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A guest blog by Kyle Sexton. The events staff is nagging the communications staff to send just one more email to put some cheeks in seats or satisfy the sponsors’ visibility expectations, as per the sponsor agreement. Membership staff want an email that poops members for leads or reminds them of the upcoming advertising deadline. Communications staff bug the membership team for compelling human interest stories to no avail. And who is going to remind the CEO that the article […]

When it comes to selecting an association credit card processor, the provider should be efficient, accurate, and affordable. Be sure your organization is looking at the whole picture when it comes to the “fine print,” as you’re shopping for a company to process credit cards for your association, You’ll need to understand each component, be aware of all costs involved, especially different rates. Most importantly, do your research. Read on for tips to help you understand what to watch for […]

In a blog post about how to get invoices paid faster, Turbine outlined 10 helpful tips for getting paid on time. Offer multiple payment methods If your association members have different options for payment, particularly online (credit, debit card, ACH transfer, etc.), and autopayments, they’ll pay faster. Be polite Small phrases like ‘please pay your association invoice within…’ and ‘thank you for your membership’ can make a big difference. It can increase the percentage of invoices paid by over five […]

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. […]

Our recent industry survey revealed a number of trends impacting the association industry. One of the top growth challenges mentioned is attracting young professionals. Regardless of size, budget, or mission, associations continue to struggle with ideas to engage 20-somethings. While there is not a singular answer to the challenge, even the simplest of ideas are worth trying, right? We put on our thinking caps and came up with a list of fun activities to incorporate into events geared toward your […]

How much time (and money!) does your association staff still spend on tedious billing, payment processing, and manual accounting tasks? Electronic billing enables staff to streamline their day-to-day tasks, increasing efficiency. ADVANTAGES OF ELECTRONIC BILLING For Associations: SAVES TIME & MONEY No need to mail invoices, process individual payments, and cash checks RETENTION Members love it CASH FLOW More predictable business planning AUTOMATION Payment information automatically updates your database EFFICIENT OPERATIONS Fewer collection issues and late bills For Members: CONVENIENCE […]

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 […]

So, you’re in charge of planning and running association meetings. Congratulations! That’s like being the captain of a boat, but instead of navigating the high seas, you’re navigating a sea of opinions and agendas. We don’t envy you, but maybe these tips can ensure a fruitful and pleasant experience for all who attend: 1.     Set a clear purpose and agenda. Before planning any meeting, it is important to define the purpose and agenda of the meeting. What topics will be […]

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! […]