Whether you believe it or not – chapters can play a key role in membership and revenue growth for your association. But how do you get there? How do you set your chapters up for success? How can you support them?
We cover how…
- You can leverage chapters as a channel to reach new audiences.
- You can tap into (and boost) chapters unique ability to provide community and optimize the member experience.
- You can leverage chapter experiences to drive community influencers.
We dive into how you can lead, support and measure these initiatives. The results will be a stronger channel and your chapter network will be aligned to association membership goals.
#LeverageChapters
#GotChapters
2. Got chapters? We’ve got solutions. Billhighway gives your
chapters the tools to automate and simplify operations while
creating data visibility across your entire organization. This
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value and grow your association.
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Billhighway & Mariner
Mariner Management & Marketing is your partner in helping
association volunteers and staff create the greatest possible
value for your members and in ensuring the long term
health and growth of your association.
3. Our Shared Purpose
To build community and connect
component-based organizations and
component relations professionals (CRPs).
8. Reach New Audiences: Components offer access
to non-members, local-only members & members
By Leveraging Chapters
in Membership Efforts
You Can…
Capture Local Stories: Opportunity to highlight
the local angle and local impact of national topics
Provide Community: Expand your ability to connect
members together
And Ultimately Grow!
9. Recruitment/Sales: How are
you using your chapters as a
channel to recruit members?
Engagement: How can you
use your chapters as effective
drivers of local engagement?
Retention: How are your
chapters assisting in the
efforts to retain members?
Key Questions
01 02 03
10. Hybrid with Individual &
Organizational Membership
Separately Incorporated Chapters
US-Based
National Association
of Community
Development
Contingent v. Non-contingent
11. Question
When you think about recruitment, engagement &
renewals…what do you MOST want to focus on?
15. How have others
hacked it?
Incentives01
02
03
04
05
National Campaign – Local Value
National Campaign Pilot with Chapters
Empower Local Campaigns
Package National-Chapter Membership
16. Cash & prize incentives for top
recruiting members – National
Engaging members in call-a-thon
– Chapter
All expenses paid trip to trade
show –Chapter
#1 NAHB Incentives
18. Goal: reach young people
Piloted with 2 chapters
#3 AOA Campaign
Pilot
Test drove all aspects of campaign
Conversion rate 11%, +3%
19. 5 years ago chapter membership
dropped
Offered member rate & future
member rate
#4 APWA Chapter Campaign
Started with their conference
Brought in 50 new members
Invited them to education
sessions, etc.
20. American Nurses Association –
chapter opt-in
Association for Talent Development
Power Membership
#5 Package National-
Chapter Membership
American Library Association –
chapter opt-in
GBTA All Access Membership
22. HowtoHackIt Set Yourself Up For Success
Reimagine resources for your chapters (try new formats)
Train them how to use it (include who, what, where & when)
Help create audience specific copy (give them tools)
36. How have others
hacked it?
By Being a True Education Partner01
02
03
04
05
Social Media Campaigns
New Member & Targeted Member Events
Student Challenge
A Message from the Chapter
37. Direct correlation between training &
member retention
Help chapters understand local
educational needs
Support education programming
#1 NATP Chapter
Training for Members
38. The #fitnursefriday goal: increase
participation in fitness
Aligned with ANA’s “grand challenge”
Healthy Nurse, Healthy Nation
#2 #FitNurseFriday5K
Campaign
Power move: engage state
associations
In 2017, 42% of virtual 5k
participants were non-members
39. #2 ASLA Chapters
Instagram Takeover
ASLA’s goal: celebrate member’s work &
profession
Power move: Tap chapters for local stories;
engage members
49 chapters each took over ASLA’s
Instagram feed for a day
Win-Win: boosted national-chapter
relationship, boosted chapter-member
engagement, grew Instagram followers 10%
40. Kansas City NARI chapter
hosts new member mingles
#3 NARI New
Member Mingle
New members network in small
group setting
Each attendee receives discount
coupons for Educational
programming, Events &
Membership Renewal
42. NY Society developed a research
challenge for college students;
Global scaled it
#4 Student Challenge
Engage members at early, critical
age
Bonus: Creates ad-hoc volunteer
opportunities
Bonus: Prepping students with
real-world learning
43. #5 AADE New Member
Welcome
Built in an email from the
chapter president
Added quick links including one
to state page
Tied to a New Member
Welcome tool-kit
45. HowtoHackIt Set Yourself Up For Success
Don’t go all in! Pilot programs with certain chapters
first – fix the bugs, then roll it out nationally
Give your chapter leaders new engagement ideas or
crowd source them from more innovative chapters
Look at your own member engagement strategy
– where do your chapters fit in?
46. 1. What are the
engagement
opportunities?
2. What are the
challenges/obstacles?
3. What could be the
desired outcome?
Set the Course (5 min)
47. 1. What can we do to
take action on these
opportunities?
2. What other angles
can we think of?
Idea-Storming (10 min)
48. 1. Did we answer the question?
2. Does this solve the initial
challenge?
Check-In (3 min)
55. Add chapter to messaging
Add signature
#2 Invoice Messaging
Ask chapters to send targeted
emails, postcards, calls
56. Matched BOD with members on
expired list
#3 MRN Outreach Calls
Friendly check-in call
Netted intel on members (clean up
data); BOD useful feedback; soft
reminder
58. HowtoHackIt Set Yourself Up For Success
Look at your retention cycle, where do your chapters fit in?
Don’t have chapters make expired phone calls—it’s too late!
Make sure to use your chapters as one of your
touchpoints/reminders
59. 1. What are the retention
opportunities?
2. What are the
challenges/obstacles?
3. What could be the
desired outcome?
Set the Course (5 min)
60. 1. What can we do to
take action on these
opportunities?
2. What other angles
can we think of?
Idea-Storming (10 min)
61. 1. Did we answer the question?
2. Does this solve the initial
challenge?
Check-In (3 min)
66. October 18th
Friday, October 18th, 2019
7:30 AM - 4:30 PM EDT
Happy Hour to Follow
Grand Hyatt
Washington
1000 H St. NW
Washington, DC 20001
$199 Pricing
$199 Early Bird Pricing
$249 Sleepy Bird Pricing
www.leveragechapters.com
@Charlotte
Whether you believe it or not – chapters can play a key role in membership and revenue growth for your association. But how do you get there? How do you set your chapters up for success? How can you support them?
We’ll cover how…
You can leverage chapters as a channel to reach new audiences.
You can tap into (and boost) chapters unique ability to provide community and optimize the member experience.
You can leverage chapter experiences to drive community influencers.
We’ll dive into how you can lead, support and measure these initiatives. The results will be a stronger channel and your chapter network will be aligned to association membership goals.
@Peggy
Share our purpose in putting events like these on between BH & Mariner
Give them our WHY
@Peggy
What’s the greatest strength of your chapters?
What’s your spirit animal & why?
@Charlotte
@Peter
Define Your Goal For Today
“Why are you here” open question, capture responses on flip chart
@Peter
@Charlotte
Remove Silos – Think of all the non-members (and members) your message may not be reaching in each metro area or chapter location? It’s like starting a movement (reference the dancing video from TED Talk). It also breaks down silos in your own association because the more collaborative they can be and realize how chapters may be able to help them accomplish their goals.
Local Storytelling – People love seeing people they know, or stories they can relate to. Going local is a great way to do that. Think of all the stories out there and how much chapters may be able to broaden the reach.
86% of respondents said that chapter/local peer networking is their primary reason for belonging to FEI
@Charlotte
@Paige - Update images
@Peggy/Peter
Move into groups based on Contingent (must join both) v non-contingent
@Peggy
@Peggy
Today we’re going to break down membership growth into 3 components:
Recruitment
Engagement
Renewals
@Peggy
@Peggy intro 5 stories to share
Incentives – NAHB @CharlotteAdd Chapters to National Promo – PRSA @Peggy Pilot AOA @Peggy
Empower Local Campaigns –APWA @PeggyPackage National-Chapter Membership @Peter
@Charlotte
NAHB Incentive Example
https://associationsnow.com/2018/10/membership-hack-recruitment-competition-chapters/
Great for super competitive members or industry.
Need to understand what they value (it might be more than just money!)
Key Takeaways for Incentive Programs
Incentives can be effective, when leveraged appropriately
Understand what motivates chapter leaders and members
Word of mouth is powerful, provide ideas on how to leverage
Things to watch out for:
Packaging conference registration with membership = low retention
Can drive non-qualified members to register who then drop
Membership drive – make sure there are scalable processes for onboarding in place to minimize poor experiences.
@Peggy
If you join, you get your chapter members & initiation fee waived – People love to tell their peers
@Peggy
https://associationsnow.com/2019/07/test-drive-next-member-recruitment-campaign/
American Optometric Association, a piloted approach with chapters pointed the way to a successful national member recruitment campaign to reach more young people. The test-drive let AOA monitor the response to all aspects of the campaign, from its call to action to its creative touches, before rolling it out nationally last year.
The “United in Possibilities” campaign, which won a 2019 ASAE Gold Circle Award in the membership recruitment campaign category, launched first in AOA’s Georgia and Minnesota chapters. The pilot yielded a conversion rate of 11 percent, exceeding the 8 percent goal set early in the project.
piloting several marketing tactics with chapters first helped inform a national campaign targeted to young prospects.
@Peggy
"It Worked For Us" – Alberta Chapter: New Member Recruitment
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sPoY4ZrtHJw&list=PLbTAQf0hXtkoyPWYNE0hyrP8Jh1EgV5hQ&index=8&t=0s
Patty Podoborozny tells us about the Alberta Chapter's New Member Recruitment.
5 years ago chapter membership dropped
What are the local benefits of membership besides the obvious national benefits?
Started talking about incentives they could offer
Offered member rate & a future member rate
Started with their conference and this got them about 50 new members
Engage members throughout the year (invite them to education sessions, reach out to them)
Retention rate of new members is about 20%, then the next conference they bring in about 50 more
Every year they build on that base and work to expand their support
@Peter
American Nurses Association - While NJSNA has been working in partnership with ANA for years, it’s now one of 25 state-based nursing associations participating in a dual membership.
GBTA – All Access membership Global Business Travel Association, where joint membership makes it possible to communicate directly and efficiently with their 9,000 members, based in 39 chapters spread across the world
American Library Association https://www.ala.org/ala/ourassociation/chapters/jointmembership/jointmembership.htm
National Science Teaching Association https://www.nsta.org/membership/joint.aspx
Association for Talent Development https://www.td.org/chapters/clc/powermembership Power Membership
@Peter – ask question
@Charlotte – record on flip chart
Let’s dissect the key components & takeaways from each of these examples.
What’s the one thing you can take away with you?
@Peggy –
How do you set yourself up for success? Here’s the 3 things you need to think about:
Create a resource for your chapters
Train them how to use it
Help them create targeted copy for young professionals…give them specific tools (canva, etc.)
@Peggy
Power Member Marketing Resources: https://www.td.org/chapters/clc/powermembership
Customizable Power Membership Brochure (Use this to promote your chapter and ATD! Tailor the brochure to add information relevant to your chapter, upcoming event details, and membership details. Include your chapter logo where instructed, add your chapter’s contact information, and include photos of your chapter members!)
Customizable Power Membership Handout (Use this to promote your chapter and ATD by either printing out or posting to your chapter's website. Tailor the handout to add information relevant to your chapter. Include your chapter logo where instructed.)
Customizable Power Membership Email (Use this to promote your chapter and ATD and help complete one of the foundational joint membership activities, "Send quarterly email to prospective members promoting Power Membership." Tailor the email to add information relevant to your chapter.)
Power Member Ads: one-third page or one-half page
Power Member Chapter Presentation
Power Membership Webpage for Wild Apricot: (Use the HTML code to create the webpage and the job aid to help you facilitate the implementation process. Include your chapter ChIP code where instructed!)
@Peggy
Membership marketing collateral: The Association for Corporate Growth provides membership marketing videos, PowerPoints, brochures, and branding guidelines to their chapters.
Provides membership marketing videos, PowerPoints, brochures, and branding guidelines to their chapters.
Explain what the resource is
Explain how to use it
Give examples of where to use it
@Peggy
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbTAQf0hXtkoyPWYNE0hyrP8Jh1EgV5hQ
Sometimes people don’t read that perfectly crafted email you created…so you’ve got to find other ways to get the info out.
The American Public Works Association has a chapter leader YouTube channel with videos about:
chapter leader resources
Membership 101
chapter success stories
https://www.billhighway.co/wanted-by-chapters-everywhere-member-recruitment-training/
Tips
Send a short video on the same day each week – “Tip Tuesday”
Make it personal – show someone’s face to make a connection
Highlight stories from other chapters
Chapter leaders could make short videos to send vs. standard emails
@Peggy
https://www.rmahq.org/newchapterresources/
Sample marketing copy for the chapter’s membership page: For their chapters, the Risk Management Association has a list of benefits targeted at different market segments.
@Peggy
@Charlotte
Group ideation time …. Give a quick explanation of what we’re doing
#1 Pick a Conversation Navigator & Conversation Note-taker (1 min)
#2 Set the course … discussion to further define the question posed & why it matters (5 min)
What is the opportunity here?
What are the challenges or obstacles?
What could be the desired outcome?
#3 Idea-storming! (10 min)
What can we do?
What other angles can we think of?
#4 Check-in … did we answer the question? (3 min)
Use slides to keep group on time
Use slides to keep group on time
Use slides to keep group on time
@Peter
@Peter
10 minute break to stretch your legs, get coffee, go to the bathroom, respond to that email or text…
@Peggy
What would you expect of your chapter leaders when a new member joins their chapter?
What do you expect of your chapters once a member has been through the welcoming/onboarding process?
@Peter intro and walk into the 1st
By Being a True Education Partner - @PeterSocial Media Campaigns - @CharlotteNew Member & Targeted Member Events - @PeggyStudent Challenge - @Charlotte
A Message from the Chapter - @Peggy
@Peter –
NATP did analysis & found out # of events produced by chapters direct correlation to retention in the area served by chapters regardless of the presence of # national events in that space.
Corollary the # of national events in the chapter space didn’t have the direct correlation to retention
Key is you have to help chapters figure out what education needs are in their area
How do we partner with our chapters for educational programming? RAPS ….
CoreNet Global had more events through their chapters than national
@Charlotte
ANA Example
Overview - Took something they wanted to do to engage a different audience, then set specific goals around how to do that, one of those goals being focused on leveraging their component network.
#FitNurseFriday5K Campaign
Social media campaign that was focused on promoting a healthy lifestyle for nurses
Started it as a 90 day pilot – went so well they decided to keep it going.
A Cross departmental effort that aligned with their grand challenge strategic objective – which helps get things done and helps get resources because it’s a common goal throughout the organization - Healthy Nurse, Healthy Nation
They really wanted to engage the millennial group, the collaboration was launched by two millennial staffers.
ANA encouraged engagement with the online nursing community by posting topics
Campaign Goals
Technology - Discover innovative technology solutions to increase ANA’s digital presence
Engagement - Drive engagement with the nursing community and its supporters, including the state associations
Social Visibility - Increase ANA’s visibility and engagement across social media platforms
Membership - Spark member-to-member interaction
Community - Give members opportunities to participate in a community initiative
Membership Value - Provide value to members
#FitNurseFriday5k ROI
The 5k was designed to get people engaged in fitness by participating in a 5k. You didn’t have to go to a 5k, you just had to do your own 5k.
The question was how do we get people engaged in this, taking their own pictures sharing their own success. This was a digital strategy that went local due to the community. Local nurses maybe getting together to participate together in a community 5k. This is a perfect way for us to embrace our state components.
Modest goal for first 6 months – aimed for 500 nurses participating
Hit their goals because they were able to connect with their state associations to reach a broader audience and leveraged community.
Nurses felt more connected
Members and non-members posted photos taken after a run, healthy snack ideas, and other wellness tips. After the conversation stopped on Friday, nurses still had the Healthy Nurse, Healthy Nation group on Facebook where they could stay updated on what’s going on with each other.
The campaign reached 4.5 million people on Facebook and Twitter
In 2016, 678 nurses participated
In 2017, 2,244 nurses participated
Visibility increased nation-wide due to state association engagement – even engaging non-members to participate
Support Given to Chapters - Members and non-members posted photos taken after a run, healthy snack ideas, and other wellness tips. After the conversation stopped on Friday, nurses still had the Healthy Nurse, Healthy Nation group on Facebook where they could stay updated on what’s going on with each other.
Consistent Messaging - Put together a tool kit for chapters that included graphics, sample social media posts and sample emails.
Customizable by Chapter - Wanted states and chapters to feel like they’re part of it. The toolkit was customizable so they could customize messaging to reflect their goals.
Online Community - Hosted an online community where states and their chapters could find help, get information, and download resources (like the tool kit).
@Charlotte
Already had a base on IG – wanted to explore how they could take it further.
Offered that a chapter could take over their Instagram feed for one day – since they have more chapters than days in a month…they extended a bit
Gave an option based on comfort level – given log in to actually take it over, or ASLA would post for them if they provided the posts
Had members showcased
Created a local value statement and enabled chapters to have conversations with their members “hey, you’re doing this really awesome thing, we’d love to showcase it’ – now you’re getting tons and tons of stories show that they truly were a global organization with members all over the place doing different things in the realm of landscape architecture
Chapter Take-Over ROI
Membership - Chapters enjoyed showcasing members on the national level
Chapter Engagement - Allowed ASLA to engage chapters who weren’t as involved with national or on social media
Increase Followers - Grew ASLA’s Instagram followers 10%
Target Market - Aimed at (and hit) target market for younger professionals & college students
New Ideas & Content - Gave fresh photos and content for the national Instagram campaign
Social Media - Gave chapters a hands-on social media lesson
Support Given to Chapters
Provided chapters with a webinar & toolkit
The toolkit included a card “This is Landscape Architecture” to hold in front of your favorite design
Allowed chapters two options to participate:
Chapters are given login to national Instagram account to post images
National will schedule posts through Hootsuite on behalf of the chapter
National’s PR & Communications Coordinator shared his cellphone to volunteers for help outside office hours
Lessons to Share
Devil is in the details to do the important prep upfront
Dedicate a Campaign Manager - Remember you are still the campaign manager – be sure to build time to help chapters succeed. Must have a POC and take charge of the coordination
Keep schedule in front of everyone
Find the WIIFM (What’s In It For Me) - Show value-add to members by giving their projects national exposure.
Piggy Back on Success - Build on an existing effort that members know about – no need to convince leaders that the campaign will be successful
@Peggy
Options for New Member Orientation
Monthly new member mingles
Example: The Kansas City chapter of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) hosts monthly New Member Mingles, an opportunity for new members to network in a small group setting. Each attendee receives coupons to use in their first year of membership for discounts on educational programming, events, and membership renewal.
https://www.billhighway.co/give-new-members-the-personal-touch-during-chapter-onboarding/
How to Arrange a Welcoming First Event
New Welcome Ambassadors – Have them welcome at the door, upon registration give new members a specific colored name tag or badge so they can be identified. Have this person introduce them to others, make them feel comfortable, etc.
Encouraged Structured Networking - Build in time for structured networking. New members need networking time to connect, but during open networking friends gravitate towards friends, leaving new members feeling like they are the only one in the room who doesn’t know anyone.
Think member experience - Ask new members to pick up a gift before they leave the event. We heard about one association that gives new members a logo-ed coffee cup filled with treats to bring back to work. Assign a volunteer to call new members the week after the event to check in, hear about their experience, and suggest next steps.
Event Follow Up - Assign a volunteer to call new members the week after the event to check in, hear about their experience, and suggest next steps (this can be a microvolunteer opportunity!)
@Peggy
PRSA Maryland Coffee Withs
Started as a way to engage members “closer to home” and to deepen engagement with various agencies
Largely drew unengaged
Free to members and eventually added small fee for non-members – worked to our advantage
Borrowed idea from the GA chapter and made it our own
Got rave reviews. One nonmember said it drew him to a paid event and then to membership and then to speaking
@Charlotte
Example: CFA Institute Research Challenge – Recruiting Younger Members
Aimed at the university community, the research challenge, where student teams would pretend to be an investment management team for 2 semesters where they would research a publically traded company and make recommendations on whether to buy, sell or hold that stock like they would in the real world. Great experience for them. Started in the NY society about 10-13 years ago. Global came in and asked if they could use that idea, now several 100 schools around the world participate in it and they complete in a Global competition (a winning team from each region participates)
Challenge ROI
Membership - Engage members at an early, critical age. One specific society wouldn’t be surprised if 50% of their charter members participated in the challenge.
Chapter Engagement - Each society manages/hosts their own challenge, winners advance to Regional competition, then Global competition.
Volunteer Opportunities - Research challenge creates opportunities to evaluate, mentor, be a judge – at local and regional levels.
Education & Career Prep - The challenge is exposing students and potential members to real-world examples
Key Takeaways
You don’t have to have all the ideas - Recognize that the creativity and ideas can come from the local. You can communicate & scale.
Be Intentional - Success will be more likely if you make an intentional decision to include chapters and leverage them in channels that they excel in.
Look for win-wins - If an initiative or campaign can accomplish multiple goals such as connecting with members (or prospective members) in a meaningful way while creating volunteer opportunities, you’re going to find win-wins.
@Peggy
AADE redesigned their New Member Welcome and inserted an email from the CB chair and added a set of quick links which included a link to the state page.
Borrowed from AARP
Tied to a New Member Onboarding program shared with chapter leaders
@Peter – ask question
@Charlotte record on flip chart
Let’s dissect the key components & takeaways from each of these examples.
What’s the one thing you can take away with you?
@Peggy
The question you have to ask yourself is: How are we helping the chapters engage new members?
Map out your journey of a new member and then place chapters in the mix…
What would you expect of your chapter leaders when a new member joins their chapter?
What do you expect of your chapters once a member has been through the welcoming/onboarding process?
Pilot Programs - Sometimes you might only have 3 chapters that want to get onboard, that’s fine – work with those 3.
Empower Chapter Ideas - Empower your chapters to take an idea and run with it on their own.
Take the trickl up approach.
What does a chapter need to be successful in welcoming new members?
Resources & technical support (you may not have an organization of marketers or tech-savvy individuals)
Website audit – are chapter websites in a spot to welcome new members?
Automated email campaign or resources that simplify the communication process for chapters to greet new members
Understand new members
Feedback about what members value
Feedback about why they joined
Feedback about their professional challenges
More detailed information about each member
Increase in identified volunteers
Cleaner database
Introduce microvolunteering opportunities
New member welcoming can be a microvolunteer opp for existing members
@Charlotte kick-off
Use slides to keep group on time
Use slides to keep group on time
@Peter
@Peter
5-10 minute break to stretch your legs, get coffee, go to the bathroom, respond to that email or text…
@Peggy
What do you expect of your chapters when a member’s renewal timeframe is coming up?
How do chapters fit into expiration notices?
@Peter – all!
Postcard Campaign
Leveraging Chapters in Invoicing
MRN Outreach Calls – to talk with members who expired
@Peter
@Peter
@Peter – MRN Outreach calls to expired members
Created a list of ind whose membership expired
Reviewed list with BOD – opt-in based on personal knowledge or willingness
Made calls – script Hey just calling to find out how things are going … make sure we’re connecting in the right way
3 outcomes: left biz/job; hmmm slipped my mind, send; not seeing value/not interested
@Peggy
Let’s dissect the key components & takeaways from each of these examples.
What’s the one thing you can take away with you?
@Peter
@Charlotte
@Charlotte - What do they need to have done after 10 minutes?
@Charlotte
@Charlotte
@Peggy – It's time to wrap it up and review. What are three things you learned at the virtual chapters workshop today or plan to put into action back in the office?
Who are the people at your association that you want to share this info with?
@Peggy - Pick 1 thing to do this year and then do it well!
What skill/initiative are you going to work on in 2019?
Chat in about it now
It's time to wrap it up and review. What are three things you learned at the virtual chapters workshop today or plan to put into action back in the office?
Who are the people at your association that you want to share this info with?
@Peggy –
In the spirit of continuous learning & improvement, please tell us what you thought! The good, the bad & the ugly!
Post-workshop survey will be coming as well!
@Peggy –
www.leveragechapters.com
Early Bird ends 7/31
@Peggy
@Peggy
Continue the conversation and networking over lunch with your peers.