All Posts

Our GrowthZone AMS blog series, 6 Proven Ways Associations Improved Member Engagement, explores different tactics that can increase member engagement. In this installment, we dive into programming strategies used by associations with strong member engagement rates. In yearly surveys, over half of respondents reported that their year-over-year engagement rates increased. Of the respondents indicating increased engagement, 11% attributed the improvement to new or updated programming. How they did it: Programming Increased focus on program promotion Updated / improved new-member onboarding […]

Your members don’t need to attend all your events to be engaged. It’s time for associations of every size to walk away from 20th-century rules and fully embrace online marketing. Here’s one of five proven tactics to increase member engagement through online interaction and websites. Use Storytelling to Drive Digital Engagement Content is critical for engaging members and prospects, so don’t overlook the power of storytelling. Start with a member success story with a storyline that typically goes like this: […]

Did you know that, on average, 50% of association revenue is generated from non-dues sources? We know how important non-dues revenue for associations, so we’ve published a guide with ten ways associations can increase their non-dues revenue using technology they probably already have. It’s called Using Technology to Streamline Non-Dues Revenue. Here’s a look at two of the concepts in the new guide: SPONSORED VIDEO/PODCAST Videos and podcasts are extremely popular as both provide an informative and entertaining platform to share […]

THE CHALLENGE When Laurie Lourie came on board as Executive Vice President of the York Builders Association in York, Pennsylvania, she brought 22 years of association experience and a keen eye for continuous improvement. She knew that a dues-based organization had to have cost-efficient systems to provide members with valuable programs and services. How to choose the right AMS Software  Laurie identified costly inefficiencies at the builders association, including separate systems for managing programs, accounting, and member data. With limited […]

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. […]

In a world increasingly dominated by digital interactions, the concept of community has made a significant transformation. The future of community, undeniably, is online. This shift towards virtual spaces has been propelled by advancements in technology, changing lifestyles, and the global reach of the internet. Online communities offer exciting, new opportunities for connection, learning, and collaboration that transcends geographical boundaries. ‍ Here’s why organizations should be looking at the digital world new frontier for community building. It breaks down geographical […]

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 […]

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 percent. Incentives for autopay Offer discounts to association members who set up monthly or annual autopay (e.g., 2% for monthly autopay, […]

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 […]