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A compilation of strategic ideas to help organizations move forward. Over the past six weeks and after thousands of one-on-one conversations with chambers and associations, the GrowthZone team has learned a lot. Many organizations have risen to the occasion, reinventing themselves and are emerging better equipped to provide benefit to their members. Conversely, others have held on to a business-as-usual approach. As a result, demonstrating value has been a challenge. There are two paths forward: Return to business as usual […]

Membership Communications Expert, Melynn Sight recently shared her presentation “Crisis Communication Strategies to Strengthen Membership.” It proved to be one of our most popular webinars in recent years. The free, on-demand webinar is ideal for anyone interacting with members using the written word. While explaining the Top 6 Principles for Association Crisis Communications, Melynn discussed strategies for credible communication with members during periods of uncertainty. She also walked through the messaging basics and best practices for structuring association communications. A […]

Frank Kenny provides five easy marketing tips any association can implement. Marketing has changed a lot over the past decade. Social media now plays a major role, as does word of mouth and digital reviews. Brands are also creating experiences, and your members likely expect some of that from you. Before you start worrying about your budget or your time, make sure that your social media marketing is as effective as possible. To do this, you need to: Be present. […]

Guest Blog by Frank Kenny Is your renewal process as effective as it could be? If you’re not sure how your renewal process measures up to others in the membership business, let’s think about one of the strongest, most efficient membership models—Netflix. Imagine being an employee in charge of billing for Netflix subscriptions if Netflix worked the way many associations and chambers currently do. If you followed this model, you would print off and send out a paper invoice. Netflix […]

Editor’s note: This article was originally posted on September 7, 2016. It has been updated. Why write a proclamation? Proclamations serve to signal to citizens that an issue matters. A proclamation can influence policy decisions is an official way for government leaders to make an announcement. Although there are a few steps involved, overall it’s a very easy thing to accomplish (particularly if your association drafts the proclamation for your leaders). The 4-Step Process 1. Write: Outline what you would […]

Most people consider themselves good listeners, but genuinely listening to others is a rare skill. What is effective listening? Everyone wants to be heard and understood (especially your association’s members). To truly listen, one must actively absorb information, show interest, and provide feedback that reassures the speaker that you’re receiving their message. It sounds simple, but in reality, most of us haven’t mastered this art. Any number of things can interfere with our ability to listen actively – our thoughts […]

Optimizing association websites for search engines can seem daunting, so just start somewhere. The association SEO process can be as basic or complex as you choose to make it. You don’t have to “go back” and fix things or reinvent the wheel. What Is SEO? Search Engine Optimization (SEO) drives web traffic from organic (unpaid) search engine results. SEO drives 22% of all website visits, and the majority of search engine traffic is generated by the big 3: Google 65% Bing […]

Editor’s note: This article was originally posted on August 13, 2019. It has been updated. Effective meetings need a disciplined approach to be efficient. The second installment of our three-part series about meetings focuses on streamlining the event itself. Check out the first article, Avoiding Meeting Misery, if you missed it. Next Steps: Be punctual: Respect the time and effort of those that show up on time. Don’t delay the meeting due to the tardiness of other attendees (and don’t waste […]

Created to help associations and their members, we’ve provided social media post ideas from the CDC as well as a number of social media graphics for use on social media and websites. Sample CDC Posts: Do you think you may have COVID-19? If you think you’re sick, follow guidance about when to call your doctor and taking appropriate precautions. Learn more: If You are Sick – CDC. If you have symptoms of #COVID19 and want to get tested, call your […]

Remember when events were a huge source of non-dues revenue for associations and chambers? With COVID-19 canceling event after event, times have been challenging, to say the least. But what about golf tournaments, which are go-to money raisers for many organizations? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered with this comprehensive guide for putting together low-touch and successful golf outings. RUNNING A GOLF TOURNAMENT AMID COVID-19 Many golf courses have new rules and capacity requirements now. Be sure to work closely […]

Businesses can now sell gift cards on Instagram. We’re curious… has your chamber or association found a creative way to leverage this for your members? Below we’ve provided step-by-step instructions* to share with your members Setting up Instagram Gift Cards for Your Business You can set up gift cards on Instagram to give people a way to support your business. When someone taps the Gift Cards button on your Instagram profile or the Gift Cards sticker on your Instagram story, they’ll be directed to […]

Editor’s note: This article was originally posted on November 18, 2018. It has been updated. The concept of telling good stories isn’t new. Even Greek philosopher Aristotle, born in 384 B.C., understood the importance of a good story and gave advice on storytelling. Why has it been such a powerful tool for so long? Because stories Inspire people to take action. They activate the imagination and engage emotions. A story activates parts in the brain that can make a listener […]