The increasingly fast pace of business allows for less and less time to better our own careers. Business leaders of today might ask themselves, “Why do I really need to be part of an association to get ahead?”

Benefits of Membership

The answer lies in the evergreen benefit of creating lasting relationships that, in turn, provide firsthand education based on shared best practices - the two main reasons to join an association are education and networking. There are numerous ways that these goals can be achieved accomplished e.g. networking events and professional journals, but one great way to draw on all of those resources is to join a professional association. Here are the top reasons professionals join an industry association:

1. To network with like-minded professionals.

2. To learn new skills and gain valuable professional experience.

3. Get the lowdown on professional development opportunities.

4. Create a name for oneself and assume a leadership role in an industry.

5. Enhance professional reputation.

6. To Find (or be) a mentor.

7. To find and support an advocacy for one’s industry.

8. Be exposed to industry trends.

9. Take advantage of group purchasing.

Source: Performance.edu

How Industry Associations Can Stay Relevant

With those benefits in place, there remain many outside forces affecting association members everyday - forces that often influence the availability of a member’s time and desire to participate in a professional association. In much the same way that marketers analyze how these forces play a role in the success of a given service or product, it is important to consider any potential changes that may impact an association’s member base and their respective industry and address questions such as ‘Is the industry being disrupted by any emerging technology? Or ‘‘What is the current unemployment rate or business climate in the industry? Here are 5 tactical ways professional industry associations can connect with members and underscore its relevance.

1. Conduct a survey.
If the association’s industry has been hit hard by economic factors, there may still be a silver lining in that new innovations and business models have cropped up in place of old ones. A survey of members’ needs might be in order to accurately assess the things that are most important to them this year. What are their big-picture concerns or challenges? Association benefit programs may be created to address these needs. Reaching out to members makes them feel they are a valued part of the decision-making process and in tune with the association’s board and leadership. If cost is a concern, try web-based survey tools like SurveyMonkey to speed the process along in an efficient manner.

2. Strategize for future growth.
Sometimes it’s tough to see beyond even the next few months, but the hard reality is that associations cannot survive today’s competitive landscape without both a good marketing plan and a strategy for growth. Working with an experienced association management partner can help provide you with a roadmap for the next five years and the tools to achieve growth. Is the association’s mission and vision still in line with its actions? Is a rebrand in order? Does the association name still capture who they are? You might define and identify new targets for growth through this process. These marketing initiatives are worth the investment to instill new life into the organization and to raise awareness among new audiences.

3. Make your association’s certification program essential.
Accreditation, certification, and even awards programs serve as important revenue streams for associations and also firmly establish the organization in the industry. Use cost-effective marketing tactics such as public relations, social media, and garnering member testimonials to ensure these programs flourish and reach the all-important “can’t live without it” status in the industry.

4. Make events worth the time.
Add a new aspect to the usual annual conference agenda, such as a keynote speaker (great speakers can be found even if you are on a limited budget), more interactive programming concepts, or a speed networking session to drive more traffic to your exhibitors. Smaller regional events might also help make travel more affordable for members who are unable to make the annual conference or convention.

5. Remain on the cutting edge.
Trade associations must review their current service offer and invest in value-added technology solutions that can directly benefit members, in addition to the existing suite of services that they provide. A premier example of this is how association management associations provide access to web-based systems to members to ease the process of monetary exchange, paperwork processing, and other time-consuming administrative tasks. These systems are often integrated directly into the association’s website as a password-protected “members only” section. Credit management associations can add a financial condition analysis service such as what CreditBPO offers. In line with this, many large, nationwide professional associations secure discounts on business-related products and services, solely based on their membership numbers.

Ultimately, by staying in tune with member needs, associations can adapt to changing environments and firmly implant themselves as essential career development partners.

Source: SuccessfulMeetings.com

Ready to implement a transformational change in your business process? Schedule a call with us here and we will walk you through how to leverage and make use of what today’s technology offers through CreditBPO.