Smooth The Path

APRIL 7, 2016

Members want to be heard. Implicit in our ask to take an online survey, respond to a member interview, attend a focus group or even when we ask off-handed informal questions like what did you think of the conference? How does this apply to member insights? Related posts: The members we should focus on.

Member Insights 60

Member Insights Member Research Survey Process 60

Smooth The Path

JUNE 19, 2016

There’s an interesting dance that happens with member research. We ask the questions we think we want to know the answers to but members see those questions and find they would rather answer some other more important questions. Qualitative member research methods do. Related: Please ask members.

Member Research 68

Member Research Survey Project Education 68

Smooth The Path

NOVEMBER 6, 2016

In preparation for other strategic planning processes the association conducted quantitative member surveys but found the results were not all that actionable because there continued to be so many unanswered questions. The board also has the research results and they are currently developing the strategic plan based on these insights.

Case Study 104

Case Study Project Association Value Member Engagement 104

Smooth The Path

AUGUST 2, 2016

Likely members think the value of their membership is more than or less than we think they think it is. Likely members have better or worse experiences with the association than we guess they do. Likely members like the conference more or less than we assume they do. Surveys like this illustrate the point [h/t Velvet Chainsaw].

Member Research 60

Member Research Survey Conference Strategy 60

Smooth The Path

JULY 30, 2020

What member feedback to keep and what to toss. Announcing an entirely new methodology of member research. Likely there is a mountain of rich qualitative data that is just waiting for you. Related: Board focus groups tend to be wildly inaccurate.

Member Research 78

Member Research Video Report Conference 78

Smooth The Path

APRIL 3, 2016

When you have seemingly unanswerable questions about members it is slow data that holds the answer. Related posts: Please ask members. Before you go to your go-to member insight methodology. Data and association decision making. The post Slow Data vs. Fast Data appeared first on Smooth The Path.

Member Insights 60

Member Insights Conference Member Research Survey 60

Smooth The Path

JUNE 30, 2016

Related: Members need association help when they face change or start something new. Did you know that member surveys can be risky? The award-winning process for association innovation. The post One Thing We can do to Prepare for Change appeared first on Smooth The Path.

Innovation 74

Innovation Survey Process Member Insights 74

Smooth The Path

FEBRUARY 28, 2017

It is time to discover your members’ stories. Related: You analyzed member data and conducted surveys, here’s what to do next. Do you know that member surveys can be risky? Member surveys miss context.

Survey 60

Survey Analysis Content Member Research 60

Smooth The Path

APRIL 21, 2016

Beware of one question surveys for associations. Should we look outside the association to talk to prospective young members? The post Don’t Ask for Feedback from Members Who Are Too New appeared first on Smooth The Path. Related: Data and association decision-making.

Survey 60

Survey Member Research Member Insights 60

Smooth The Path

FEBRUARY 21, 2016

When making a strategic decision on the basis of qualitative data (a member survey, our own data or third party data) ask these questions: Who responded and are these the members we most need insight from? But sometimes they are not. How did we ask the question? Are we interpreting the answer correctly ?

Survey 60

Survey Member Research Member Insights Strategy 60

Smooth The Path

APRIL 19, 2016

When you are ready to ask members all of the questions you are so curious about, let’s talk. You analyzed member data and conducted surveys, here’s what is next. It is easy to misinterpret members’ opinions when observing their behavior. Related articles: Slow data vs. fast data.

Survey 60

Survey Member Research Member Insights Member Experience 60

Smooth The Path

FEBRUARY 9, 2017

Hearing member’s stories is such a valuable thing, but these stories can be tricky to hear. Quick heat-of-the-moment online, email or phone feedback from members can be laden with emotion making the creator’s words convoluted or inaccurate. Surveys assume that we know all the possible answers, but we don’t.

Survey 60

Survey Project Conference Content 60

Smooth The Path

MAY 12, 2016

Related: Don’t ask for feedback from members who are too new. Asking members to opt in after a bad member experience. The post Members Leave Associations Without a Sound appeared first on Smooth The Path. There are important things we may not know about the association.

Member Experience 60

Member Experience Member Research Member Insights Survey 60