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The MemberClicks Blog

An inherent benefit to joining any association is the amount of industry knowledge that comes along with membership. This knowledge comes in a few different forms: A network of peers (aka, other members), connections made throughout the industry, and the resources that YOU provide!

Depending on how long your association has been around (or the nature of the industry), it’s probably safe to say those resources are plentiful - and incredibly valuable! But it’s not always easy to get members to take advantage of this particular benefit. Here are some tips for doing just that:

People often think of website updates as needing to be big and elaborate (and by extension, complicated). But that couldn’t be further from the truth! Sure, website redesigns have their time and place (no one wants an outdated website!), but at the same time, sometimes just a few minor tweaks can drive the engagement (and “fresh look”) you’re seeking.  

With 2019 right around the corner, what better time to freshen up your association or chamber’s website? Read on for four little makeover musts:

Note: This post was originally published on 9/22/15; Updated 11/21/18 for added value.

Video has been popular for quite a while now, particularly on social media, but did you know, by 2019, video will account for about 78 percent of the world’s mobile data traffic?

That means most of the content people will be searching for and engaging with online will be in video form. So, is your association or chamber hopping on the video trend? If not, now’s the time.

Not sure what to even film a video about? Here are a few ideas:

Back in 2015, we recommended the 7 best association blogs to check out as an association professional (including some of our favorites like Associations Now & Smooth the Path).

The last three years have brought a lot of other great resources to our community, so let’s take a look at eight additional association blogs you should be following to stay in the loop!

If webinars are a part of your association’s offerings, then you know that a big factor in success (i.e. registrations and attendance) is the topic you choose. So how do you go about picking a topic that’s going to attract your busy members (and prospects, for that matter)? Here are a few tips:

What marketing channels does your association use to recruit new members? Of those channels, which ones are the most successful?

Marketing General Incorporated asked association professionals that same question in their 2018 Membership Marketing Benchmarking Report, and the top three channels that get the most new members are:

• Word-of-mouth recommendations
• Email
• Promotion to/at your own conferences/trade shows

Now that may not come as a surprise to you, but this little insight might: According to that same study, 12 percent of associations consider digital marketing to be one of the most effective channels for acquiring new members. And of those associations that use digital marketing effectively, paid Facebook advertising and remarketing (Facebook, AdRoll, and Google) are the most effective methods.

This year for ASAE Annual, we decided to get a little creative and extra thoughtful about our messaging. Here at MemberClicks, “What’s Your Why” is frequently discussed and we realized with all of our passionate association professionals that we should bring the question outside of the MemberClicks walls. And we heard so much positive feedback at the show about this idea that we figured we’d share it with everyone!

Check out how you can use postcards at your next conference to stay on your attendee’s minds without breaking the bank!

Sometimes it can be hard to remember that outside of the association world, most people don’t know what an association really does. And while that’s understandable, it doesn’t help your case when it comes to attracting new members to pay dues for your association’s membership.

Let’s take a step back and look at three major stereotypes that are often connected to associations so that you can know what to avoid for prospective members!

While it’s a win for your industry for any newcomers to join an association in your space, wouldn’t it be nice if they ultimately picked yours? If you’re looking to stand out from amongst the crowd, take a look at a couple of ways you can impress anyone looking to join your association!

As an association professional, you wear many, many hats. You’re in charge of marketing, events, fundraising, advocacy - and that’s just the beginning!

Having your hand in so many aspects of an organization is hard for many reasons, but one in particular is the fact that you can’t necessarily specialize in one particular segment (simply for lack of time). And as a result, mistakes happen.

We want to help you minimize those mistakes. So today, we’re honing in on marketing and identifying four common mistakes for associations to avoid: