Within any organization, it is vital to connect your members and there’s no simpler way than with a member directory. At first glance, a member directory feels fairly straightforward to communicate member information. However, when you approach this tool more strategically, you quickly find there are multiple factors to consider and incorporate into your membership directory. A member directory is more than just connecting members. It also can be used as a member value tool to provide members with a resource to promote their services.
Most organizations know they need an association management system, but when it comes down to choosing one, it can often feel overwhelming. There are many options and many factors to consider. Once you know what to look for, you can make decisions with confidence and make the next right step for your organization. Association management systems are arguably the most effective tool to help drive your organization forward, so it’s important to be prepared as you start researching your options.
One of the most important parts of managing an association or large organization is making decisions. It often feels like both an art and a science to know when it’s the right time to perform a specific action or engage in a certain activity or if you have enough information to act on in the first place so that you can ultimately reach your organizational goals. If you’ve ever felt this tension and have wondered if you’re doing the right thing at the right time with the right data and facts on hand, you’re not alone. In fact, this question of timing is something everyone experiences, regardless of the industry.
Do you know the number of emails you receive per day? It's been reported that a typical working professional receives over 100 emails on a daily basis. Considering this, if your organization sends out emails to its members, how can you ensure that your emails are being read? How do your emails stand above the rest? One way to cut through the noise is by providing content that is valuable to your members, and the most effective approach to doing so is by leveraging a few simple methodologies within your association management software.
Plus the Benefits of Using a Membership Management System
An association management system or membership management system, quite simply helps manage a membership organization. There are a lot of moving pieces in a membership organization and an association management system (AMS) not only can keep membership data organized, but can also help engage members, meet goals, and deliver a great member experience.
When you have new members join your organization, you have a golden window to get them engaged, excited, and incorporated into your group. Emails are a great way to do this because it allows members to read the essential information, at their own time and pace. You can also create a drip campaign to send focused emails sharing relevant information one topic at a time. However, those first digital touches are extremely vital for new members as they get excited about the organization they just joined!
Funding is vital for any organization, especially for member organizations and nonprofits. No matter the size of an organization, member dues alone will only go so far. Non-dues revenue is essential for your success and an important piece of any financial plan you implement.
The past several years have presented new challenges for any organization, including membership associations. Many have seen shrinking budgets, disruption to revenue streams, changes in user behavior, and declining engagement.
No one wants to be a part of an organization where they are just a number. People join membership organizations to feel like they are part of a community and something bigger than themselves. Just being a nameless face in the crowd can be disheartening and can lead to people not renewing their membership.
Your local chapters are at the front lines with your organization's membership, so it's critical to have the right tools in place to ensure member data is organized from the start. When the data is solid on the local level, this cascades to so many advantages for the entire organization.
Celebrating our wins is important and acknowledging gaps that can hinder our growth, equally so. If you sit back and wait for the challenges to arise before you address them, you will start to lag behind. On the other hand, you'll find that staying ahead of the curve means operations run more smoothly and issues are addressed while they are only molehills instead of mountains!
With chapters spread across the country or the globe, getting everyone to work together in concert is like conducting an orchestra. Each individual section makes up a portion of the organization as a whole, but together, you create a symphony of music. It's all about the smaller, local groups working together to create something wonderful as one cohesive organization.
Congratulations! You got a new member. We all know it takes a lot of effort to recruit new members to your association. That’s why it’s incredibly important to have a strategy around what you do next: onboard!
Are you ready to elevate the member experience?
Do you want to provide even more value for your members?
Do you want to be efficient in your membership experience strategy?
If you answered "yes" to any of the above, we’ve got some gold here for you.