Smooth The Path

JANUARY 4, 2018

An idea so big, I wish I could personally tell everyone in our association community. Last year, because of the Association Industry Innovation Study , I was consumed with the continuum of innovation. We talk a lot about value and rightfully so. We need to learn much more about our newest members’ experiences.

Member Engagement 74

Member Engagement Innovation Member Experience Association Value 74

Smooth The Path

MARCH 28, 2019

But we can offer networking opportunities that are not well attended and professional development that leaves members feeling bored and uninspired. So what is really the job of the association? It is to advance the profession and industry and, Help each member become a better version of themselves, and you can try to.

Association Value 74

Association Value Member Experience Communications Industry 74

Smooth The Path

NOVEMBER 17, 2020

The trouble is, these leadership teams might cut and layoff so severely there may not be enough person-power to figure out how to add member value in this new environment. Other associations find themselves paralyzed. They are not trying to understand members more, connect with members more, or serve members more.

Leadership 148

Leadership Team Industry Organization 148

Smooth The Path

OCTOBER 13, 2020

What more can you do to prioritize employment in your field, industry, or profession? Related: Back to school for associations and members. Association response to big, hairy problems. Associations dump new ideas too quickly. The post Are You Addressing Member’s Top Worry Today?

Project 146

Project Innovation Organization Marketing 146

Smooth The Path

JULY 9, 2019

They may be wondering why they ever got into this profession or industry or started working for this company or how they could put up with this manager one second longer. Some of these members are on the verge of becoming cynical and jaded. But some members can find their way back. This is the power of associations.

Association Value 92

Association Value Conference Industry Organization 92

Smooth The Path

FEBRUARY 15, 2018

While members do not join for the value, they stay for the value. Myth #3: Members Join Because the Association is the Leading Authority. Our organization is 75 years old and is the voice of the industry. Nah, members do not join for this reason either. Most often members join for this reason.

Recruitment 118

Recruitment Recruiting Conference Report 118

Smooth The Path

JULY 14, 2020

Members are feeling burned out in many professions, industries, and fields. But we can’t force our members to go on vacation or to stop worrying. Burn out is not just about what is happening now. Burn out can be future-focused as we worry about the struggles to come. Of course, we are not alone.

Innovation 136

Innovation Revenue Course Project 136

Smooth The Path

OCTOBER 2, 2017

I credit the network effect for propelling all of my recent initiatives from speaking, to recruiting quality participants for association industry research, to having clients find me for custom member research. Members say they are getting tired of reception-style networking. I do know some, many even, but this is rare.

Florida 76

Florida Recruitment Recruiting Member Research 76

Smooth The Path

JANUARY 30, 2017

A staff member or association member calls them and invites them to join. As a former member of another industry association, they know the value associations can provide. Members often join not knowing very much about what the association can do for them.

Member Experience 60

Member Experience Conference Strategy Report 60

Smooth The Path

JULY 26, 2018

We would develop a new member onboarding program maximizing the engagement window of opportunity by engaging new members a bit on the first day they join and then engaging them even more within the first week of joining. These are some of the most important things I would do as I built my dream association. What would you do?

Innovation 74

Innovation Member Insights Member Experience Member Engagement 74

Smooth The Path

OCTOBER 24, 2019

Once a new member joins, the trust continues to build as they interact and receive value. Soon they realize that the association is the trusted place to turn with questions about the profession, field, or industry. Exchanging trust happens when we ask our members to do something. Associations do not sell snake oil.

Sample 68

Sample Member Experience Cost Tips 68

Smooth The Path

SEPTEMBER 4, 2017

That is a deceptively complex question because: Not only are competitive associations your competition, but for-profit companies are now your competition too. Not only are industry suppliers your competition, but consultants might now be your competition too. Related: The formula for member engagement. But that’s not all.

Member Engagement 68

Member Engagement Member Experience Project Conference 68

Smooth The Path

SEPTEMBER 6, 2017

The association appears professional. People like me join associations like this. I aspire to meet the other members of this association. This association is known, respected, and trusted in the industry. I like the people here. I can tell that these folks could be friends of mine.

Member Engagement 103

Member Engagement Cost Conference Industry 103

Smooth The Path

FEBRUARY 27, 2018

An online summit just might be the way to get a conference-like value to your members. Sample an online summit by signing up for one happening in our industry. And Association Success is gearing up for SURGE Spring 2018. And these hosts are figuring out how to monetize these summits.

Innovation 92

Innovation Sample Conference Technology 92

Protech

MAY 4, 2020

Depending on the size of your staff and budget, and the expectations of your members, you will spend more time on certain areas of the digital customer experience than others. What CMS Functionalities do Members Expect? . Why does the Member Journey Loop Matter for Digital Experiences ?

Content 86

Content System Discount Software 86

Smooth The Path

DECEMBER 6, 2016

We’re responsible for updating everyone about bad news about the industry or profession. An occasion when someone says, or writes, or publishes something that members rightfully take issue with. Related: The stories members make up. How to set a new tone at your association. But these are not blunders.

Member Experience 60

Member Experience Communications Organization Industry 60

Smooth The Path

MAY 22, 2018

Bring together the innovators – long-time members typically focus on the big issues in the industry or profession like changes in technology, regulation, public perception, etc. Help them connect with other like-minded innovators to facilitate discussions that move the industry or profession forward.

Committee 84

Committee Innovation Conference Industry 84

Smooth The Path

AUGUST 23, 2017

“Who is helping to solve the member engagement problem?”, ”, an association CEO and big thinker in our industry asked me yesterday. Many indicators point to a member engagement problem for associations. Back then, more members were more engaged. Before the internet. How are they doing it?

Member Engagement 68

Member Engagement Recruitment Recruiting Revenue 68

Smooth The Path

NOVEMBER 6, 2018

Sometimes we have to tell people things we do not think we should have to say to them: The vibrant association is dynamic because members like you tell professionals like you all about the association. Your experiences in our industry or profession might be very different than our other members’ experiences.

Industry 223

Industry Member Experience Association Value Strategy 223

Smooth The Path

JUNE 6, 2017

In fact, the association is not for everyone in the profession. It is not for everyone in the industry. It is only for some people in the profession or industry. It is easy to say we are for the senior leadership team, or tax accountants, or the amusement parks industry. Who are your best members?

Leadership 68

Leadership Innovation Industry Team 68

Smooth The Path

SEPTEMBER 5, 2019

Professionals can trust associations, and sometimes we just need to remind members and potential members that we are the trusted source for the profession or industry. When it come to trust, I favor showing members rather than telling members. Stay knowledgable about the latest industry trends.

Price 68

Price Content Industry Resources 68

Smooth The Path

MAY 3, 2018

It is called, “yes, and” Anytime someone says something to you, even something you disagree with, say aloud, or say in your mind “yes, and” “I did not get a lot of value out of this year’s speaker line up” [Yes, and] “was there a problem you came to the conference hoping to solve?”

Innovation 87

Innovation Recruitment Recruiting Leadership 87

Smooth The Path

FEBRUARY 12, 2019

She often buys the research reports and sometimes purchases a book or two from the association’s bookstore. Arlene is a promoter; she frequently recommends the association to other professionals in the industry. Because of her efforts a handful, or more, new members join each year.

Member Engagement 68

Member Engagement Strategy Newsletter Leadership 68

Smooth The Path

NOVEMBER 15, 2016

The well-known companies, the big brands, the current industry darlings. .” Another attendee replies, “Yeah, you know it’s great for insert giant organization/company here to talk about their steps and successes but we don’t have the man-power, money or time they have.”

Conference 60

Conference Resources Organization Industry 60

MemberClicks

FEBRUARY 13, 2025

These data points can help you evaluate how youre meeting the needs of your members across many identities and lived experiences. In what industry do you work? In what industry do you work? This question is valuable because it helps your association understand the diverse professional backgrounds of its members.

Survey 52

Survey Committee Education Resources 52

Associations Now

MAY 4, 2016

Quantitative and qualitative methods for understanding members, then, are better viewed as complements, a yin and yang, each supporting the other. Ask engaged members when they realized the value of the association and many can tell you the exact moment. construction activity.

Member Research 40

Member Research Sample Industry Report 40

Smooth The Path

MARCH 25, 2021

Programming because if they have to sit through another session about [insert beaten-to-death-superficial-industry-topic-here], they might have to stick a fork in their eyeball. Research because overall industry research doesn’t speak to their particular need, but custom does.

Content 148

Content Industry Association Value Member Experience 148

.orgSource

FEBRUARY 21, 2023

orgCommunity’s VIP members. We are hosting a guided exploration of what trust means for our future relationships with staff, boards, constituents, and the association industry. Open Windows In July 2020,orgSource surveyed approximately 300 association executives. Values create community.

Revenue 88

Revenue Review Guidelines Education 88