Presented at the Florida Magazine Association Conference about how those of us in association publishing can deliver content that connects with our members.
According to Marketing General’s 2014 Membership Marketing Benchmarking Report,
Word-of-mouth recommendations are the most effective marketing channels for acquiring new members in trade and individual member associations.
A total of 865 association executives completed the entire survey.
When asked about the reasons why association executives thought the top reasons members joined their association, “access to specialized and/or current information” was the number 2 choice. Number 1 was networking with others in their field.
If your readers keep your printed materials, such as newsletters, consider sending them out on 3 hole punch so that the reader can archive them.
Position the association as the proactive contributor to the community, rather than the reactive responder to controversies.
Kim is an earnest, hard working consultant from Virginia. She recently started her own business after more than two decades in association publishing. Between growing her business, Kim juggles her own professional development and managing a household that includes a husband who is a serial entrepreneur, two teenagers and an Airdale Terrier. Despite all of her technical online interest, she still prefers to read your magazine in print, then share the articles she likes on social media through her iPad. She is extremely active on social media including Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instragram and Google+. She is also a member of Association Media & Publishing and ASAE and the Center for Association Leadership. And, if there ever is a zombie apocalypse, she has her go back packed and is not leaving the dog behind.