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The ugly truth about traditional billing and payment processing is, well, ugly. Invoices sent via mail require more resources than you may realize. You spend time and money on: Paper (invoices & envelopes) Bank slips, receipts, and deposit notes Ink cartridges Printers, postage machines, copiers (plus power and maintenance) Follow-up mailings and reminders for late payments Postage Fuel – visits to the bank and post office Bank charges Employee time to process (load paper, stuff envelopes, open mail, enter data, […]

Marketing Automation is a premium module available in the GrowthZone platform that will help you increase engagement, recruit members, and save time. If these benefits alone don’t convince you, read on to learn why you will want to implement these features if you haven’t already. In general, marketing automation can be extremely helpful for associations in several ways: Efficient communication Marketing automation tools enable associations to efficiently communicate with their members and stakeholders via email, social media, and other channels. […]

If you’re looking to start your association’s search for a new Association Management System (AMS), here are seven steps to keep in mind: 1.      Define your needs and requirements: Before starting your search, it’s important to define them. This includes identifying the features and functionalities you need in an AMS and any specific integrations or customization requirements. 2.      Determine your budget: Your budget will play a significant role in selecting association software, so it’s important to determine how much you […]

You never get a second chance to make a first impression. And often, the first impression of your association happens when a prospective member visits your website. Precisely why you need to know about website governance. So, what is it? Website governance is a system for managing your online presence orderly. From an association’s perspective, website governance lays the foundation for your digital presence. Do it well, and you will gain certainty and stability. Your association’s digital presence should be […]

In this article, we will provide guidance on how to write a mission statement for an association. What is a mission statement? A mission statement is a declaration of an organization’s purpose, goals, and values. It is a fundamental document that guides and inspires all of its actions and decisions. Why should an association write a mission statement? An association’s mission statement provides direction and clarity to its members, stakeholders, and the public about its purpose. It is crucial for […]

Have you tried ChatGPT or Canva’s Text to Image feature yet? We posed this assignment to both platforms: Write a funny blog article about how association executives can use ChatGPT to write blog articles. This article includes an example of one of the images created with Canva’s Text to Image. Here’s the unedited blog article ChatGPT wrote: Hello, association executives! Are you tired of staring at a blank screen, trying to come up with engaging content for your blog? Well, fear not! […]

Year after year, GrowthZone chamber survey respondents have noted that less than half of their revenue comes from non-dues sources. In the 2023 survey again, 474 chamber of commerce professionals across the U.S. and Canada stated that 45% of their revenue comes from non-dues sources. Increase Non-Dues Revenue If you’re struggling to increase non-dues revenue, we can help. Read Using Technology to Streamline Non-Dues Revenue for 10 helpful tips you can implement quickly and easily, using technology you probably already have […]

It’s no surprise that when GrowthZone surveyed 388 association professionals across the U.S. and Canada at the end of 2022, the top non-dues revenue source listed was events. Successful Revenue-Generating Events How can you ensure success for your important revenue-generating events? When you spend a lot of time and money preparing for an in-person event for education, fundraising, networking, or membership building, the last thing you want is an empty room. Our guide, Before, During & After: The How-To Guide […]

At the end of 2022, 474 chambers of commerce professionals across the U.S. and Canada were surveyed by GrowthZone about their membership and engagement experiences. 85% of those surveyed said overall member engagement was better or about the same since 12/31/2021. If you agree, that’s wonderful. If you’re struggling to get members to engage, it might be worth looking for resources to help so you can report improvement next year. The Shift to Digital Engagement The pandemic caused us to […]

Over 300 association professionals across the U.S. and Canada were surveyed by GrowthZone at the end of 2022. As part of the survey, membership and engagement trends were highlighted and here’s what the survey results revealed. Young Professionals Engagement 61% of respondents say they do not have a defined strategy for recruiting and retaining young professionals. If this sounds familiar to your association, this is a huge opportunity to grow membership, because Millennials now make up the largest share of […]

At the end of 2022, GrowthZone surveyed 474 chambers of commerce professionals across the U.S. and Canada. The results showed that 74% do not have a formal innovation process. Does this sound familiar? You may need to do a comprehensive assessment of your value proposition and consider writing (or rewriting) your mission statement. 6 Steps to the Perfect Chamber Mission Statement A well-developed mission statement is a practical tool used by chambers of commerce to help guide decisions about priorities, […]

At the end of 2022, GrowthZone surveyed 388 association professionals across the U.S. and Canada. The survey asked, “Does your organization currently have a formal innovation process or plan to pursue new ideas for adding value to your members’ business?” The results showed 63% do not have a formal innovation process. If you find yourself in this same situation, the vision you have for your organization today may no longer be effective, relevant, or possible. This makes it necessary to […]