The constant chase for more has driven us to such elevated levels of stress and anxiety that it’s becoming the stuff of global studies.
Gallup’s State of the Global Workforce: 2023 Report has this to say about stress:
As an association professional, you understand the value of a strong website design. A well-designed website can help you attract new members, retain existing members, and firmly establish your brand identity online so you can build credibility for your organization.
To grow your association, you’ll need new tools, dedicated staff, and a reliable membership base. This last element is especially important, as a key part of expanding your organization is maintaining and engaging the members you have. After all, new members are far more likely to be interested in joining and staying with associations that have a lively community they can participate in.
Finding new ways to engage your members is part of maintaining your association’s long-term health. Providing new content and opportunities demonstrates your organization’s value, influencing members to renew their memberships and even recommend your association to friends, family, and colleagues.
In one of the largest studies of burnout in history, Gallup found that 60% of people are detached at work, and 19% are miserable.
And that emotional detachment comes with a price tag. Low engagement costs the global economy US$7.8 TRILLION and accounts for 11% of global GDP (Gallup, 2022). The study further found that workers in the United States are some of the most stressed out in the world.
Connecting with all of your members online is key for maintaining an active and engaged audience. Although your association holds meaningful in-person events throughout the year, for most organizations, the bulk of communication with members will take place online.
A comprehensive digital strategy not only helps you attract new members but retain and connect with your current base, strengthening their ties to your association. Building out a new digital strategy requires time and resources, but it will make up the return on investment in long-term support, new connections, and an overall increased value for your membership program.
Digital inclusivity has increasingly become a priority for associations, nonprofits, and other membership-based organizations.
Digital inclusivity means every aspect of your online strategy, from your website to your social media and email marketing campaigns, is accessible to all of your audience members. This also means reflecting their lived experiences, which are the knowledge and perspectives a person has gained throughout their lives that affect their choices and actions.
After sitting through so many virtual meetings, chances are your association members are thrilled to get back to in-person events and fundraisers. A silent auction is a great way to get back into the swing of things. Silent auctions have the potential to garner tons of revenue and generate excitement with members.
Your association exists because of the many members who engage with and contribute to the organization. However, the pandemic led to a decrease in membership and member engagement for many associations.
Just as there are a number of reasons behind this decline, there are also multiple strategies that your organization can use to reverse the trend. For example, you may have created new networking opportunities and hosted additional events, all with the goal of recruiting new members and retaining your current ones.
Fundraising events are a fun and exciting way to bring in extra funds for your association. These events give your members and supporters the chance to get together for a good cause. Not only do fundraisers expand your association’s budget, but they can also boost member engagement.
The COVID-19 pandemic might have caused virtual board meetings to be a necessity for a time, but by now, your organization has likely caught on to the various other benefits of virtual gatherings.
Did you know that approximately 4.5 billion individuals (the majority of the world’s population) are active social media users? While it’s easy to dismiss TikTok, Instagram, and other platforms as little more than digital playgrounds for people to kill time, the fact of the matter is that social media has become an incredibly powerful outlet for individuals and organizations alike to market themselves, share content, and connect with new audiences.
If your association hasn’t done so already, now is the time to take a deeper look at your organization’s social media strategies and consider how you can make the most of these versatile online tools.
Trade Associations/Business Leagues – Lobbying Activities and its Reporting Requirements
Trade associations and business leagues that are tax-exempt under Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)(6) are allowed unlimited lobbying.. In fact, many of these organizations have a significant amount of legislative and executive advocacy activities and expenditures. However, trade associates and business leagues must follow certain IRS rules and regulations.
If the thought of giving a speech or presentation in front of a crowd or group makes you break out in a cold sweat, you aren’t alone. 75% of adults express a fear of public speaking.
Public speaking is a skill, and just like any skill, you can’t become an expert overnight. It takes planning and practice to make your presentations and speeches more engaging and impactful.
Events that bring your association’s community together are a great way to bring your members together in an engaging and memorable way. Often, these events become recurring annual activities, giving your members something to look forward to every year, even during challenging times.
The ability to adapt to an ever-changing business landscape is crucial for associations. If you’re struggling to grow your business (or even seeing a decrease in membership), here are a few tools that can help:
Association Management Software
Over the past two years, associations have had to overcome new challenges to keep their members both safe and engaged. While many associations have encountered difficulties such as decreased memberships, there have also been just as many creative solutions to help counter these problems. One of these solutions is online waivers.
Waivers may already be part of your association’s event planning process. However, online waivers are an even more convenient option, providing the same benefits as traditional paper waivers while offering their own unique positives.
