Member Engagement: you’re already aces

May 10th, 2013 | Posted in Member Engagement + Retention

Engage has become quite the buzzword. You can’t go to a conference or read an article about membership or member organizations without someone telling you about the importance of engagement. We even do it here. A lot. But engaging your members has become one of those phrases that has lost its meaning to many and I worry it is going the way of synergy. So why do we talk about it at YourMembership.com? Because at the very definition of the word it’s one of the most important things you can do. It means reaching out, making your members a part of your organization and processes, making them feel vested in the outcome. According to Merriam-Webster it means “drawing favorable attention or interest.” So why do many of us have such a hard time with the concept? Because we over-think it.

As member organizations, you built a community of individuals who share the same passions and interests long before technology and social media. You organized, cultivated and educated your membership. Engaging them has never been your problem. Read the rest of this entry »

Comments | Post Your Comments

Tags: member engagement, member retention

3 Ways to (Better) Showcase Members in Social Media

April 11th, 2013 | Posted in Membership Management

Social media gurus tell member organizations again and again – don’t make it about you, make it about them. Every post shouldn’t be about what you are doing and what you think. Showcase your members. Let them shine. Turning over your social media platform to them is like a nice introduction from a mic. They can finally be heard over the noise of the social sphere. Your audience may be larger and more established than theirs. If you can help them get the attention they deserve, they will appreciate it. So think beyond the basic re-tweet. Here are three ways you can help your members attract a larger audience:

1. Use your words. A re-tweet or share is good but not particularly memorable (unless your member has never been re-tweeted before). Add some context to the re-tweet or share. Something like “Great point from Amy, especially #5,” or introduce the re-tweet/share with “Phenomenal article from…” or “Best article I’ve read on…” Giving the share context and a stamp of approval goes a lot further in advancing the content and endearing them to you. Read the rest of this entry »

Comments | Post Your Comments

Tags: association members, associations, business social networking, community, member community, member organizations, member retention, online community, online member communities, social media, Social Media and Business Trends, social media strategy, social networking software, yourmembership.com

The Hardest Task You Have as an Association

March 19th, 2013 | Posted in Association Management

If they don’t think of you, they won’t volunteer.

If your event doesn’t come to mind, they won’t attend.

If your conferences are not on their calendar, they’ll go elsewhere.

If they don’t know what you do for them, they won’t renew their dues.

If your private online community is not part of their daily Internet routine, they won’t participate.

The hardest part of growing your association membership is getting people to remember you’re there.

Comments | Post Your Comments

Tags: associations, member community, member organizations, member retention, online community, online member communities, online member community, private online community, yourmembership.com

Gamification and Your Private Online Community

February 5th, 2013 | Posted in YourMembership.com News

This week YourMembership.com launched gamification. The features are incorporated into our private online community and are free to all YM clients. Gamification is a topic that has interested me since I first started researching it about two years ago.

Gamification benefits both you and your members. It allows you to give weight to the activities within your organization that you deem important. It also promotes a feeling of goodwill among your members as you bestow rewards (in this case points) and accolades on them, which allow them to gain the respect of their peers and showcase their knowledge. In addition to respect, your members are able to see their own growth (and perceived value) increase within your community. You can make their efforts tied to discounts, admittance into special groups and more. These kind of benefits drive action and improve member retention and loyalty as your community now offers your members something that others do not.

We’ve compiled a few resources so you can learn more about gamification . If you’re new to the concept of gamification, start with the video below for an overview of how gamification can benefit your online community and member-based rganization. If you have further questions about gamification, please contact us or leave a comment below.