Posted by Sarah Hill on Fri, May 24, 2013 @ 09:10 AM
It seems like associations should have no problem generating content for blogs, magazines, E-mails, newsletters, and social media, but that just isn't the case. Today's Friday Top Five rounds up some of the most insightful blogs on the topic!
Associations Now: Map out your content strategy by Lauren Kelley
“Does your association produce content like magazines, blogs, tweets, white papers, websites, and books with a clear direction and audience in mind? If not, content strategy can lead you down the path of greater efficiency and improved member engagement.”
If Content Marketing is the New Black, Why Are Associations Wearing Plaid? By Ray Van Hilst for the Vanguard View
“Content Marketing is the “hot new thing” as for-profit marketers rush to create infographics, whitepapers, newsletters, checklists and anything else that will generate inbound traffic. “
Content Strategy for Associations is Different by Lindy Dreyer for SocialFish
“If content were king, associations would all be royalty online. We have content. Tons of content. For us, the challenge is not finding new and interesting things to post, it’s posting it in a way that stops people in their tracks and compels them to dig deeper.”
Who “Owns” Content? By Maggie McGary
“Unlike for-profits for whom such content is likely just about marketing copy, in the context of associations, content has a much broader meaning. A for-profit company produces white papers as marketing collateral to generate sales leads. Associations produce papers for education, to elevate a profession, even to save lives.”
Social Media Content for Associations by Yours Truly
Pardon the explanabrag. This was one of my favorites to write.
“In social media it’s all about sharing. There’s nothing wrong with sharing, retweeting, or repining someone else’s content.”
Posted by Sarah Hill on Thu, May 23, 2013 @ 09:24 AM
It’s an age-old story. People join associations with the best of intentions. Networking! Personal and professional growth! Fun, stimulating, informative events! But ultimately, in order for a member to get the most out of his or her membership, he or she has to work at it.
They say they want to. You plan meetings, you take suggestions, and you get things together but when the day comes there’s a lack of RSVPs and even fewer attendees.
So what’s the deal?
We have some answers for you, looking deep into the minds of the membership psyche. While these are not ALWAYS true (by any means!) but could help unlock some mystery as to why your members seem to be interested in engagement but not actually following through.
Authors note: All of these examples have literally gone through my brain concerning every association or group I’ve ever been involved with since college, as both a board member, a member-at-large, and a dues-paid fringe member. If you are an association member and reading this and maybe feel a little guilty, don’t be. You’re in good company.
What they say: I want to belong to an association.
What they mean: I want to belong to an association that doesn’t take any of my spare time, money, or energy.
The bottom line: Break the big commitments down into little chunks. For example, hour long volunteer periods at events instead of committing to working the whole thing. Don't forget to keep events as affordable as possible. Members have to know that some extra time and money expense is assumed when they sign on, but remember that as an association executive, you are asking for participation and money on top of what they already do for their work and family. It’s a big ask!
What they say: I want quality interaction with other professionals and experts in my field.
What they mean: I want other professionals and experts in my field at my disposal.
The bottom line: Now’s the time to pump up your AMS’s social media community and encourage online interaction as well as networking in person. Consider Google+ communities, LinkedIn groups, and Facebook groups (depending on where your members are already concerning social media.) That way they can have their cake at events and eat it too online! Need some help with social media engagement?
What they say: What we really need is a social networking platform just for our association.
What they mean: I don’t want to be the first and only person to use the social networking platform just for our association.
The bottom line: Sometimes engagement has to start with you as an association leader. Post meeting notes and pictures on your AMS, use the forums, and drive your members there! “If you build it, they will come” only works in the movies. Sometimes members need a little guidance!
What they say: More events! We need more events!
What they mean: Fit into my schedule, please.
The bottom line: This is tough because you’re never going to get on the same page with everyone. A group of any size from 10 people to 10,000 people are going to have a hard time coordinating. The best thing I say here is good luck and do the best you can. Using your AMS’s calendar or other meeting coordination tools can help, though, so be sure to encourage collaboration and calendar review as often as you can! Need some help with event planning?
What they say: A dues hike would be worth it…
What they mean: Don’t hike dues.
The bottom line: People immediately react to how their wallets feel. If you do have an increase in dues or event registration fees, make sure you let as many people know as possible and leave it open to discussion. Sometimes an initial ask for more money immediately makes people panic a little, but give it a minute to sink in (and for your members to look at their budgets) and you can probably make it work.
What they say: I want to participate!
What they mean: I want to participate when it’s convenient for me.
The bottom line: Your members WANT to engage and reap the benefits of your association. They wouldn’t have joined if they didn’t, but they have lives and like most professionals these days, they have a lot of balls in the air already. Your best chance for engagement is to spread the net wide. Vary events in venue, time, feel, and length. Offer online opportunities to take some leadership responsibilities (your AMS is a great place for collaboration) as well as in-person. Stay flexible! Your membership is a living, breathing organism and sometimes you have to roll with the punches.
I know it’s frustrating, from an association board view, a member view, and a blogger view. Hang in there, baby! Keep trying! You WILL find a rhythm for engagement that works for your association.
Posted by Sarah Hill on Wed, May 22, 2013 @ 09:37 AM
Membership engagement is a big deal around here because it’s a key component to healthy, thriving, growing associations. So imagine our surprise when we checked in with David Patt’s blog and saw that Associations Now reported a study from Leadership IQ stating that job performance and employee engagement don’t necessarily go hand in hand!
Well then.
Mark Murphy, the CEO of Leadership IQ says in his white paper that low performers are more likely to report that they are “motivated to give 100% effort at work” and more likely to recommend their organization as a “great place to work.”
Meanwhile, high performers who make it a habit to regularly turn out great work tend to go unrecognized and low performers receive positive reinforcement.
Okay. THERE'S the explanation.
In this study, high performers also reported that they felt less in control of their careers. Well no wonder high performers are less engaged. It could be that they’re unhappy!
Does your association have this problem? Do your higher performing volunteers fail to see where they could excel within your association, or is their interaction limited?
Consider this: the hostess at the party often has the least fun, because she’s running around making sure everyone else is comfortable, all the chips are refreshed, etc. Are your hardest working volunteers trapped in a "hostess" role? Be sure to give them a chance to have fun at events, as well as empower them with the leadership and charge of organizing and planning if they should volunteer. You can do both!
The key to all of this, according to Mark Murphy is communication, and we tend to agree. Be sure to take some time to praise your high achievers, and get as much feed back from them as the lower achievers. Also be candid. What would they like to see? Even if it's new, a pattern of transparency will be appreciated.
It’s an interesting phenomenon that higher achievers tend to be less engaged, when it seems like the opposite would be true. Take a moment and examine your volunteers, members, and leadership carefully, and make some moves to fix what needs fixing to maximize
Another big shout out to David Patt, Associations Now, and LeadershipIQ.com for the inspiration!
Posted by Sarah Hill on Tue, May 21, 2013 @ 11:01 AM
Today is picture day at MemberClicks! And that got me thinking: pictures really do bind people together. Do you remember back a million years ago (okay… maybe ten years ago) when you snapped a roll of film, dropped it off at the pharmacy, then an hour later excitedly flip through the glossies, laughing at pictures, cherishing some of them, and discreetly tossing a few in the garbage (don’t you hate those bad angles?)
Today, things aren’t that different, except there’s no physical photos to hold on to, and instead of one rush of happiness when you get back those 24 prints you get little jolts every time someone updates their Instagram or Facebook and tag you.
And then there’s the endless multiple-photo-taking procedure of any kind of digital format. Click, flash, huddle, disapproval, and repeat. You know what I mean. Red-eye and double chins are a thing of the past.
But outside of your personal social media, what’s the best way to distribute your photos to your association?
Three words: Association Management System.
You should be able to upload, tag, and share photos with your AMS the same way that you would on any other social media platform, with the added bonus of keeping in all internal. So if some bad lighting or a double chin does make it into a photo, it won’t be shared to your members’ 600 friends if they don't want it to be shared.
You’ll see the fruits of our picture day soon. We’ll post our company pictures here, and you’ll see updated headshots of our sales, implementation, and maximization team, as well as yours truly.
While you’re waiting anxiously for our photos, why not try uploading some to your AMS? It’ll add some depth and currency to your Association Management Software, and give your members a great reason and chance to engage. Remember that everyone loves seeing pictures of themselves!
Posted by Sarah Hill on Mon, May 20, 2013 @ 08:57 AM
Last week MemberClicks walked you through our guide to managing association growth. Each day we worked through a step on the long road to preparing for, managing, and executing some spectacular growth!
Today, the exciting conclusion.
In our metaphorical Game of Association Life, you win when you get to your retirement home (or mansion) and live out your golden years in cushy comfort. Fortunately (or unfortunately) that’s not the result when you win the game of Association Growth, the work is just beginning. However, you should have in place a solid organization system, a streamlined communication plan, and support of fellow and emerging association leaders.
In our game, everyone wins. Your members have a thriving, active association, you have a solid leadership in place with plenty of support, and together your events make a positive impact on your members and your community.
Did you miss the other blogs in this series? Don't worry! Here they are.
Managing Growth: Start With Your Association
Managing Growth: More Members
Managing Growth: Emerging Leaders
Managing Growth: More, Bigger Events
Ready for all that growth? Check out our guide to selecting an AMS and brace yourself!
Posted by Sarah Hill on Fri, May 17, 2013 @ 08:57 AM
This week MemberClicks is walking through our guide to managing association growth. Each day we'll walk you through a step on the long road to preparing for, managing, and executing some spectacular growth!
Yesterday we talked about growing, changing leadership and how to deal. Today, it's the fun stuff. Events!
How it happens: In order to keep members engaged, you have to do stuff. Also more members mean more connections, more interests, and more personal preferences. Your association may have a team building, fun event at a new restaurant in town or a new venue, or more open-forum brain storming sessions.
What it means: You need a good calendar that you can share with your members and fellow planners/your board can also edit. Your events calendar in your Association Management System could do the job, or you could use a shared calendar online like Google’s calendar feature.
How to deal: If someone suggests a new or different event that would take a little more planning than usual, empower the person who recommended it to pick up some of the slack. If that isn’t possible, open it up to other members as a chance for them to get involved. You can use your AMS’ social community and allow the volunteers to form an event committee and manage the event within the system. You might be surprised at the volunteers and feedback.
Need some help with those events?
Posted by Sarah Hill on Thu, May 16, 2013 @ 09:07 AM
This week MemberClicks is walking through our guide to managing association growth. Each day we'll walk you through a step on the long road to preparing for, managing, and executing some spectacular growth!
Yesterday we talked about growth in events and how that will lead to (and be a result of) more engaged members. Today we're converting those new, engaged members into future association leaders.
Third stop: Growth in leadership
How it happens: More, engaged members usher in the next generation of association leaders, who will take over through normal leadership and board turnover. As non-leadership members step up to help plan and lead events, the natural leaders will emerge and with some encouragement, will step up.
What it means: It could be a changing of the guard, and that could be a great thing. It could also mean just a larger board for now, and eventual, normal turnover in leadership positions.
How to deal: Embrace the emerging leaders. Take on the role of a mentor and share ideas. Also be sure to future-proof your association by establishing a plan for normal leadership turnover. That includes training and troubleshooting for your AMS.
Ready to start embracing some emerging leaders?
Posted by Sarah Hill on Wed, May 15, 2013 @ 07:16 AM
This week MemberClicks is walking through our guide to managing association growth. Each day we'll walk you through a step on the long road to preparing for, managing, and executing some spectacular growth!
Yesterday you heard how to kick off your growth preparations with a good, thorough assessment of your association. Today you're going to get ready for the jump in membership numbers!
Prepare yourself for a stampede of new members! Let's hope they're not ducks, though.
First stop: Growth in members
How it happens: Someone has been knocking it out of the park with outreach by engaging in social media, planning awesome events, or working crowds at networking events.
What it means: Meetings will have larger attendance. Communication will go up: you will be receiving and sending more E-mails, answering and making more phone calls, engaging in more social media, and planning more meetings, and different types of meetings at that.
How to deal: Chances are you’ll need a sharper organization system. You’ll need to have a system in place to keep track of E-mails, dues, and the upcoming, more-frequent events. That means you need an Association Management System, like MemberClicks.
Download our guide to selecting an AMS, and give us a call when you’re ready!
Posted by Sarah Hill on Tue, May 14, 2013 @ 08:29 AM
This week MemberClicks is walking through our guide to managing association growth. Each day we'll walk you through a step on the long road to preparing for, managing, and executing some spectacular growth!
Start: Your Association
Today we're starting with your association. You may be primed for growth and a spike in membership, leadership, and activity, but the first thing you need to do is go Belding-style and assess the situation.
Take stock of your association. How many members do you have? Okay, now how many ACTIVE members do you have? That’s an important distinction. Financially, members are members, but from a leadership point of view the active members are worth double inactive members.
Now look at your board and fellow staff members. Is there room for growth? What kind of growth does your association need? Paid or unpaid?
What about existing communication systems, facilities, budgeting, and other staffing matters? How should those essential items change? How can you afford for them to change, and who would handle those changes?
These are important things to keep in mind when preparing for growth, and really shouldn’t your association always be shooting for and preparing for growth? Before you spin the wheel in this metaphorical game, make sure you are equipped to play.
Stay tuned for tomorrow's installment of managing association growth: Growth in Events!
Posted by Sarah Hill on Mon, May 13, 2013 @ 10:09 AM
Your association’s name is so much more than a business card. Many of you already are in, and are leading, established associations with titles that are years, sometimes decades, old. This blog is still for you. You never know when your association will go through a rebranding, which could go a long way in upping membership numbers (standby for a blog about that in the future.)
So here are some things to consider when naming your association!
Location, location, location.
Many associations choose to include their region as part of their association title, and this is particularly true for chapters that are off-shoots from a larger, national group. For example, are you a member of the Oregon Mung Bean Growers Alliance, a state group representing the National Mung Bean Growers Alliance?
Even if you aren’t a state or local chapter, perhaps a large part of your association’s mission focuses on your geographic area. Neighborhood watches, for example, are established to protect the safety of one specific area. The Conservation Effort to Protect Virginia’s Swamps cares about and sympathizes for Louisiana’s swamps, I’m sure, but the main focus and mission is Virginia’s swamps.
But one thing to consider: would including a region in your title ever inhibit you? Would it limit your membership or exclude some interested parties? What about expanding one day?
Alliance, association, circle, council, federation, foundation, fraternity, institute, league, society, group, club and all of those other thesaurus words.
Really, there’s a million words for an assembly (there’s another one) of people with something in common, which basically defines “association.” What defines your group? Keep in mind gender assumptions, too. Even though “fraternity” could technically refer to a group of women as well, would people assume you mean a group of men?
How do you describe yourself?
Bee keepers. Bee nurturers. Apiculture Enthusiast. Honey and wax cultivator. How would your members describe themselves, and how would you describe your association’s members to the rest of the world? This is a BIG decision, because it essentially gives your members an identity. “I am a bee keeper, therefore I belong to the Bee Keepers Society of North Podunk” says one thing, and “I am a Apiculture Enthusiast, therefore I am a member of the Apiculture Appreciation Federation” says the same thing, but SOUNDS different.
Watch the acronym!
Remember that the association world is a bowl of Alphabits. If you are the American Society of Specialized Egg Specialists (I know, it’s repetitive, bear with me for the example) you might want to think about reordering your acronym. Think about it.
Although you might not be at a point where your association is considering a rebranding or a name change, this is always great information to keep on the back burner of your brain. Offshoots, rebranding, and new associations pop up all the time! Good luck designing that letterhead!