Creating a Membership Program Update Video for Recruitment & Retention – Part 2

So, back in early May, I wrote the first part of this topic here. I’m embarrassed to report that it’s now late July and I’m still trying to finalize the video. Some of the delay was completely not my fault. We had to purchase the software and, uh, yeah okay so I’m grasping at straws. Let’s just soldier on, shall we?

I decided to create a voice over (audio) track and align it with what are effectively slides of information to drive home certain points. For instance, I didn’t want to verbalize all the numbers I was using to report the decline in our profession so I put the numbers on the screen while in the voice over I say that the number of laboratories, technicians, and schools is declining. 

A True Tale of Fear and Loathing in Professional Development

Hello, my name is Will and I’m an introvert. It literally pains me to be in a large crowd of people for too long. In the association management industry, this can be a real liability. Almost everything we do involves directly interacting with other people.

The first five years of my career were spent in the meetings department. I liked working with our members to get them registered, creating the detailed plan of the flow of the meeting, and being on-site problem solving. I did not, however, enjoy the forced relationships with my hotel contacts. This wasn’t because I didn’t like my hotel contacts – I couldn’t understand why I dreaded the interaction, honestly. Looking around at my peers, all I was sure of was that something must be wrong with me.

Fast forward another four or five years and I finally realized the truth of what being an introvert meant. For an excellent overview of extrovert behavior, please read this article from Huffington Post. Are you an introvert, too? If so, there are ways you can still advance your career and make important contacts! 

Preparing for #FSAE 2014 Annual Conference

“Planting the Seeds of Innovation”

The Florida Society for Association Executives (FSAE) is having their 2014 annual conference this week down in Orlando, FL. I’m really looking forward to attending this year! Last year was my first year at this annual event and I had a pretty good time. This year promises to be even better! The theme is “Planting the Seeds of Innovation” and I’m excited to learn some new tips and tricks for wrangling members.

For networking this year I will be bringing my personal “calling” cards in addition to my traditional business cards. Here’s what my “calling” cards look like:

I created these calling cards so that I could share more direct means of contacting me for the new folks I hope to meet at this year’s meeting. While my regular business cards are also very helpful in networking, these calling cards showcase ways to reach me online where so many of us interact these days.

The Gala

This year’s big social event is a gala on Thursday night. The dress for this event is “classy with an International flair!” I’ll be honest with you; when I read that description I had no idea what it meant. In fact, I still may not have it right! Regardless, I have found my attire. It took some crafting on my part and a friend has loaned me a brooch to complete it. I’ll be sporting a tartan sash pinned at the shoulder with this lovely:

I’ll be sure and get a picture taken so I can share!

You can monitor all the fun on Twitter with the hashtag: #FSAE14

I hope to be able to share some of the great things I learn when I return next week.

Let’s Build a #Membership Prospect Mailing

Quick! The third quarter of 2014 just started – are you working on a recruitment piece yet? No? Why not? You’ve only got 2 quarters of the year left, let’s take advantage of them.

Ideally, you should send at least one recruitment piece per quarter.

Here’s an idea I’m using for my own 3rd quarter recruitment piece for one of my national trade association clients. I’ll walk you through what I’m doing and if you have any questions, please just let me know in the comments section!

Budget: $500
Target: 500 prospects
Delivery Method: Physical Mail (#10 window envelope, to be exact)

Update Your Style #FixItFriday

Check out this post I wrote for my company’s blog, Partners Preceptors. I discuss ways we’ve increased membership retention by updating our membership and marketing materials!

A Blog by Partners in Association Management

By: William Lessley 

A small state trade association celebrated their 50^th anniversary last year. Many associations, upon reaching such a milestone, will blow out their anniversary year and then retreat the following year. Often, they are recovering from the amount of money they spent celebrating. This is a mistake! You spent an entire year building momentum for your association and then just stop? Did the association cease to exist after this magical milestone was passed? Then, why would you go backwards?

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