Member Benefits
Many membership organizations are currently experiencing lower membership signups and retention in this economy; of course, I don’t think it’s actually the economy.

I think that because most membership organizations are run by volunteers that it’s easy for member benefits to fall into the “œdiscounts-off-very-expensive-buffet-lunches” rut. And then when you want to sign up for that very expensive lunch (or dinner), many organizations make you create an online account with a user name and password.

Members Only

I don’t know about you but I’m up to HERE in usernames and passwords and now with all the security concerns we can’t even use our same ones over and over (See CNET’s blog for more info on Facing the Pain of Passwords)- we have to constantly create new ones with different combinations of capital letters and numbers so we spend more time retrieving lost passwords than the amount of time we ever spend in that password-protected area. So let’s make it worthwhile for your members. Here are some ideas for what you might have in your member’s only area – just make sure it’s interesting and unique enough to draw people in!

1. Ability to view membership information including renewal dates

2. Ability to renew online

3. If members are voting members – an administrative area that includes bylaws, policies, financial info etc.

4. Current News – an online or offline newsletter that goes to members only (usually listed as a member benefit) plus archived news

5. Meeting info – having additional handouts and info for workshops or meetings that the member attended

6. Educational Materials – special publications written for members only or hard to find info compiled into one area for members, How-To Guides. This could include articles from experts in your field

7. Marketing materials to recruit new members like downloadable flyers that members can print and forward to their associates – and maybe some incentive for recruiting additional members

8. Specials just for members such as coupons / discounts for your own programs i.e. discount for signing up for all the workshops for a year – but ONLY for members

9. Coupons / discounts for other companies that provide services your members might need; this should be easy to do in this economy – it benefits both the company and the members and you by adding value to your membership

10. Member Directory or some other way for members to network together i.e. a community forum

11. Searchable database of information related to your industry or service providers that your industry regularly needs to hire

12. Cyber-counseling i.e. Ask the Expert section where questions and answers are posted in the members only area

13. Polls and surveys that allow members to provide feedback on industry and other topics, providing you with valuable data to use internally and/or develop public reports

14. Job listings, classified ads (if appropriate)

15. Advertise for volunteers or board members, committee members where it is required that the person be a member (if appropriate)

Related Articles:
Membership Musical Chairs – Identifying factors that may be hindering membership retention and growth
Membership Magnetism – Increasing membership in the new economy
Peter Picked a Pack of Perfect Polls

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