MC Talks
The MemberClicks Blog

Last week, we welcomed 207 MemberClicks and WebLink users - representing 127 different organizations and 15 different industries from 38 different states (and three different countries!) - to Indianapolis for three days of membership management insights, software training and analysis, and a whole lot of fun.

Attendees of MC LIVE! 2018 called it “motivating,” “priceless,” and downright “refreshing.” Here are some of the high points from the week that MemberClicks customers raved about!

Note: This post was originally published on 1/13/16; Updated 10/16/18 for added value.

Membership dues are a big part of your organization’s overall revenue stream. But in order to attract more members, it’s important to keep those membership dues down. And in order to retain existing members, it’s important to try your best to keep those dues consistent year after year.

Embracing non-dues revenue streams is a great way to keep membership dues down, while still bringing in the revenue you need to run your organization. To help you get started, here are 13 non-dues revenue ideas for your association:

Note: This post was originally published on 5/18/16; Updated 10/15/18 for added value.

Member satisfaction surveys are valuable for a number of reasons. They allow you to collect important feedback from your members, make improvements to your association (thus boosting engagement and retention), and at the most basic level, show your members you genuinely care about their thoughts and happiness.

Can’t really go wrong conducting something like that, can you? The key, though, is making sure you ask the right questions - questions that are going to get you the feedback you need to advance your association.

Not sure what to ask your member satisfaction survey? Here are 15 questions we highly recommend:

As a leader, you should always be trying to gain new perspectives on how to best engage with your team, otherwise your association might start to feel disconnected. The needs of your staff and members will be ever changing, so it’s in your advantage to try and keep ahead of the curb by continuing to evolve your leadership style.

Take a look at these three beneficial types of leadership that anyone can start incorporating into their association leadership today.

Every organization has a unique structure in terms of staff, board of directors, committees, task forces, etc. And what works well for one association may not work well for another. That said, however your organization is structured, there are three types of committees we believe most associations could truly benefit from:  

Part of impacting retention in a meaningful way means paying attention to how each member prefers to interact with your organization. Arming yourself with this information means you’ll be able to have relevant conversations around renewal time.

Now, for those of you who have thousands of members, that may sound pretty daunting. Luckily, your membership management software - whether it’s MemberClicks or WebLink - has some tools to make it easier! Check it out:

It’s already October (goodness!), which means a lot of associations and chambers are heading toward the “most wonderful time of year” - budget season!

As you approach quality time with your budget (and, therefore, your board), we know your staff would appreciate some tips for making financial management a little easier. Here are a few ways your membership management system should help lighten the load all year long:

Note: This post was originally published on 8/19/15; Updated 10/8/18 for added value.

It’s hard (and scary) to imagine a world without volunteers. They do so much! For your association, they probably assist with marketing, event planning, fundraising, etc. And for that reason, it’s important to handle your volunteers with care.

Now you probably do a good job of thanking your volunteers, but in addition to a simple thanks, there are actually five key messages your volunteers WANT to hear. Take a look:

This blog post was originally published October 15, 2015 by Callie Walker but was updated for added value.

How many times have you uttered the phrase, “I wish there were more hours in a day?” Yeah, you and me both. But unfortunately, 24 hours is all we get.

That being said, there are a few tips for staying on track and improving your time management skills. Take a look!

Pumpkins, sweaters, apple cider, oh boy! Fall is OFFICIALLY here!

Now it may not feel like fall yet (depending on where you live), but trust us, even if temps are still in the 90s (which they are in Georgia, by the way), people are eager and excited for that seasonal change. (Just check your social media feeds if you don’t believe us.)

Why not tap into that excitement at your association? Allow people to celebrate and get in the spirit, while also raising money for your organization.

Here are 13 fall fundraising ideas worth trying: