| Not all membership software is equal to the task of | | | | informative, and not cluttered with irrelevant |
| managing the membership information of volunteer | | | | material). |
| and non-profit organizations and associations. Most | | | | To keep the members coming back, you also need |
| such organizations simply lack the resources to | | | | to keep the content fresh. (This is where you'll need |
| devote to proactive membership management. The | | | | to spend some of that time you're saving with |
| answer to this common problem is to automate | | | | self-serve membership management.) Allow members |
| online member services and integrate them with your | | | | to sign up for email alerts when you publish certain |
| membership software. | | | | kinds of information. You can even use Web analytics |
| Membership Self Service | | | | software (there are free versions available) to track |
| Online member services -- interactive, Web-based, | | | | access to this section to find out what is most |
| membership self-service support -- that's how to | | | | popular. |
| manage a large membership when you don't have | | | | And just because the section is for members only, it |
| resources to dedicate to the task. | | | | doesn't have to be a secret. Providing "teasers" -- |
| There are a number of online member services that | | | | summaries, overviews, tables of content, samples -- |
| you can automate and integrate to make your life | | | | can draw in people through search engines, |
| easier, including: | | | | encourage new memberships, and influence existing |
| - Online member profiles | | | | members to log in. |
| - Private, member-only access to data | | | | Online Membership Applications |
| - Online membership application | | | | Forget PDF membership applications. They're |
| - Online event registration and payment | | | | inconvenient for your members, and unnecessary |
| - Online donations | | | | overhead for your staff. Online membership |
| Properly implemented, online membership self service | | | | application forms are the way to go. By integrating |
| lets organizations meet their members' needs 24/7. | | | | the form with your membership software, you |
| From new member applications, renewals and profile | | | | provide immediate results for your members, and less |
| updates to online conference registrations, the | | | | work for your staff. |
| benefits are numerous. People of all ages and walks | | | | Online forms are so simple that you may be tempted |
| of life are now using online services -- and will gladly | | | | to use them to ask for all sorts of additional |
| use yours IF it actually works and saves them time | | | | information. Don't. Your objective is to get the |
| and effort compared to calling your organization or | | | | membership, and once potential members abandons |
| sending faxes. | | | | your intrusive application process, you're not likely to |
| Of course, such organizations also generally lack the | | | | get them back. Once they've joined, you can |
| IT skills that large businesses typically have, so ease | | | | encourage them to update their online profiles with |
| of use is also a very important quality for your | | | | additional information, or use surveys. Flexible |
| membership software to possess. | | | | payment options are another way to keep potential |
| According to ASAE & The Center for | | | | members in their comfort zone. |
| Association Leadership's 2006 Policies and Procedures | | | | One more thing: make sure it works. Nothing reflects |
| benchmarking report, online member services are | | | | more poorly on your association than a failed first |
| more prevalent among individual membership | | | | interaction, whether live or automated. |
| organizations (IMOs) than trade associations | | | | Online Event Registration and Payment |
| (308:265). Associations responding to the survey | | | | Your membership is busy. If you create a |
| reported that meeting attendee registration and | | | | Web-based event calendar with full online registration |
| online member directory were the most popular | | | | and online credit card payment capabilities, you |
| (79% and 69%). Other services offered online to | | | | empower your members to plan ahead. They win, |
| members include organization newsletters (67%), | | | | because they can plan their busy schedules to include |
| member online community functions (56%), dues | | | | the events that are important to them, and you win, |
| renewal (55%), and document download (51%). | | | | because you increase early registration -- so you can |
| Online Member Profiles | | | | project attendance more accurately. |
| Allowing (and encouraging) members to manage their | | | | When members register, they should receive |
| own profiles can save your organization an immense | | | | automatic confirmations of their registration showing |
| amount of time. Using a simple Web interface they | | | | the information they provided. Send reminder notices |
| can easily ensure that their information is up to date. | | | | one or two days before the event. |
| Security and privacy are serious concerns for your | | | | Online Donations |
| members, so the first thing you need to do is ensure | | | | As the Internet plays a big role in people's lives, online |
| you have policies in place and the ability to enforce | | | | fundraising is gaining popularity, but it can't be the |
| them. But remember that this initiative will only work | | | | entire focus of your fundraising plan. It's just one |
| if you are providing convenience -- you need to | | | | more way to reach people and include them in your |
| make it easy for members to retrieve misplace login | | | | other fundraising efforts. Include a "donate" link in a |
| information via email, and personalize their profiles | | | | prominent position on every page of your website. |
| with photos, logos, etc. Remember too that the | | | | Add a donation form on your website, and accept all |
| information you collect belongs to the individual | | | | major credit cards as well as PayPal if possible. Allow |
| members. Make that information available to them. If | | | | donors to specify designations or acknowledgements, |
| they can view the history of their relationship with | | | | make memorial or gift donations, or remain |
| the association online (event registrations, | | | | anonymous. Setup email notifications when a new |
| membership renewals, etc.), then they experience | | | | donation is made, and email a regular or update |
| convenience, and you experience fewer requests for | | | | notice to a donor email list. |
| information. | | | | Encourage your supporters to spread the word to |
| Private, Member-Only Access to Data | | | | even more people online through the use of widgets |
| A secure, private section for your members can | | | | and social networking sites such as Myspace and |
| provide added value, attracting new members and | | | | Facebook. |
| motivating existing members to renew. To provide | | | | Lastly, don't forget to recognize and thank your |
| value, this section must be convenient, easily | | | | donors! |
| accessible (with proper authorization), and useful (i.e., | | | | |