This document summarizes how text messaging can help associations engage with members. It discusses how email open rates and phone calls are less effective nowadays. Text messaging has a 95% open rate and allows reminders about events, renewing dues, fostering relationships, mobile apps for conferences, digital membership cards, fundraising, and building opt-in lists. The CEO of Engage by Cell, which provides cloud-based texting services, encourages personalization and allowing people to opt into different content lists.

1. Text Messaging:
The Better Way to Engage
with Your Members

2. About Engage by Cell
● Cloud-based, no downloads
● 14 years in business
● 4,000 clients in 10 countries

3. Just a Few Associations We’ve Worked With
AMERICAN BAR
ASSOCIATION
American Lung
Association
American
Marketing
Association
Association of
Fundraising
Professionals
Chorus America
Gilroy Chamber
of Commerce
Metropolitan
Golf Association
National
Association of
Elementary School
Principals
NHL Alumni
Association
Texas Association
of Business
Texas Chamber
of Commerce
Texas Medical
Association
United States
Golf Association
United States Hispanic
Chamber of Commerce

4. ● Email open rates are 20% and falling
● Nobody answers the phone anymore
● If members don’t read emails or answer
the phone — how will they attend
events, renew, or know all your
association’s perks?
The Hard Truth About
Communication Today

5. That’s Why More Associations Are Doing
Something Different — Text Messaging
● 95% open rate — almost a guarantee that
your messages get read
● People rely on their phones for everything
● Mobile is the fastest and easiest way to
engage with your members

6. How Are Associations
Using Mobile?

7. Send Reminders about
Upcoming Events
Make sure members are updated on
upcoming events and networking
opportunities by sending personalized
reminder texts.

8. Renew Dues with
Mobile Forms
Make it easy for your members to renew:
● Push friendly reminder texts
● Include links to a mobile-friendly
payment page in text messages
● Members click and pay instantly
using their credit card
● Afterward, send personalized
“Thank You” messages

9. Foster Member
Relationships with
Two-Way Text Messaging
Create long-lasting member relationships with
two-way text messaging:
● Personalized responses
● Live & Group Chat
● Feedback
● Questions
● Answers

10. Mobile Apps for
Conferences
Members can instantly:
● Access agendas, sessions descriptions, FAQs
● Use support chat for any urgent questions
that you can field in real-time
● Receive text alerts on conference
breaks, changes to agenda, etc

11. Digital
Membership Cards
As soon as a member signs up, send
them a personalized digital card via
text message where they simply click
an embedded link to add to their
Google or Apple Pay wallets.

12. Fast-Track Fundraising
with Mobile Giving
Choose mobile giving for an interactive
and exciting donating experience!
Whether your members are at
conferences or on-the-go they can text
in donations any time they feel inspired.
Children’s Network
Association

13. Text: ASSOC
To: 56512
Try it NOW!

14. How Do I Build My List?
● People opt in to join a list and
receive content
● You can also upload lists
● Concerned about permissions?
Recipients can always reply
STOP to opt out

15. Next Up? Let’s Share a
Few Secrets...
● Conversations should be chatty and
familiar, not too corporate or formal
● Let people opt into whatever lists they
find interesting — one or five!
● Use our personalization tools in your
text messages

16. Thank you
DAVE ASHEIM
Founder and CEO of Engage by Cell
Phone: (415) 997 - 0201
Email: dave@engagebycell.com
Follow us on social media for updates on mobile engagement strategies!
Instagram: @engagebycell Twitter: @engagebycell