This past year and a half has given associations some time to slow down and focus on getting their organization in tip-top shape. Now your board might be looking to grow membership with your new and improved processes. We’ve put together a few ideas to get you started!
1. Host a free or public event. If your webinars or conference are reserved for members-only, reserve a time to open up some content to non-members. This can either focus on industry-specific content or a sales pitch on why guests should become a member of your organization.
2. Have members bring a friend. The easiest way to bring in new members is through your current members. If you host an event that is open to the public, let your current members know and encourage them to bring a friend. They are likely to have other connections in the industry and will allow the guests to feel more comfortable in the new setting.
3. Incentivize your members to refer new members. Providing members with a reason to refer new members to your organization will only increase their odds of doing so. Offer discounts, prizes, or a competition to light a fire under them when it comes to recruitment.
4. Offer a trial membership. Depending on the cost of your organization’s membership, some might be hesitant to take the leap and become members. People are accustomed to being able to try things out now. Offer members a month or 3-month trial of membership. You can either have this automatically turn into a paid membership or just have them lose the benefits once the time period has ended.
5. Partner with other industry partners. Get your organization’s name out there amongst people within your industry. Find a contact at the organization you’d like to partner with, have a conversation, and see what you can both do to benefit each other.
Try these easy-to-implement ideas with your association and let us know how they go! Not yet partnered with Impact? Fill out an RFP here to get started growing your association even further.