Spark Consulting
OCTOBER 2, 2024
In one of the breakout rooms in yesterday’s monthly Prometheus Consortium First Tuesday Zoom , we focused on member engagement. Some of the usual topics came up – member-centric (versus association-centric) engagement , the unassailable math of online community success, specific issues and trends in the particular professions and industries participants’ association serve – but there were a few fresh takes, too.
NetForum
OCTOBER 29, 2024
How much value has your organization placed on association certifications? Today, professional certifications are increasingly recognized as an essential tool for career advancement. However, association professionals and members are currently divided on the importance of certifications and credentialing associations. The latest Association Trends Research found that 51% of members value certifications or credentials, while only 37% […] Association certifications 101: How to drive membersh
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Association Analytics
OCTOBER 21, 2024
Members are the backbone of any association. Not a deep thought, not particularly revelatory, just something that is. This is the thought that should – and for the most part does – drive the actions, plan, and thoughts of what association professionals do in their day-to-day and their long-term planning. And yet, time and again, the biggest need, the most basic question that associations have is, what do members want?
Wild Apricot
OCTOBER 3, 2024
Do you find yourself sending a thousand emails to your volunteers that never get opened? Here's why you might want to send them a volunteer newsletter instead, plus great examples and templates you can use.
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Here’s Your Blueprint for Year-Round Member Engagement. Are you ready to transform your association into a thriving, 365-day community? Download GrowthZone’s ebook, How to Create a Community Your Members Can’t Get Enough Of , and learn strategies for leveling out the peaks and valleys of member engagement. This guide provides actionable strategies to create consistent networking opportunities, deliver value-packed content, and foster connections that your members won’t want to miss.
Association Analytics
OCTOBER 7, 2024
The role of the marketer – particularly in associations, and especially focusing on content delivery – has changed drastically over the last decade, perhaps and only seems to be speeding up. Associations are facing an issue of an increasingly digitized membership, and need to roll with the times to make sure their messaging and content reach the right eyes and ears, at the right time.
Association Universe brings together the best content for association members and organizers from the widest variety of industry thought leaders.
Wild Apricot
OCTOBER 17, 2024
Learn effective strategies to grow your nonprofit's donor base, engage supporters and drive meaningful impact with lead generation. Learn tips, tools, and best practices to maximize your organization's outreach.
AvidXchange: Association Management
OCTOBER 15, 2024
For community association management (CAM) companies, staying updated on industry trends is important for maintaining efficient operations, meeting evolving resident needs, and adopting new technologies. In August 2024, AvidXchange surveyed 500 accounting and finance leaders to learn their top priorities and concerns for 2025. Our “ 2025 Finance Focus ” guide shares details on the top seven trends that emerged from their responses.
The Association 100
OCTOBER 6, 2024
On The A100 Podcast , Margaret Vitullo of the Linguistic Society of America shares her innovative approach to leadership and member engagement. Vitullo dives into challenges facing scholarly societies, including shifts in revenue models and evolving member expectations. She introduces “fractal leadership,” a model focused on shared responsibility and community at all levels.
AssociationChat
OCTOBER 25, 2024
Enhancing Food & Beverage Inclusivity at Association Events In today’s fast-paced, diverse world, creating inclusive and memorable experiences at association events requires an eye for detail and a commitment to meeting everyone’s needs. Our latest episode, previously titled, “Creating Inclusive F&B Experiences in Association Events,” but now called, “Feeling Othered at the Association Breakfast Table” takes a look at the often ignored yet critically i
Speaker: Jessica Bonney from VICA and Jeff Horne from Wicket
What does delivering an exceptional member experience mean in today's world? With the right insights, tools, and strategies, you can identify what truly matters to your members, drive meaningful engagement at scale, and continue to meet the ever-evolving needs of your members. Join association experts Jessica Bonney from VICA and Jeff Horne from Wicket who will share practical insights on how to build an exceptional member-driven experience by gaining a deeper understanding of your members and d
Reid All About it
OCTOBER 11, 2024
The weekly list of free educational events and resources for the association community… Hurricane Helene. Less than 1% of households in the hardest-hit mountain counties of North Carolina are protected by the National Flood Insurance Program. People have lost their homes, perhaps their businesses or jobs, and all their worldly goods. I can’t even fathom the loss of lives—we haven’t yet heard the worst of it.
Spark Consulting
OCTOBER 30, 2024
Novelty or loyalty? We’ve all heard the come-ons: Switch your cable/cell/Internet/long distance provider and we’ll give you gifts, or better pricing, or premium services for free, or whatever. Everybody’s always looking for new customers, right? Association professionals should know better. But we don’t. We know that a retained member is more valuable than a new member.
Wild Apricot
OCTOBER 9, 2024
Recruiting volunteers doesn't have to be difficult. Create your own recruitment process and engage your volunteers with tips from this amazing guide!
Nimble AMS
OCTOBER 16, 2024
The chill of winter is in the air, and Salesforce has rolled out an exciting lineup with the Winter ’25 product release. Don’t miss out on the latest innovations and enhancements! Check out our blog for the top four Salesforce Winter ‘25 product updates and learn how your organization can take advantage of these powerful new features. 4 Salesforce Winter ‘25 product release highlights Are you looking to enhance your association’s productivity and simplify your processes?
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Customer education has become a key driver for growth, retention, and product adoption. Our latest 2024 State of Customer Education Report uncovers critical data and insights from a survey of over 200 industry leaders, offering a look at the evolving role of education in driving business success. Inside, you'll find data on key trends and strategies, including: Strategies for Scaling & Customization: Find out which investments in learning technology deliver the biggest ROI and scalability.
The Association 100
OCTOBER 20, 2024
On The Association 100 Podcast , Bennie F. Johnson, CEO of the American Marketing Association, shares his insights on the evolving role of marketing and how AMA supports professionals across the globe. Johnson discusses the importance of embracing disruptive change, especially with the rise of AI, and highlights the critical role of community in navigating this new landscape.
GrowthZone
OCTOBER 31, 2024
A successful association social media strategy doesn’t have to be a challenge. Simply follow the formula to navigate your way to an effective social media presence. The #1 Social Media Rule: Post things that are interesting, informative, and relevant to your members. See the rest of the formula along with post ideas for each category in the Association Social Media Survival Kit: Quick & Clever Social Media Posts.
Reid All About it
OCTOBER 4, 2024
The weekly list of free educational events and resources for the association community… “ As long as autumn lasts, I won’t have enough hands, canvas or colors to paint the beautiful things that I see.” ~Vincent van Gogh Generations. It’s time to ditch tired generational stereotypes , says Jennifer N. Dienst at PCMA Convene. Generational labels lead to negative outcomes.
Spark Consulting
OCTOBER 9, 2024
There are (at least) two ways of thinking about power in interpersonal relationships: Power Over and Power With (sometimes recast as “Power To”). What’s the difference? Power OVER is about scarcity, rules, procedures, compliance, competition, rewards and threats, hoarding information, assigning blame, fear and skepticism, exclusion, silos, and control.
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Sales often gets a bad rep. Yet, if securing sponsors, advertisers, and exhibitors is part of your role, it’s essential. But what if it didn’t have to feel time-consuming, uncomfortable, or worse—icky? Join us for the 3-part virtual Sales Accelerator Labs , where customer experience and sales expert Carrie McIntyre will show you strategies to make sales easier, more effective, and dare we say, enjoyable!
Wild Apricot
OCTOBER 28, 2024
Nonprofit direct mail fundraising is a great way to find new donors. Here are our best tips for making sure your campaign is a success.
Nimble AMS
OCTOBER 25, 2024
When was the last time your organization created new pricing for a product or service? If it’s been a while, it might be time to revisit your prices. Choosing the right price for your association’s services can deliver powerful results. A 1% price improvement can lead to a 10% increase in profit. Read our blog to learn valuable tips and tricks to get the pricing right for your organization.
The Association 100
OCTOBER 20, 2024
In my role, I aim to embed diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility into all facets of our publication’s ecosystem. DEIA is fundamentally core to our strategic plan. Through targeted initiatives like our name change policy, accessibility audits and the creation of our DEIA committee, we ensure these principles are at the forefront of everything we do.
Aptify
OCTOBER 28, 2024
Association leaders: Here’s how to involve a cross-functional team in each step of the AMS implementation process to help ensure a successful project. Association management software (AMS) allows your organization to consolidate data and processes into a single tool, while eliminating much of the work associated with manual data entry, multiple databases, and other redundant and time-consuming aspects of running an association.
Speaker: Radhika Samant and Todd Wuestenberg
Employee recognition has often been deemed a "feel-good" initiative, tied closely to rewards. While we understand its importance, we tend to associate recognition with intangible outcomes like engagement and sentiment, rather than direct impacts on retention and high performance. In today’s workplace, the true ROI of recognition lies in its ability to regenerate tangible, business-driven results.
Reid All About it
OCTOBER 25, 2024
The weekly list of free educational events and resources for the association community… “Wild is the music of the autumnal winds amongst the faded woods.” —William Wordsworth Hurricane recovery. Association Executives of North Carolina has gathered resources for those who want to support the recovery efforts of people in western NC. Or, Love Asheville From Afar by shopping at online stores or contributing to fundraising efforts in Asheville.
Spark Consulting
OCTOBER 23, 2024
The Association Climate Action Coalition , a Community of Practice of experienced association consultants, executives, and advisors who have convened to address one of the most pressing issues of our time, has just launched our new Resource Library. The library offers podcasts, webinars, white papers, articles, tools, news, and other resources related to the Anthropocene climate disruption; the ways it will affect associations’ internal operations, member-facing programs, products, and ser
Wild Apricot
OCTOBER 28, 2024
Learn the key differences between a 501(c)(3) and a 501(c)(6) organization. How do these classifications impact your revenue streams and how to maintain compliance.
Association Adviser
OCTOBER 10, 2024
Today, associations are finding it increasingly necessary to optimize their communication strategies. Whether it’s engaging members, attracting new audiences, or maintaining relevance in their industries, associations must leverage effective communications to stay competitive. However, many associations struggle to pinpoint where they are falling short.
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Managing HR tasks like payroll, compliance, and employee data can overwhelm small businesses. That’s where a Human Capital Management (HCM) solution comes in. Our eBook, Why Every Small Business Needs an HCM Solution: A Comprehensive Guide , shows how an HCM system automates tedious processes, ensuring your business stays compliant and efficient. You’ll learn how to simplify payroll, eliminate costly errors, and empower your employees with self-service tools.
The Association 100
OCTOBER 20, 2024
On The A100 Podcast , Nathan Chamberlain, director of membership for the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology, shares his expert insights into building member value through empathy-driven strategies and cutting-edge technology. Chamberlain discusses how AANA prioritizes fast, accurate member services and explores their innovative micro-credentialing program, designed to meet members’ evolving educational needs.
Nimble AMS
OCTOBER 9, 2024
Thank you so much for joining the Nimble AMS team in Las Vegas for Xperience 24. It was wonderful to see so many of you at the most exciting event in the association industry! During the event, association and event professionals had the opportunity to learn about the latest technological innovations designed for their industries. If you missed out on Xperience 24 , don’t worry!
Associations Now
OCTOBER 29, 2024
Under pressure to create memorable experiences on a budget, planners are looking for creative solutions. Meeting planners are looking to deliver more bespoke and personalized experiences to attendees, while struggling to manage tighter budgets and sustainability goals, according to a new report. What’s Trending 2025 , a white paper published earlier this month by the events management firm BCD Meetings & Events, emphasized the importance of personalization in meetings design.
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