Secrets to Building and Keeping A Strong Membership

Updated: Mar. 29, 2024  |  Categories: Member Communications, Membership  

The more members you have, the stronger your organization. There is strength in numbers: increased opportunities for holding great events, more occasions for networking, and a sense of financial stability for the organization.

But, It Is More Than Just Numbers.

Managing members becomes the key to successful planning. Knowing who has paid their dues, who has been active, and who has been in communication with your association gives you the opportunity to stay up to date with your chapter’s membership.

Now may be the perfect time to survey members and ask them what they want for the year (StarChapter customers have this tool built-in their software), as it can provide the perfect opening for reaching out via email or the chapter’s website. By providing this opportunity for current members to speak out formally, they will remain active, be more open to participate informally, and might refer potential new members. For further information on how to survey your members, click here.

Raising the Numbers Means New Members.

Your chapter website is a channel to communicate with both current and potential members. Build it up to attract new membership. Provide a free newsletter for both members and non-members alike that can be sent out each month. Users of StarChapter can easily set up email groups to send the newsletters to. This information is pulled out using the membership database so you know the status of your recipient lists.

Using StarChapter, you will be able to track prospective members who expressed interest by signing up for newsletter. Contact them in an attempt to motivate them into becoming a member. Maybe create specials to entice them to try out membership for a year, with no obligation to continue after the year ends. 

If You Attract Them, Will They Stay?  

Building up your membership is difficult, as is keeping members happy. Cultivating the relationships between members raises the reputation of your association and proves that the local chapter is an effective platform in the region for like-minded people of the same industry or profession.

Board leadership should lead by example, working together in a manner that encourages members to remain active. Two intersected factors are essential to maintain membership:

1. We all know that in life and business, who you know often trumps what you know. By providing a setting for connecting with other members, your association chapter will foster good tidings between members and thus create opportunity for success through networking.
2. Providing useful educational materials. Yes, knowing the right people opens the door, but staying current with the fundamental knowledge needed to do the work is what keeps you there. Offering various methods for members to refresh or to learn and other CE programs can help them reach the next level and in turn boost membership value.

Ultimately, every association seeks to grow its membership count. Remember that no one wants to feel like a number, so utilize those membership management tools to keep track and guide your decisions as chapter leaders. In this way, you can build, retain, and enhance membership value.

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