Generative AI for Associations – How to use ChatGPT

Sidecar recently sponsored a webinar based on the title of this post.

The following comments are my notes. This is going to get interesting when the mainstream starts playing with ChatGPT on a regular basis.

What is AI – things that computers didn’t do, traditionally it requires humans to do.  Machine learning.
 
Generative AI – creates content, conversations, think from auto pilot to co-pilot.  It can be a partner for you.
 
9 ways to use ChatGPT
 
Translate – expanding your reach.  Language translation made easy and very accessible.  It’s a way to share your content in multiple languages.  This may not relate to all but it will be for many.
 
Summarize – just ask!  Describe what you want (topics, length, etc.) and AI will give you text based on your request.  This is a great way for you to create copy for events or publications.  Obviously, you’ll want to tweak as needed (customize).  Try it, you will be fascinated by what you get.  Some will say you’ll get 85% of what you wanted from ChatGPT.
 
Transform – accessibility.  Create text from audio, a transcript of a webinar.  Or audio from text.
 
Understand – using ChatGPT to break down large blocks of content (a conversation) to a meaningful short and concise document.  It’s a summary!
 
Interact – making your content conversational for your audience.  Think a blog you create and your members can interact with that content.  A chat bot can be put on your website where they can interact with you and get information in real time.
 
Market – think about email automation and creating individual marketing pieces for your audience based on their profile with your organization.  Your newsletter could be specific to what your members want based on how they have interacted with you in the past.
 
Brainstorm – use this technology to create ideas on new things your members might want.  You could ask for some ideas based on a recent survey you have conducted.  This goes back to the ask.  Describe what you want and
 
Create – let ChatGPT create drafts for messages you want to send to your members.  Think about membership messages for your next campaign.
 
Refine – use ChatGPT to create some flair for your content (images).  These images can be helpful in telling your story moving forward.
 
Yes, this is a mind-blowing new technology that we need to stay on top of it.  Even if you don’t use it right away, be mindful of what is going on in this sector.
 
Think about how you can use this new technology to add value for your members.  Embrace it!  It’s been said that your members are going to demand it from you.
 
For more information on ChatGPT from Sidecar go HERE.

Onboarding New Members

The following post is based on a recent webinar I attended sponsored by NXUnite.

The session focused on sharing ideas for your new member onboarding process, based on seven questions they asked.

There are lots of great ideas listed below that you could implement into your onboarding process, in addition to what you're already doing.

1.  How have onboarding best practices changed over the past 5 years?
 

• More individual interactions.

• Elevating engagement – get feedback and be more intentional on finding out why the member joined.

• The process has been digitalized – hybrid, accommodate to meet your members where they are.

• Members have a voice in the organization and let them know that.

• Use the platforms your members are on to connect.

 
2.  What advice do you have for building an onboarding strategy?
 

• Membership and marketing departments should be part of the conversation on the new member experience.

• Be consistent with your messaging.

• Think about the user experience – make it easy for them to interact with you.  Again, make it easy!

• What are your value propositions?  Deliver that message with your communications plan.

• Don’t overload with too many messages/emails.  Maybe a 5 for 5 strategy?  5 emails with 5 messages in 5 weeks or months.

• Be consistent with your messaging from all parts of the organization.

• Don’t make assumptions, use data to find out what your members want and need.

 
3.  What to do when you want to update your strategy?
 

• Ask your colleagues what they are doing, you don’t have to have all the answers.

• Have you thought about having an onboarding committee?

• Ask your most active members how they became active.

• Think about the first experience your member has with your organization.

• One size does not fit all.

• Are you doing quarterly webinars for onboarding your new members?  Have some of your most active members be your speakers.

 
4.  What onboarding mistakes are people making?
 

• Not having a formal onboarding process.

• Not asking for feedback from your onboarding process.

• Don’t just talk to them but have a two-way conversation to engage your new members.

• Overloading your new members with too much information too fast.  And, not doing enough.  You need to find the right balance.

• Not having your board, staff and members make calls.

 
5.  What small changes can you do to make a big change in your onboarding process?
 

• Create an email series campaign that officially welcomes your new members.

• Ask the new members questions that you can use later for engagement.

• Describe the onboarding process to your new members and then deliver on that promise.

• Acknowledgements, let them know you appreciate them.

 
6.  People are busy, how to onboard successfully without taking up too much of their time?
 

• Make your onboarding process self-service.  Use different platforms that they can access with your messaging.

• Are you texting with your new members as a welcoming touch point?

• Be creative!

 
7.  What is the future of onboarding?
 

• Automation of the onboarding process and AI.

• Using online communities to engage with your new members.

• Make sure you are continuing to invest in resources to make the onboarding process productive – think retention!

 
Final thought - don’t be afraid to review your onboarding process.  There is no need to blow up your current processes, but you can add or delete new ideas and track how your new members are responding, on a regular basis, to get better results.
 
For more resources on onboarding go HERE.