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.
Do you remember the silly paper clip in Microsoft (or how about the puppy?), that would appear after you opened Word and started typing? Look’s like you’re typing a letter… If you were, the formatting prompts were helpful. If not, they were an annoyance but it was Microsoft’s way of recognizing you and walking you through best uses of their software.
Your online community should do the same (in a much less annoying way). Whether you create a video introduction for your new members or welcome them with an email and a suggested activity, make sure you tell them where to start. We are all too busy to just kick around on a site. When you direct their actions, you’re ensured they see and experience what you want them to immediately instead of stumbling across it weeks later. You have their attention now. Use it to direct them to something they will enjoy and they’ll keep coming back.
Here at YourMembership.com we’ve put together an infographic to aid you in the successful launch of your online community. Community management is hard work. It doesn’t happen overnight and your members are not going to be able to do it for you. It takes planning, nurturing and guidance to help your online community achieve the desired results.
Let us know what you think of the infographic and feel free to share.
Anything you’d add for a successful launch?
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