Category - Membership

_­­­_­­­Certain times in our past are filled with fond memories that we always connect with positive thoughts and feelings.  That feeling of nostalgia has a powerful influence over many people as they recall a pleasant time without any recollection of negative emotions.  When members feel nostalgic, that sets the stage for a stronger relationship to form with your association since they connect good memories with your membership.  Nostalgia also leads to better engagement and increased attention as members are more likely to share a story of their own.

 

 

Membership organizations have a goal of keeping their audience attentive by providing the best platform possible through membership management software.  When using nostalgia, take into consideration the age of your members and how long they have been members or it may not resonate with them.  Share a nostalgic image on social media that represents a special time for your organization and ask a question that intrigues the audience.

 

Additionally, post nostalgic quizzes once in a while that appeal to the demographic of your audience as they trigger interaction and sharing.  Secondly, use themes that integrate a nostalgic feel for a limited offer or an exclusive membership.  As a result, this creates an environment for people to have positive emotions and you secure the attention of your members.  Has membership management software revealed what features members prefer?

 

 

Nostalgic images and quizzes help engage an audience but fresh content is an influential factor that gives people an incentive to stay connected.  Frequently upload blog posts to retain the attention of your audience and integrate nostalgia into the posts.  Use concepts that mention a turning point or anniversary as members are compelled to remain engaged when they have experienced the event.  Keep in mind the preferences of your audience before introducing nostalgic ways to ensure the results are successful!

Online communities are a vital element of membership websites as they provide valuable content and boost member satisfaction.  The connection between members and the online community helps most businesses thrive as people become more engaged.  An important variable to branding any organization is customizing the club membership software to ensure that customers are content with the online community.  Fortunately, statistics offer some insight on how an online community positively impacts the type of relationship you have with customers.

 

 

Most customers think the decision to purchase a product or service is the result of analyzing and comparing what else is available.  In reality, emotions play a large role in our decision to choose a product or service of a specific brand.  Research suggests that nearly 70% of people are driven by emotion when making a purchase.  Build an online community that makes customers feel like they’re a priority to establish an emotional connection.

 

Typically, that emotional connection happens when customers feel positive towards your brand and it shows through engagement.  One statistic that indicates how much customers value the online community revolves around authentic content.  Particularly, authentic content from people who support and choose your brand as 80% say that plays an influential factor in their decision.  Prospects and customers have a tendency to believe the opinion of others since they think their thoughts are unbiased.

 

 

The online community makes it significantly easier for organizations to build great relationships with customers and maintain a high level of customer satisfaction.  Through a variety of discussions, communication is improved which essentially leads to a better experience for everyone.  The online community and club membership software inspire constant engagement and boost customer relationships.  As a result, issues are avoided and customers remain loyal to your products or services.

An important element of any marketing strategy is to effectively brand your association using color that appeals to your target audience.  Color makes a significant impact on the way people perceive your products or services.  Even on membership websites, color plays a role on influencing members to stay engaged and visitors to take a certain action.  Not everyone has the same preference so it can be a challenge to determine which color choices will brand your association the way you want.

 

 

The audience you want to attract to your organization should always be considered when making color choices.  Color influences how visitors and members perceive your brand so choose colors that are appropriate for your intended audience.  Orange, red, and yellow are known as warm colors and they are meant to bring energy.  Implement colors like this if you think your audience will have a positive reaction to it and you want your brand to convey this personality.

 

Alternatively, blue, green, and purple are known as cool colors and they are meant to have a calming effect.  One of the most common colors used is blue as many people perceive it as soothing, professional, and reassuring.  Additionally, take into account what color the competition in your market is using to brand their organization.  If other organizations use blue, choose a distinct color or different shade of blue that might make your organization easily recognizable.

 

 

The shading of any color shifts the effect it has on branding an association.  For example, brighter shades of blue represent energy and lighter shades are perceived as peaceful.  Organizations with a focus on one gender should use colors that appeal to that gender.  Studies show that purple is the second most liked color by women while it’s the second most disliked color by men.  Membership websites that have great conversion rates understand the connection between color and the preference of their audience.

Trends with membership organizations are continuously changing and this year is no different.  Technology brings about many changes whether it involves marketing automation or software improvements that lead to a better experience for members.  Users that join club websites or already belong to one can expect current features to improve and new features to be implemented.  What expectations should your members have for the rest of the year?

 

 

Most members have a short tolerance for club websites that are slow to load.  Advancements in membership management software and faster internet speeds will likely ensure their experience is top priority.  With a greater focus on members, one prediction is that membership organizations implement a superior website design to make a lasting first impression.

 

For 2017, one trend is for a website design to include easy to use features that provide immediate value so members’ expectations are consistently met.  Another area in membership organizations where enhancements are predicted to take place is how members are able to view data.  At times, data might be difficult to understand when viewing it in tables.

 

Through graphs and infographics, members get a visualization of the data which makes the information more user-friendly.  As a result, members get a clearer understanding of data and the advantages associated with transforming data into visual forms.  What trend should every association make a priority this year to engage more members?

 

 

An obvious prediction for membership organizations is to connect with all current and prospective members but do it in a personalized way.  People have different preferences so reach out to them as an individual by using data collected through the online community.  In 2017, provide members with customized content as it is vital towards keeping them engaged and gaining their loyalty in your association.

Membership organizations thrive when they attract new members and keep current members renewing their memberships.  A key for renewals is to always have a membership website that offers many benefits to members through association management software.  Current members that renew their memberships year after year are a valuable component to the association.  How can you inspire members to remain loyal and renew memberships so your association flourishes?

 

 

The first tip for any association to encourage membership renewals is to always make members a top priority.  This means providing them with excellent services, advice, and support in your industry.  Focus on giving members the best value for their money.  Otherwise, they may be tempted to join some other membership community.

 

Secondly, deliver on any benefits that members are informed about when they join but do so in an organized way.  Not only does this show your association is a quality organization but it proves that members can count on you in the future.  In order to increase renewals, consider targeting members weeks in advance with a reminder schedule so they are well aware of the renewal date.

 

Another tip that convinces members to renew is when you communicate with them on a regular basis which meets or exceeds their expectations.  Identify the communication modes that your members prefer and use the association management software to gain an edge over the competition.  What strategy works best to retain members?

 

 

Not all membership associations have the same goals or the same type of members so consider that when planning your strategy.  Increase the number of members who renew by offering members some incentive to renew early or an option to automatically renew each year.  These tips ensure members know they are a priority and feel inspired to remain with your association!

The task of retaining members when new organizations attempt to distract your targeted audience is one struggle regarding membership websites.  On occasion, competitors use membership management software or an online community with superior members that share similar viewpoints and goals.  Potential members want to be part of an online community that provides value and benefits them in the long run.  What is it about your online community that competitors will dislike the most?

 

 

The intention behind an online community is to create a place where members can connect with one another and your organization.  Through there, they are able to share their viewpoints and learn more about your organization.  Often, members develop a connection for your association and decline offers from other associations as they have a strong preference for your brand.

 

Members of your online community expect to gain additional knowledge about your brand over non-members.  Inform them first about new features or services to ensure they don’t switch to a competitors association.  Longtime members are also a great resource when making decisions on what to give customers in the future.  Current members who follow your brand may offer unexpected insight what future members want.  Have you asked them what they prefer?

 

 

An online community is a huge advantage for associations that want to measure what features and content get the most attention or interaction.  Decide what to expand on by tracking what members engage with and adapt the membership management software to fit their needs.

 

Competition continues to grow today and an online community that benefits members gives your association an advantage against competitors.  Focus on providing members and prospects with a platform that makes them feel important.  It might be challenging but you can build an online community of loyal members by providing features and content that other communities don’t.

The task of redesigning your membership website involves taking many factors into account.  The process may take a while depending on the club membership software and the layout of your current website.  Before starting a redesign, evaluate what kind of impact the redesign will have on the growth of your association and the satisfaction of members.  What should members expect through this transition and afterwards?

 

 

The first step is to figure out why the website needs redesigned and develop a strategy so the website successfully reaches the goals you have in mind.  Without goals, the redesign might be unsuccessful which could frustrate members and cause them to cancel their membership.  Always define goals for a website redesign so you know the extent of the changes and inform members the disruption they might experience.

 

Traffic comes from a variety of sources which includes organic search, social media, referrals, and people that directly type the web address in.  Often, organic searches are where most of the traffic comes from as people use Google or other search engines.  When redesigning, verify current keywords are effective and add or remove keywords to change what you rank for in search engines.

 

During a website redesign, many aspects of your current website will likely be transferred to your new website.  Carefully choose the content you filter out though as SEO could be negatively affected if you remove too much.  What other factor should you consider prior to a redesign venture?

 

 

Aside from club membership software, budget and duration are a key factor for any redesign project.  Verify the cost and allotted time to complete the project is thoroughly contemplated on by taking into account every aspect of the website.  Once the redesign process starts, make sure the project is completed or have a backup plan in place to satisfy members.

Today, many membership websites are available that offer people an opportunity to boost their knowledge and network with others who have similar interests.  The decision to choose which one benefits you the most is generally a matter of which website has the best software and if the members share helpful ideas.  How do you choose which membership website is right for you?

 

 

A variety of membership websites are free while others charge users a fee in order for them to join.  An important factor when joining either one is to consider if fellow members pursue the same goals as you.  On a free membership website, access usually requires a user to register with an email address.

 

After that, a user chooses a login name and password to connect with other members where they can join discussions or enter data.  Entry level membership may be granted for free, but members are only allowed limited access.  To gain full access on some membership websites, payment may be required but higher levels of features and services are available as a result.

 

The easiest way to discover a website that meets your needs is to type in the particular field on a search engine followed by “membership website”.  The most established websites will be at the top of the search results and likely charge a membership fee.

 

 

Both types of membership websites offer a variety of benefits that allow an individual to gain more knowledge.  Often, free websites have an online community for members to communicate with one another and share information.  The information may not be unique but it provides members a level of support from individuals with similar opinions.  On paid websites, expect valuable information on a consistent basis as experienced members provide detailed advice.  Before you choose, research the benefits of each one to ensure you join a quality membership website where you can gain knowledge and save time.

Many variations exist between club websites but all of them aim to convert visitors into members.  In order for that to happen, certain methods and tactics should be implemented to convince a visitor they are making the right choice to be a member on your website.  Visitors have a specific objective in mind when they come to your page but what is essential for conversions?

 

 

One factor that plays a key role in getting more members is directing targeted traffic to your website.  Club websites may have a great design but have low conversion rates if they only get traffic from sources that are untargeted.  Apply tactics that direct targeted traffic to your website so you improve the chance a visitor will sign up to be a member.

 

Periodically refine your methods of directing traffic you want to meet the needs of visitors and improve conversion rates.  The next step is to make your targeted traffic a valuable offer that is realistic so they are compelled to choose your website over other club websites.

 

If one offer gets few results, make an adjustment until you implement an offer they can’t refuse.  It should improve their life in some way whether they spend less time entering data or provide them with fast support.  What other components are essential to gain the confidence of visitors?

 

 

The decision to choose which offer visitors find the most beneficial may be difficult.  Often, it helps to split test pages as a minor change can greatly influence converting a visitor into a member.  Also, try implementing a simple survey for visitors and members to complete so they can submit their feedback.  If they encounter any trouble, make it possible for them to easily contact you so changes may be integrated to resolve those issues!

The variation between membership websites usually comes down to a few key factors.  Most people join in search of information that provides value they can apply to their life and benefit in some way.  For new members, this means connecting with seasoned members that share similar goals who have experience and offer expert advice.  The combination of expert advice and superior association management software attracts new members on a steady basis.  Has software simplified your experience on the membership website?

 

 

Membership websites tend to grow over time and accumulate members without improving any of the processes.  Great membership websites implement association management software that streamlines each process so a member goes through fewer steps.  By streamlining, processes and tasks in an organization are easier by employing more productive methods.

 

In turn, the organization is more efficient and effective at handling workflows as steps are eliminated which saves time for members.  Software that streamlines processes also improves reliability and increases the number of entries the website is able to handle.  Typically, fewer steps result in a less tedious process of entering information that allows members to handle additional workflows.

 

 

Association management software benefits members whether it means customizing your profile or viewing the accounting details.  Processes are automated so invoices, payments, deposits, and products are included in necessary reports.  As a result, each entry stays in sync with the system which streamlines transactions and gives members a simplified experience.

 

Membership websites excel when they improve the productivity of members by freeing up time through more efficient software solutions.  Members can utilize this time to take advantage of other opportunities such as choosing privacy options in the online directory.  Often, software solving solutions provide members with a positive experience as they enjoy using the membership website despite their technical skills.