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The top three strategies consistently utilized by growing associations: They keep fresh and relevant content in front of prospects and members. They provide value by offering incentives to new/renewing members as well as advocate on behalf of members and prospects. They maintain an engaged, open-minded, performance-oriented Board of Directors. Some specific tactics include: Blogging regularly: 25% of growing associations report actively blogging vs. 18% of those reporting no growth. Offering incentives: 55% of growing organizations offer membership incentives whereas only […]

Engaged members will renew their contracts and recruit colleagues who help you grow and work towards your mission.

Your association spends a lot of time (and money!) putting together in-person events – the last thing you want is an empty room. Putting on an event is no small task. But no matter what type of event you’re organizing – a large expo, a small conference, a golf tournament, an educational seminar, or your association’s annual dinner, promotion is key. Get more out of your event marketing with our guide, Before, During & After: The How-To Guide to Successful Event […]

When a new member joins your organization, an email welcoming them should be your top priority. It’s an effective and efficient way to reinforce their decision to join. It’s important to note that a Welcome Email should NOT be a quick, generic email sent simply to check it off your to-do list. Learn More: How and Why to Create an Email Welcoming New Members If that’s how you’ve been rolling, you need to change your approach – like now. Sending a […]

For association pros, decision-making can be simple or stressful, easy or hard. However, regardless of the situation, when you identify the type of decision to be made and the most appropriate form for that decision, the process can be clear-cut. 3 Forms of Decision-Making for Your Association Maximizing: Making the most of the utility of things – recognizing and exploring all possibilities to determine the maximum benefit. Optimizing: Obtaining the best possible outcome from what is available – choosing the […]

No one email strategy will work for every association. Therefore, it’s important to understand which types of communications and cadence work best for yours. Whether you are just getting started or need a few pointers, these four tips will help you to hone your email campaign planning: 1) Segment and Personalize the email Segmenting and personalizing go hand-in-hand, allowing you to go beyond the usual “Hi {FirstName}.” Companies that excel at personalizing emails are successful because they have defined—with the […]

We are excited to share the announcement of Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE)’s 2024 Chamber of the Year winners. The winners were announced on Wednesday, July 17, during the awards show at ACCE’s Annual Convention in Dallas. GrowthZone is proud to have been there to be one of the first to congratulate the winners as the official 2024 Chamber of the Year sponsor. “Chambers of commerce play an increasingly vital role in promoting regional prosperity,” said ACCE President & […]

The American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) Annual Meeting & Expo is a premier event that gathers association professionals from across the globe. This year’s meeting promises to be a powerhouse of knowledge sharing, networking opportunities, and industry insights. Whether you are looking to stay ahead of trends, explore new solutions, or connect with like-minded professionals, the 2024 ASAE Annual Meeting is the place to be. And, have we mentioned we will be there? Take a look at what we have planned […]

THE CHALLENGE AGC MA Operations Manager Barbara Canoni led the efforts for the association to evaluate various association software options where all member information could be accessed in one place. She knew finding the right technology would be a long-term cost savings investment. “We needed a system that would help us provide our members with timely and accurate information,” said Barbara. “It used to be that financial information was only accessible through our bookkeeper, so if a member needed to […]

Earlier this year, GrowthZone surveyed 332 associations and other member-based organizations across the U.S. and Canada for insight into the challenges and concerns of today’s association professionals. The results show several interesting trends impacting today’s associations, here are some key findings: Member growth and engagement are primary concerns for most associations, followed by issues related to time management and revenue generation. Lack of engagement is a key reason for members not renewing, along with factors like time constraints, perceived value, […]

There are several surefire ways to make sure your email stands out in members’ inboxes. By employing even one of them, you increase the chances of sending something your members will open. Remember these important tactics when crafting an association email: Be Mobile Friendly With the surge of mobile email readership on smartphones, consider how your emails display on mobile devices. It is also important to keep in mind that mobile screens are smaller, so your subject lines should be shorter […]

Surefire ways to make sure your association’s email stands out in members’ inboxes: Write a Great Subject Line Never underestimate the importance of the subject line. In the battle of the inbox, you’re fighting for attention. An engaging subject line makes all the difference. It should catch the association reader’s attention and give them a reason to open your email. See more ways to win the battle of the inbox in The Fundamentals of New-Member Communications. Use a Recognizable Sender […]