not directly accountable to something (e.g., a particular project, facility, or product). A robust membership management software system can generate great long-term ROI for associations. On the other hand, sub-par association membership software can be inefficient. Associations depending on outdated AMS software are often saddled with unanticipated indirect costs. The direct costs are clear—the amount spent on the association software. The indirect costs, however, can quickly add up. A subpar AMS can result in wasted time, missed […]

You don’t have to be a math person to determine your organization’s renewal rates. Follow this simple 1-part formula to see how your association is doing! RENEWAL RATES: (the percentage of members that renew their membership over a given period of time) (# of Renewals) ÷ (Eligible Members) = Renewal Rate Example: At the end of 2018, 3,000 members were up for renewal and 2,825 renewed.  2,825 ÷ 3000 = .94  Renewal Rate = 94% Important Info: The # of […]

Efficient meetings require more planning than simply emailing the attendees an invite. Whether it’s the association board, staff, or members, use the following tips to plan association meetings that meet objectives, produce results, and leave participants with a sense of accomplishment. Define the objective: Ask yourself what you are trying to accomplish. Are you: Looking for a decision? Generating ideas? Receiving status reports? Communicating something? Making plans? Do you even really need to have the meeting? Download We’ve Got to […]

Does the thought of having to calculate retention, churn, or the cost of acquiring a new member make your head hurt? For many association pros, crunching numbers is (unfortunately) a part of their daily grind. You don’t have to be a math person to use this easy-to-understand calculation to determine retention rates. RETENTION RATE: (the percentage of members retained over a given period of time) (End Count – New Members) ÷ Start Count = Retention Rate Example: At the end […]

Could you use some more time or an extra set of hands in your organization? Most people would respond with an emphatic YES! to this question. Below, Membership Expert Frank Kenny shares his thoughts on marketing automation for associations: When you ask associations if they are using marketing automation to gain back time or get more done, the answer is still usually no, not really. The reasons for this vary, but three of the more common excuses are we don’t […]

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 […]

Writing an association mission statement isn’t difficult; the key is to make sure you have a clear understanding of what it is (and isn’t). Keep yours simple, make it compelling, and ensure it’s measurable and remains relevant. Mission statements for associations are essential to planning and can be as short as one sentence, or a brief paragraph. EXAMPLES: PayPal: “To build the Web’s most convenient, secure, cost-effective payment solution.” Trip Advisor: “To help people around the world plan and have […]

One of our most popular blog posts, An Association Mission Statement, What it is (and isn’t), touches on the difference between a mission statement and a vision statement. While at first glance, the differences may seem small, the fact is that the two serve very different purposes. The mission statement is about the present, and the vision statement is about the future. The mission statement is “every day,” and the vision statement is the “someday.” A few examples to illustrate […]

An Annual Report isn’t just for your association’s Board of Directors.; it’s a valuable tool you can use to highlight your association’s successes and leverage to develop partnerships with sponsors. Here are six steps for writing an effective association annual report: Define the Audience As you create your annual report, keep in mind who will be reading the report: your board – make them feel appreciated; your members – show them the importance of belonging; prospective members – show them […]

Spreadsheets aren’t enough. Here are 8 ways association management software will improve your workday. Most associations use association management software to manage their data, process joins and renewals, track finances, cultivate member engagement, and streamline tedious tasks. However, some do not. According to research, 30% of associations still use Excel spreadsheets or do not use an AMS system.* At a glance, Excel has its advantages. It’s known by employees and easy to use, and most associations already have it. However, […]