MC Talks
The MemberClicks Blog

Association management system, or AMS for short. You’ve likely heard the term, and you may even know what it means. (For those who don’t, an AMS is a technology solution that allows you to manage your organization’s membership using one integrated system, which includes your website and your database. Dues renewals, email marketing, event registration, and more - you name it, an AMS does it.)

Sounds great, you might be thinking. But do I really need one? I mean REALLY?

We say yes, and here’s why:

Your database may give you a headache from time to time, but there’s SO much valuable information there. Are you using it to your advantage?

Sure, you should be tracking the normal numbers: recruitment rates, renewal rates, event registrations, etc. But are you taking it a step further to actually advance your association?

Here are three ways to strategically use your association’s database (Yes, you’ll still have to analyze the data, but it’ll be worth it!):

So, you’ve found yourself in trade show season, with the big show, #ASAE17 in Toronto, right around the corner. One of the reasons to spend precious time on any trade show floor is to discover potential partnerships that will help your association succeed. Now, whether that means finding exciting locations for your next annual meeting or a new association management software--word on the street is MemberClicks has a good one, btw--there are certain signals sent through a vendor’s on-floor presence and behavior that can give you an indication of their relationship potential once the booths have been broken down and you’re back in the real world together.

If an association management system (AMS) is on your radar (or even just in the back of your head for now), the next big question then is when: when should you start looking for association management software and when exactly should you pull the trigger?

Well, as with most things, the sooner you can start the better. But with software, in particular, it all depends on when you’ll need it.

Getting your members to login can be challenging, but once they do, are you doing everything in your power to keep them there - happy and engaged? Are you providing them with the information they need to take “next steps” - whether that’s to register for your next event, renew their membership/pay dues, or even just read up on the latest industry news?

Having an engaging member landing page - the page members see upon logging into your site - dictates not only how much people engage with you, but whether or not they continue that behavior. (One or two bad experiences and someone could decide that logging in just isn’t worth it anymore.)

So what makes an engaging member landing page? What elements do you need? We’ve identified five must-haves:

Let’s say you’re using a membership spreadsheet to manage your association - and you KNOW that’s not working. You know you need a technology partner and an association management system (AMS) to help lighten the load.

The trick, though, is selling that idea to your board. How do you get them to see that this isn’t just something you want, but need?

We’ve got a few tips. When it comes to “selling” an AMS to your board, consider the following three talking points:

Database management is TOUGH, especially if you’re doing it all manually. Over time, you’re bound to find typos, duplicates, outdated information, and maybe even some false information altogether. That’s why from time to time, it’s good to give your database a little scrubbing.

But with 500+ members, where do you even begin? Here are a few tips:

The times they are a changin’ - particularly in terms of technology. And as you know, technology advancements (in some way, shape, or form) always make their way to the workplace.

Just look at workplace communication tools. There’s Slack, Atlassian, Trello, Facebook’s Workplace - and more and more popping up all the time!   

That said, are these workplace communication tools beneficial for associations? Are they worth looking into/considering? Well, like any sophisticated tool or system, there are pros and cons for each.

Take a look:

So you know you’re abnormally busy, and you know there’s technology out there designed to help you, but you keep putting off the idea of an association management system for one reason or another - time (or lack thereof), budget (or lack thereof), your board’s approval (or lack thereof), etc.

Well all of these are valid reasons, but at some point, you may just need to bite the bullet - for the sake of your members, your sanity, and of course, your organization. In fact, here are five signs it might be time to invest in an AMS:

When it comes to shopping for an association management system, the questions people ask are often pretty routine: How much does it cost? What features are included? What does the timeline for implementation look like?

But while those questions are important, they aren’t the end-all-be-all. In fact, it’s just as important to establish a good partnership with your future AMS provider. That said, here are six questions - beyond features - you NEED to ask your potential AMS provider: