membership retention

As an association leader, you’ve likely discovered that the road to success will have some bumps along the way. Your final destination? Growing your membership community and providing a robust experience for your members! In this week’s episode, I am discussing the three roadblocks that organizations commonly encounter that can take you down a path toward disengagement and membership decline. I am also going to share how you can navigate past these barriers with caution to create a powerful and lasting legacy for your association’s future. 

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We are celebrating twenty years of business this month! Over the past two decades, I’ve discovered what makes membership organizations thrive - and struggle to survive. In this week’s episode, I discuss how you can effectively combat membership decline by cultivating a sense of community amongst your members. “Equity,” “diversity,” and “inclusion” have become buzzwords in the association world, but belonging is an important fourth that often gets overlooked. I’ve got the tips and tricks to inspire your members, leaving them feeling engaged, welcomed, and valued in your membership community. 

Visit us at sarahsladek.com

Negativity can drain the energy from almost any environment, and your association is no exception! As a leader, the attitude you model is reflected in your organization. In this week’s episode, we discuss the role positivity plays in making your association more attractive to prospective members. If it’s time to build momentum within your organization, I’ve got the tools to get you started. 

Visit us at sarahsladek.com

From a young age, we’ve had nursery rhymes memorized that we pass down to younger generations. As the leader of an organization, I want you to commit this acronym to memory: EIOU! I developed this initialism to help associations attract, retain, and engage their members. In this week’s episode of the Membership IQ, we discuss how the EIOU tool can support your organization’s efforts to drive meaningful change and bolster your member-focused mission. 

Visit us at sarahsladek.com

Millennials (also known as Generation Y) are the largest and most-researched generation in history…as well as the most criticized. Unfortunately, research shows that age discrimination is alive and well in the workplace and membership organizations. Many fail to realize that Millennials (and eventually Gen Z!) are the lifeblood of your organization that will carry it into the future. This week’s episode discusses how your association can make room at the table for NextGen members and create a community where inclusion and belonging are the status quo. 

Visit us at sarahsladek.com

To stay on a forward trajectory, you’ve got to look ahead! The past can teach us valuable lessons, but with dated membership approaches, you risk becoming irrelevant to current and prospective members. To keep your member base engaged (and your organization growing!), your association needs to stay ahead of the curve and on top of the latest industry trends. It’s time to modernize by leaving the past behind and shifting your focus towards what’s on the horizon!

Visit us at sarahsladek.com

Your organization might find itself with little flexibility when it comes to leadership, members, and initiatives. It’s time for leadership to bend their approach and start stretching! In this week’s episode, we look at how a carefully curated board of directors can boost productivity and profitability, resulting in a more engaged (and involved!) membership. Tune in!

Visit us at sarahsladek.com

Every week, it seems as though a newer, faster phone comes onto the market, with the promise of exclusive features and access to more information. You may not realize it, but this tiny piece of technology and your association share more in common than you may think. In this week’s episode of the Membership IQ, we dial into your membership mission and look at how a future-focused, member-centric model can lead to a more engaged membership community, keeping your association one step ahead of the rest.   

Visit us at sarahsladek.com

What drives people to join organizations? You may think it’s the perks you offer or the networking and programming opportunities you provide, but don’t be fooled by those illusions! Rather, members will join your organization because they genuinely believe you’ve got the magic to solve their problems. To be effective in today’s rapidly changing world, you need to understand the way to your member’s hearts. This week’s episode of the Membership IQ explores the relationship between workforce and membership decline and how you can remedy it - no magic tricks necessary!

Visit us at sarahsladek.com

An organization is as good as its value proposition. What kind of value are you offering your members? Do they leave the table feeling like they have been dealt a good hand? It’s time organizations assess the changes that need to be made and strategize to turn the odds in their - and their members - favor. Tune in to this week’s episode as we discuss how your organization can make your members feel like a valuable part of the deal!

Visit us at sarahsladek.com

A great recipe is one that uses quality ingredients, made with special care and attention, and loved by all who try it. The culture within your organization isn’t much different from that amazing dish that draws everyone to the table. What many associations don’t realize is that a great strategic plan is no match for negative culture, hence the saying “culture eats strategy for breakfast.” In this week’s episode, we take a look at how the right combination of ingredients can foster truly great culture within your association, leaving your members energized and craving more of what your organization has to offer!

Visit us at sarahsladek.com

In this episode, we explore the notion of finding your niche - and how it can positively impact your membership growth potential. Most of us can relate to the practice of trying to tackle too many things at once - and therefore accomplishing nothing at all! If your organization is trying to be everything to everyone, it's hard to focus on that ONE thing you do better than everyone else. We live in a time when meaningful interactions and experiences matter - and people are joining organizations that provide those very services. Let’s count your organization among those who not only find their niche but excel at it! 

Visit us at savetheassociations.com 

It is normal for chambers to want to know how other chambers are doing in terms of membership and retention especially during these unprecedented times. Dave Kilby, president of W.A.C.E., shares data from a recent opinion poll and discusses why the data is so hard to pin down. With many chambers holding off on dropping past due members and adding large numbers of potential members to their databases pinpointing exact numbers of dues paying members can be tricky. What we do know is over the last year chambers have shown their value and as we approach the light at the end of the COVID tunnel it is time for chambers to unapologetically and consistently tell their story, communicate value and make the ask for membership. 

The pandemic has brought membership challenges that the chamber industry did not see coming. Retention and recruitment weaknesses have been magnified making evident the need to re-evaluate strategies and practices. Is your chamber relevant? Do your members know your value? How do you tell your story? Dave Kilby, president of W.A.C.E., discusses the questions we need to ask ourselves to evaluate and improve how we communicate our value and ensure our chambers are 3C problem solving chambers that excel in the solutions business.