How Associations Can Stay Relevant & In Touch

Business-as-usual isn’t going to help your association grow and prosper. Things just aren’t the same as they were even six months ago. The global pandemic just accelerated something that was already happening: it’s a digital world and the rules of member engagement for associations have changed irrevocably.

Don’t worry – enSYNC has the technology you need to support your mission, and your bottom line, today and for decades to come.

Are You the Blockbuster Video of the Association World?

Remember Blockbuster? From 1999 to 2010 they dominated the home video market. They had over 9,000 stores at their peak. Now, there’s only one. Just one. In Bend, Oregon.

The same things that took down Blockbuster threaten your organization. 

Some companies that rented movies saw the writing on the wall and evolved: Netflix went from renting videos to a multi-billion dollar streaming company, while still offering DVDs for those who aren’t able to stream content.

And what about Redbox? They offer DVDs at kiosks, but they also offer a streaming service called Redbox On Demand. 

People get what they want, what’s relevant for them when they want it.

It’s obvious, just from these three examples (and there are many more) that you can’t keep doing things the same way just because “that’s the way you’ve always done it”. Member engagement for association strategies must be nimble and must respond to the current market conditions.

How learningSYNC Can Help Move You into the Now and Secure Your Future

It’s not too late, but it’s important to act quickly. In today’s world, it’s all about data and using it to foster long-term relationships and engagement, mostly through mobile. 

Take Analytics from Your Virtual Event into Your AMS Through learningSYNC

You’re holding virtual events now because of a global pandemic, and that is probably the “new normal.” Are you wasting a valuable opportunity to gather data about your members and your event offerings? Did you know that you can gather important engagement data during events? This data includes:

• Which members are talking to whom during the online event?
• Which courses are members taking?
• Which speaker sessions are being left before they’re finished?

You can take your data, gathered by learningSYNC, and analyze it via missionSYNC or another AMS, then take it right into memberSYNC to better serve your members the way they want to be served, with the content that they want and need.

It Should Never be “One-and-Done.” Don’t Make Yourself Easy to Forget.

So members attended your online event. What now? What can you do to keep current members engaged year-round, keep them, and attract new, younger members to improve not only your offerings but your entire organization? Oh, and of course, your bottom line.

Instead of one large event, think about a number of smaller events, spread throughout the year.

You’re used to having one big event a year with a big push that brings in the money. But what happens then? And what do you really know about your attendees? You might have a survey, but that doesn’t give you all the information you need to keep them engaged and happy, and to ensure renewing members or to attract new members.

By collecting data, you’ll inform your future events – whether online or in-person – to attract current members, who will then message their friends and co-workers during the event, who will be so engaged that they’ll attend your next event and the next one… You can see where this is going – and those word-of-mouth new members are more valuable than gold. 

You Need a New Business Model

It’s a reality. Your current members aren’t going to be here forever. To attract the new, younger members you need, you must change the way you think about attracting members and increasing engagement.

You must stay relevant to your members, and data is the only way you're going to do it.

We know it can be difficult, but your mission’s future depends on you using the technology that supports it, and at enSYNC, we’re more than tech support. We’re mission support, and we’re here to help you conquer any challenge. Here are some quick ideas to get you started:

• Try a hybrid approach. Host some events in-person and others online. Be sure to publicize the online events, and send regular, scheduled emails reminding members of the events and teasing the content to keep them engaged.
• Create an online portal where members can view past events. Be sure to have a way that they can engage and share with other members, and collect even more data.
• Move more learning online. Be sure to make it an engaging experience.
  

Don’t Be Like Blockbuster

We’d hate to search for you online only to find that you have six members left, your advocacy voice has been silenced and you’re shutting down.

You must stay relevant to your members, and data is the only way you’re going to do it. We know you need help, and we’re happy to give it.

Through our innovative custom software solutions, we help nonprofits and associations keep you and your members in SYNC. Reach out now. Before it’s too late.