- Retention; or
- Engagement campaigns.
- Membership is everybody’s business (staff and volunteers).
- Create a fact sheet.
- Know why people join: Advocacy, publications, affinity programs, recognition, training & development, etc.
- Fine-tune your message (you don’t have time to tell all).
- Sell your brand.
- Communicate (not just at renewal time).
- Show dollar value of each service for membership.
- Show the value (Benefits – Costs = Value).
- Mini surveys to monitor satisfaction.
- Office visits.
- Orientation programs (in person, virtual).
- Reference guide.
- Volunteer opportunities.
- Personal contact.
- Rewards programs.
- Go directly to the college or university.
- Work closely with graduates or soon to be graduated students.
- Get member volunteer to work with each campus.
- Conduct some events for non-members (non-student members and non-society members).
- Use these public events as a “look” at what the society can do for you.
- For non-member conference attendees, offer 30-day window to join at special conference attendee rates.
- Follow up with mailing and phone contacts.
- New member discount on first event attended.
- Obtain letterhead and envelopes from members and send “invitation letter” to join to prospects as a personal endorsement over member signature.
- Use “endorsement partners” to assist with or sponsor membership marketing program.
- Ask lapsed members why they have not continued.
- Get local members more involved in retention work.
- Offer deferred dues for displaced members (hardship) category.
- Job board for free to keep members involved (retains members if it is free to them.)
- Have volunteers make calls to non-renewals - there is usually a higher response rate because their peers are asking.
- Conduct regular “Needs Assessment Survey’s.”
- Ask them to be on a committee.
- Ask for expressions of interest.
- Add new volunteer positions (in each committee).
- Show appreciation for membership and volunteering.
- Personal visits.
- Business/members to bring in a new member.
- Use phone-a-thon, with a runner to deliver membership packet.
- Changes in staff offer opportunities to meet again with prospects.
- Ask board members to write why they are a member and use these statements as testimonials.
- Focus on core group.
- Work on strategic relationships and alliances with allied associations so that there are opportunities to share information.
- Membership and involvement in umbrella organizations to add credibility and to foster relationships and raise industry profile.
- Make sure that the Web site draws prospective members to the “How to Join” site easily and logically.
- Calling program—list those not on ‘involved’ status.
- Mentor/ambassador program to adopt new members.
- Reenergize membership committee: 1) give them high visibility at convention and other events; 2) provide distinctive polo shirts, ask them to greet members at trade show, convention; and ask membership committee members to make follow-up calls, visit after staff contact.
- Press releases to industry of association developments, and copies sent to members to show what the association is doing to raise visibility, credibility of industry.
- Press releases to announce member accomplishments.
- Use mentors or hosts for each new member.
- Organize a mentoring program.
- Some groups are offering a “tour’ of membership programs.
