Membership Software for Clubs, Associations and Communities Community Building Magnifiers for Non-Profits & Associations

Competing with social networks:

Why should someone join or support your organization when they can network through Facebook?

Membership Software for Clubs, Associations and Communities

The Challenge•Reaching Members & Supporters is More & More Difficult

- Recruiting Members, Donors, and Supporters

- Retaining Members, Donors, and Supporters

Membership Software for Clubs, Associations and Communities Community Building Magnifiers for Non-Profits & Associations

Aging Supporters & the Generation Gap•Part of value of associations traditionally used to be pressing the flesh.  

•Younger generations though are not joining like they used to.

Membership Software for Clubs, Associations and Communities Community Building Magnifiers for Non-Profits & Associations

Aging Supporters & the Generation Gap•University of Ottawa

study

• Students are interested in learning about non-profits, especially in their region

• Internet is their preferred means of learning about your organization

• They need a forum of interactivity...aka by older generations as “networking”!

Preferred means Students/ youth from which they prefer to be informed about NPO’s & networking

opportunities

The Challenge

•Hundreds of Social Networks, Multitudes of Competing Networking Events Vying for Attention

Membership Software for Clubs, Associations and Communities Community Building Magnifiers for Non-Profits & Associations

The Challenge

Membership Software for Clubs, Associations and Communities Community Building Magnifiers for Non-Profits & Associations

Issue Fatigue:•500,000 new NPOs in US in the last four years •1.5 million NPOs in the USA;

Where to Start??Why go to your organization?

More are Turning to Social Networks

Membership Software for Clubs, Associations and Communities Community Building Magnifiers for Non-Profits & Associations

It’s still hard to see results

• http://www.clickz.com/3634883

“Like brand marketers, advocacy and nonprofit groups are struggling to measure how their social media numbers translate to real action and real donations.”

Membership Software for Clubs, Associations and Communities Community Building Magnifiers for Non-Profits & Associations

The Value of Associations & Cause-Based Organizations in a Social Media Age

•Face to Face Networking Opportunities

The Value of Associations & Cause-Based Organizations in a Social Media Age

•Associations, Non-Profits, & Charities offer specialized communities

•Focused discussions

•Controlled discussions

Membership Software for Clubs, Associations and Communities Community Building Magnifiers for Non-Profits & Associations

Melding the desire to network with social media

•If you can’t beat’em, join’em!

• Social media use amongst the professional-class (those who can become involved & donate) is only going up!

Membership Software for Clubs, Associations and Communities Community Building Magnifiers for Non-Profits & Associations

Melding the desire to network with social media

•Associations, Non-Profits, & Charities offer specialized communities

•Focused discussions

•Controlled discussions

Membership Software for Clubs, Associations and Communities Community Building Magnifiers for Non-Profits & Associations

How can social media create a more valuable experience for networking event attendees?

• Pre-event:

• Organize “birds of a feather” luncheons or dinners

• Post questions to session leaders to better prepare for the topics you’re interested in

• At the event:

• Discuss the day’s important discoveries and special moments during breaks or after hours

• Create more interactive events and sessions to share with your community group members

Membership Software for Clubs, Associations and Communities Community Building Magnifiers for Non-Profits & Associations

How Can We Keep Up & Add Value?

•Making the link:

•NPOs need to act as the aggregate of the sources of networks which interests their niche

Membership Software for Clubs, Associations and Communities Community Building Magnifiers for Non-Profits & Associations

ASAE Hub ’09 Case Study

Association Jam Case study

Stop Broadcasting, Start Narrowcasting!

Membership Software for Clubs, Associations and Communities Community Building Magnifiers for Non-Profits & Associations

• Community Narrowcasting Campaigns

• Two communities chosen, crowded media marketplace

• In Compton, more promo materials placed in hands of a small number of locations

• Messages tested & targeted to groups

• By targeting in Compton vs. broadcasting in Bakersfield, 50%+ recognition of the campaign

March of Dimes Southern California - Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Prevention

Membership Software for Clubs, Associations and Communities Community Building Magnifiers for Non-Profits & Associations

Associations are where expert individuals already congregate in the real world!

• Associations Now Magazine

•“These tools (social media & online networking) can be pedagogical and informational bridges for experts to the outside world (and amongst members).”

•Associations are missing a particular opportunity when it comes to their ability to position themselves and their members as experts in their fields using smart blogging/ social media strategies.

Membership Software for Clubs, Associations and Communities Community Building Magnifiers for Non-Profits & Associations

Membership Software for Clubs, Associations and Communities Community Building Magnifiers for Non-Profits & Associations

Growing Membership:North Mason Chamber of Commerce

http://frankkennysblog.blogspot.com/2009/09/how-we-grew-our-membership-by-85-in-18.html

Membership Software for Clubs, Associations and Communities Community Building Magnifiers for Non-Profits & Associations

Growing Membership:North Mason Chamber of Commerce

• "How we grew our membership by 85% in 18 months"– Started with blogging

– Created a private Ning group to connect members• Started adding content regularly• Once established, members "post dozens of times to your one time, keeping

the site active"

– Promoted through Twitter, Facebook, Linkedin, YouTube, and email

"You must nurture the sites by seeding them, reinviting members to join, engaging them, friending them, coaxing them along until they have a habit of contributing.“ - Frank Kenny, North Mason Chamber of Commerce

http://frankkennysblog.blogspot.com/2009/09/how-we-grew-our-membership-by-85-in-18.html

Membership Software for Clubs, Associations and Communities Community Building Magnifiers for Non-Profits & Associations

How much time does it take?

– Beth Kanter: How Much Time Does It Take To Do Social Media?

– 5 hours/week to start listening– 10 hours/week to participate– 10-15 hours/week to generate buzz– 20+ hours/week to build community– (At least ) 3-6 months before you start

seeing tangible results

Start by listening

• Search for your keywords on Twitter• Subscribe to search results RSS feed• Follow people who tweet about you or your cause

Membership Software for Clubs, Associations and Communities Community Building Magnifiers for Non-Profits & Associations

Membership Software for Clubs, Associations and Communities Community Building Magnifiers for Non-Profits & Associations

Start by listening (2)

• Find and follow people/organizations– http://wefollow.com/tag/nonprofit

Membership Software for Clubs, Associations and Communities Community Building Magnifiers for Non-Profits & Associations

Start by listening (3)

• Search Facebook– What other nonprofits like you have a presence?– What kind of support are they seeing? -- fans, wall posts, etc.– What is being discussed?

Membership Software for Clubs, Associations and Communities Community Building Magnifiers for Non-Profits & Associations

Start by listening (4)

• Ask your supporters and volunteers– Where are they active online?– What would they like to see you do?

In Summary

•NPOs face a number of challenges

•NPOs still CAN flourish in a social media age!

•If you can’t beat’em, join’em!

Membership Software for Clubs, Associations and Communities Community Building Magnifiers for Non-Profits & Associations

•Membership management software• Focused on small associations & nonprofits• A cost effective solution for managing your:

• Members• Website• Events• Fundraising

• Try it for FREE at wildapricot.com

•Nonprofit technology blog• blog.wildapricot.com

•Association Jam social news sharing site• associationjam.org

• Facebook • facebook.com/wildapricot• “Name the Apricot” contest starts next week

Who is ?

MemberManagemen

tMagic

Questions? Please contact Jay at jay@wildapricot.com or 416-410-4059 x. 302

Who is Action Strategies?

• Upcoming webinars on social media for non-profits and associations -

• Social media techniques & strategies for growing audience share, memberships, donations: November 30, 2009 http://actionstrategies.blogspot.com/2009/11/new-webinar-social-media-strategies-for.html

• Pre-register NOW for our book: “Social Media for Non-Profits and Associations” www.actionstrategies.ca

• One-on-one training and services in:• Social Media• Communications plans• Media relations• Revenue generation & membership

recruitment/ retention• Stakeholder engagement• Increasing event attendance

Magnifiers of Public Relations and Government Relations consultancy for non-profits, associations,

and charities

Questions & AnswersWe’re here to help!

Membership Software for Clubs, Associations and Communities Community Building Magnifiers for Non-Profits & Associations