Whether you missed the original livestream or want to watch it again, you’re in luck! Vocalmeet, the CPA (Canadian Psychological Association), and the CSAE (Canadian Society of Association Executives) partnered to bring you a fantastic discussion on growth strategies for associations in 2022 and beyond—a discussion you can catch online now!

Meanwhile, in this webinar recap, we’ll explore the 5 powerful growth strategies that were shared during the livestream conversation. Join us as we discover the strategies other association leaders use to maximize their ability to generate non-dues revenue for their organizations!

1. The Benefits of On-Demand CE Courses

Does your association hold live sessions? Do you livestream continuing education courses and workshops? Well, you’re in luck; you can record these streams and transform them into continuing education (CE) courses. Your association gets more courses to package and sell, and your members get access to new, premium content–everyone benefits!

That’s not all; you can also use previously recorded courses to create something fresh and new. By re-editing and updating your older courses, you can offer your members improved, modernized content. Consider packaging it with new courses for extra value!

2. Cost-Effective Marketing Tools and Promotion

When it comes to earning more revenue, your members and the public need to know about the benefits and programs your association offers. Thankfully, there are plenty of economical assets at your disposal. In our discussion, Anthony Campbell, Growth Manager at Vocalmeet shared a few cost-effective marketing and promotion tools that will help your association do more with less;

• Jasper AI (Artificial Intelligence Marketing): Jasper is an Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered writing assistant that can automatically generate persuasive blog posts, marketing emails, landing pages, and more! If you find it difficult to generate this kind of content, you may find Jasper a great help. You can find Jasper AI here.
• Canva for Nonprofits: Canva is a website that offers pre-made graphic designs that you can take and tailor yourself. If you find yourself needing lots of custom graphics, check it out! You can find Canva for Nonprofits here.
• Hootsuite: Hootsuite is a social media management platform that allows you to schedule posts ahead of time, as well as keep track of your content streams, mentions, and more. If your association uses several social media channels, Hootsuite is the program for you. You can find Hootsuite here.
• Vidyard: Vidyard allows you to record your computer screen and webinar at the same time, making window-in-window a breeze. Use it to personalize your presentation content and more! You can find Vidyard here.
• Calendly: Calendly is a program used to book appointments online. You select the dates and times you’re available, and your members can book time with you in just a few clicks; what a time-saver! You can find Calendly here.

3. The Importance of the Strategic Plan

Having a clear strategic plan is important for any organization. Your strategic plan should outline the association’s priorities and how you plan to achieve them. This is essential in order for the organization to thrive and grow in a competitive environment. Will your staff be able to facilitate and manage your new priorities? Will your current budget allow you to build and support new programs? The key to successfully implementing your strategic plan is to avoid it from turning into your operational plan. Your strategic plan is designed to help you achieve your goals and mission. Your operational plan helps you carry out the tasks needed to achieve your strategic plan’s goals and mission.

4. Combined Dues and Non-Dues Revenue Initiatives

No one said dues and non-dues revenue streams had to be mutually exclusive! Try offering members free continuing education packages for early renewal. If you want to get even fancier, try creating membership packages based on what the member selects; you can run the gamut from low-cost, low benefits memberships all the way up to VIP premium memberships that include all the bells and whistles! The number of membership types and the perks they include is up to you.

5. Technology Consolidation

By consolidating your association’s technology, you can actually improve its ease-of-use and its value. Remember to KISS: Keep It Simple, Silly! Simplification will reduce both complexity and costs while improving the efficacy of your tools.

That’s not the only thing your association can condense, of course; consider having all of your technological needs filled by a single vendor! You’ll build a better partnership, and you won’t have to keep track of who covers what. One account, one vendor, one contact! Additionally, your vendor will become more invested in (and fond of!) your association–they may even be willing to go the extra mile for you as your business relationship develops. Better still, by sourcing all your technology from one vendor, you’ll have fewer compatibility issues when it comes to expanding your tools (they know what you have and what connects to it, after all). Streamline your processes; go for a vendor that offers all in one!

Has your interest been piqued? By offering on-demand CE courses, marketing with economic tools and promotions, directing in a plan-focussed manner, creating varied membership packages, and unifying technology and vendors, your association will be able to boost its growth and increase its non-dues revenue!

The post Webinar Recap: 5 Powerful Growth Strategies to Boost Non-Dues Revenue for Your Association in 2022 and Beyond appeared first on Online Learning Solutions | Association Management System | Vocalmeet.

As more associations move their events online, and members become more comfortable with attending online sessions, the next step is for associations to focus on streamlining their online content. With only a handful of online sessions, associations could perhaps get away with posting one-off events on their website, while managing registrations and payments manually. However, with more events being offered online, associations should consider having an integrated learning management platform where members can register and access both on-demand recorded sessions and live online or in-person events.

The benefits of streamlining learning content are endless for associations. In fact, having an integrated learning management platform allows associations to better engage members and increase non-dues revenue, further setting associations up for success in the long-run as demand for online events continues to increase.

1. Ensuring a seamless user experience with one platform for on-demand and live events

Choosing the right online platform that is easy to navigate is as crucial as choosing the right venue for in-person events. Streamlining content with an integrated learning management platform means having a “one-stop-shop” for all learning sessions for members. Learning sessions can be delivered via on-demand recorded content, live webinar or webcast, and in-person events.

Additionally, having one platform to host on-demand and live events eliminates any confusion for members as they do not have to navigate through various event sites and platforms. Members can self-register, purchase, and view any of the sessions offered regardless of the delivery method. By making it easy for members to keep track of all their learning records under one system, they are more likely to keep coming back for more.

2. Monetizing content over the long-term

It is no surprise that the financial benefits of in-person events are singular and often marginal, as in-person events cannot be recreated once completed. However, with online content, associations can get a longer-lived value from the investment of time and money. For example, associations can continue to promote on-demand recorded sessions for as long as the content remains relevant, and members can access these sessions at any time. That said, be cautious of not falling into the trap of undervaluing online content, as members do see the value in convenience and not having additional expenses around travel, accommodation, and taking time off work.

Think of setting up an integrated learning management system as an investment, rather than as an expense. With the right list of programs and a solid marketing strategy in place, associations can continue to increase revenue as members are provided with incentives to keep coming back to purchase and view online sessions.

3. Gaining insight through automated reporting for associations

At the end of in-person events, associations typically evaluate the performance of the event and feedback from members. The approach for online sessions should not be any different. In fact, with one platform for both on-demand and live events, associations have access to automated reporting that shows all user activities completed on the system. This includes enrollment reports, transaction reports, attendance reports for live online sessions, and user progress reports for on-demand content. As all these reports are generated under one platform, associations can conduct an easy comparison and further gain insight into which delivery method (i.e. on-demand versus live) members prefer for the different types of learning sessions.

In conclusion, as associations start to establish a long-term online learning strategy for members, the importance of having streamlined content must not be overlooked. With an integrated learning management platform that hosts both on-demand and live events, associations and their members can easily keep track of all their learning sessions under one platform regardless of the delivery method. Such a robust platform allows associations to not only improve the online user experience, but also increase non-dues revenue as members value the ease of accessing learning sessions.

The post Why Associations Should Use One Platform for On-Demand and Live Events appeared first on Online Learning Solutions | Association Management System | Vocalmeet.

As more events are being cancelled, many associations are opting to ramp up their online continuing education sessions and conferences in order to soften the negative financial impact. Some are pre-recording their sessions and making them available on-demand, while others are choosing to live-stream on the scheduled date.

So, how does the shift towards virtual events impact sponsors and exhibitors?

Many associations rely on sponsorships to fund their in-person events and conferences. In return, sponsors and exhibitors are looking for marketing exposure and opportunities for attendees to better connect with their brand. As a result, being able to show sponsors and exhibitors the value of sponsoring virtual events is key.

Here are some of the online initiatives that you can do to continue to offer sponsors and exhibitors the benefit of exposure to members and attendees.

1. With paid on-demand events and courses, consider offering discount codes for members with the sponsor/exhibitor name.
2. Place sponsor/exhibitor logos and links to their website on the event webpage or on the online learning platform for a period of time.
3. Encourage sponsors and exhibitors to sponsor individual sessions or courses.
4. Sponsors and exhibitors can create short promotional videos to be placed on the event webpage or on the online learning platform
5. Sponsor/exhibitor videos and links can even be embedded directly into on-demand videos.
6. Consider promoting the “sponsor/exhibitor” of the week through the event webpage, social media, email campaigns, etc.
7. Ask speakers to mention the sponsors and/or exhibitors before or after their online presentation.
8. For live online events, sponsors and/or exhibitors can join for opening or closing remarks.
9. Promote sponsors and exhibitors, while enticing attendees, with sponsored raffles for gift cards and other virtual giveaways.
10. If your association has a community platform for members to communicate and network online, consider utilizing the platform to provide more exposure for sponsors and exhibitors.

There are many initiatives that are easy to implement for sponsors and exhibitors to reap the benefit of exposure online. As critical as it is for associations to engage their members virtually, it is equally important for associations to ensure sponsors and exhibitors are incentivized to continue to provide funding for virtual events.

The event delivery method may be different, but the goal remains the same. In today’s digital world, associations need to think outside the box and find new and creative ways to continue to engage members, attendees, speakers, sponsors, and exhibitors.

The post 10 Ways for Associations to Offer Benefits for Sponsors and Exhibitors Online appeared first on Online Learning Solutions | Association Management System | Vocalmeet.

Offering continuing education courses can be a strong addition to any association’s membership offerings. Gaining access to courses and certifications gives professionals another reason to join your association and even more reasons to renew their membership. These can all lead to increases in non-dues revenue. In addition, offering continuing education courses can have many more benefits. Truth be told, by making continuing education more accessible to members and nonmembers, associations can have a significant impact on their sector by turning the association into a knowledge center and industrial hub.

Become a Thought Leader

When an association takes the time and makes the investment needed to implement quality training programs, it makes great strides toward developing a learning culture. The focus on continuous learning helps position the association at the center of a knowledge hub. Members and nonmembers alike will look to the association for suggestions on how to advance and move forward professionally. Furthermore, in times of crisis, the association will become the go-to trusted resource for factual information.

Aside from the obvious increase in revenues and web traffic, thought leader associations also see increases in sponsorship and advertising opportunities for events and online programs, as sponsors and advertisers see great value in an active and engaged membership.

Start a Cycle

By creating a culture of learning and a resulting knowledge hub, over time, professional and personal betterment becomes a way of being. For example, students could access your vast resources for school projects. Then, as they graduate and begin their careers, you are helping these students develop into professionals and leaders within their industry. This leads to members and staff who are more involved in the association and more willing to pursue education and training in the future.

A well-trained and educated group of professionals helps to create a culture of inquiry and improvement within the association, with members who continue to positively challenge each other. In addition, well-attended courses, training programs, workshops, and conferences offer a superior learning experience and opportunities for mentorship.

Support Growth and Innovation

Another benefit of a learning culture is that it creates a group of like-minded professionals looking forward together. Our world continues to evolve and with evolution comes industry, technology, and professional changes. While ongoing continuing education can lead to increased productivity and non-dues revenue, it can also better prepare individuals for a changing world. It can positively impact perceptions about new developments and change, as well as increase the capability of your members to deal with ongoing changes.

The post Never Stop Learning: Continuing Education Inside and Out appeared first on Online Learning Solutions | Association Management System | Vocalmeet.

In-person events, such as conferences and conventions, have long been the staple of associations’ non-dues revenue streams. In fact, as much as 41% consider it their most valuable source of ancillary earnings, according to Association Adviser. Organized properly, they can certainly help diversify revenue, create necessary brand recognition and member loyalty. However, in person events can also require massive time and resource investments, meticulous planning and execution as well as relentless advertising in order to be successful and profitable. A clever way to counter this drawback is to boost revenues from in-person events by selling merchandise, sponsorship packages, hotel rooms, etc. Nevertheless, the financial impact of these add-ons is singular and marginal at best. Meaning that the event cannot be recreated once completed. If ticket sales are less than expected, then the association may even end up in a deficit situation.

There is, however, a more effective and simple way to tackle the issue: ensuring that the event is additionally recorded and available online, on-demand. And that’s exactly what an organization we discuss below did; they were able to increase the conference revenue from $250,000 in 2017 to $300,000 in 2018. How did they get an additional $50,000? Keep reading to find out!

Making events virtual and allowing on-demand viewing lends the level of versatility and revenue increase that cannot be achieved with onsite-only events. It gives the members unabridged access to content, and provides more opportunities to monetize in person events. Once digitized, event sessions have many uses. For example, conference sessions can be sold as individual online presentations or grouped into thematic sections or sold as a package. Whatever you decide to do with the content, the key is to figure out what works best for your association.

A Case in Point: How an Association Added 20% to their Revenue by Recording a Single Conference Session and Offering it Online.

Let’s consider the following scenario. Imagine an organization, let’s call it Association of Professionals or AP for short. AP is an association with voluntary membership of roughly ten thousand, offering professional services and events, along with an annual conference. The conference is part revenue stream and also an effort to engage members and provide a venue for networking, sharing of ideas and knowledge as well as industry insights. And like many other associations, to entice members and bump up the attendance, AP offers professional development (PD) or continuing education (CE) credits as part of the conference. This type of incentive is especially pertinent to industries with mandatory continued education or training requirements.

Every year the AP board sits down to discuss the upcoming event and to review the previous ones for reference and improvement. This time around the procedure was no different, two of the past conferences—the 2017 and 2018—were compared and analyzed. There was just one caveat: some of the 2018 conference sessions had been recorded and available on-demand, so the revenues were no longer as similar as in the past. In fact, there was a significant change between the two events.

Consider this: only 1000 people or 10% of AP’s membership participated in both conferences. It was a two-day event with twenty sessions per day. The total revenue earned in the 2017 conference came up to $250,000 from all tickets sold. And the total for the 2018 conference rose to $300,000.

So, how did the introduction of recording and on-demand video affect the revenue numbers at the end of 2018? Well, AP was able to generate the additional revenue in a one-year period after the conference. It was achieved by recording just one! Session from the 2018 conference, and making the video available on demand for $50 through an online learning platform that is accessible through their website. In this case, only 1000 of AP’s 10,000 members bought the video. Imagine what could be achieved with more than one video and a good marketing strategy to go along with that. By the same token, simply repackaging and reusing, not even all, but some of your most popular sessions—the already generated and readily available content—your association could increase the revenue from events by a serious margin.

The Ins and Outs of Choosing the Right Approach for Your Conference and Event Recording Needs.

It is important to note that as a sort of a pilot project for AP, the process of picking the right technology and method was largely new and unknown. So, the organizers considered several options prior to agreeing to recording the 2018 event.

Just as in the year prior, they looked at numerous other ways of approaching this matter, including live video streaming. This has been a trend for quite some time. And to be fair, it’s not just a buzzword, there’s a myriad of applications to this fascinating technology, however challenges of implementing it are no less great. Trying to live stream even a single session, not to mention two or more simultaneously, requires meticulous preparation and serious technical capability and expertise. To put it simply: it’s an equivalent of running and broadcasting a live TV show for the duration of the event. The amount of planning that goes into that kind of production should not be underestimated.

Thus, having considered the pros and cons, AP decided to look elsewhere. On-demand videos was another option. It gave them the flexibility of post-production editing as well as full control over content to help avoid any potential issues associated with live events. Since this was a pilot project, hiring a professional videographer to help out with all the recording-related bits and pieces was a natural initial reaction. Having a professional in any setting can be a benefit, especially if it involves a learning curve. However, it should go without saying that hiring someone knowledgeable comes with additional expenses that must be factored into the budget.

Nevertheless, compared to a somewhat raw final product of recording videos yourself, today’s technology allows a lot. With tech capabilities of an average smartphone, video production easily falls into the Do It Yourself category. For example, Apple introduced support for high definition videos in its ubiquitous iPhones as far back as 2015. This is to say there’s really nothing holding you back from buying some sturdy tripods at a local or online store, and taking matters into your own hands—literally. At least that’s what AP’s event organizers ended up doing for their 2018 conference: Keeping cost under control and recording that session themselves!

The Sky’s the Limit for Revenue Increase from On-Demand Events and Conferences

There are several variables involved when offering video courses online, but luckily, the odds are all in your favor. If the lesser popular videos can remain online indefinitely, racking up views and generating revenue, imagine what a highly-demanded or mandatory PD/CE presentation could do. Indeed, it’s a gift that keeps on giving as your speakers and conference is constantly being promoted through the online sessions.

Remember that only 10% of AP’s members took part in the conference. This means a huge chunk of 9,000 people or 90% of AP’s audience and its potential revenue remained untapped. Some of those members might have not been interested in traveling and paying for food and accommodation, others might have not wished to take valuable time off work. Regardless of the reason, the opportunity costs – to use the economic term, of such inaction could be far too high, especially for associations with small non-dues revenue streams. Moreover, let’s not forget about the non-members. Having a quality mandatory lecture or highly sought-after event speaker at your conference could surely drive up traffic from outside of the member perimeter, which in turn would create more revenue as the non-member fees are usually higher. This also serves as a means to promote your events to both members and non-members.

Since scalability is truly limitless, such an investment can yield solid returns rain or shine. With potential returns like what we described with AP, the benefits of offering event and conference content online are boundless, and the sky’s truly the limit.

The post Benefits of Digitizing In-Person Events and Conferences for Associations appeared first on Online Learning Solutions | Association Management System | Vocalmeet.

In a recent post, we dove into four high-level considerations that associations should make when looking to increase membership engagement — what we consider to be the lifeblood of all successful and flourishing associations. You’ll recall from the previous post that we defined membership engagement as the level of interaction and involvement an individual has with an organization, which is often the result of strategy-driven initiatives that build relationships with members to create a collaborative and positive culture and, in turn, attracts new and retains old members.

In this article, we discuss how associations can increase membership engagement by embracing technology.

Fresh Website Design and Rich Content

It’s absolutely essential that every association’s website is professionally designed to be responsive (where pages render correctly on all types of devices and screen sizes), easy to navigate, and aesthetically pleasing. First impressions mean everything.

Apart from offering essential information, such as important dates and official policies or standards, association websites should have members visiting weekly for information and updates including, for example, news on advocacy efforts, industry developments, and upcoming events. While website content, such as blogs and informational pages, should be optimized for search engines, the content should also be on topics that are truly meaningful to members and will generate discussion among them.

For this to be the case, a website’s backend should be straightforward to use so that trained staff members can easily upload new content on a regular basis. Associations should establish a process and editorial team responsible for developing and delivering content — stories, interviews, and videos. They should have an idea of what topics they want to be addressed on their website, how their own programming such as events will be promoted online (through registration pages and live streams), and who will be accountable for ensuring this content is created and published online.

As the main vehicle for connecting with the public, including potential and current members, a website’s design, usability, and the quality of its content can’t be stressed enough.

Online Video

To elaborate on content, the presence of rich multimedia makes websites an engaging place to visit for users. It’s simple: we like videos — and we love videos that trigger emotion, humor, and memories while teaching new knowledge. Unlike written content, publishing unique online videos that communicate your message is a key way to ensure your content is consumed and retained. Videos are concise and they’re excellent at building brand awareness much more than written content. Associations should harness the power of our visual senses by producing a variety of videos such as interviews with experts, how-to-explanatory lessons, industry news and association updates, messages regarding advocacy and causes, recorded events and webinars, and spotlights on association staff and members.

E-learning

Videos on association websites, as described above, can be much more than content marketing pieces. E-learning (online education) is an incredible resource that associations should offer to their members. Whether courses and modules are solely video lessons or a mix of video and written content, e-learning on a variety of topics — from ethics and professional responsibility standards to product demos — can be a major avenue to recruit new members, especially if it’s made exclusive to registered members.

Social Media

Most associations send out electronic newsletters to their members. Without a doubt, they’re one of the most effective ways to provide updates and news, especially given a sender’s ability to track open and click-rates through software like MailChimp.

The problem with e-newsletters? They don’t allow for two-way communication — and for strong membership engagement, associations need to have a dialogue with their audience.

Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and other digital platforms allow for conversations to occur in real-time. If members are curious about an association event or staff appointment, or if an association is seeking input for website content, social media is a no-brainer. Questions and conversations can occur immediately.

Moreover, social media allows association members to find their tribe. Members can network, find new opportunities, and engage with others in the community to share ideas and collaborate.

Associations should not be afraid to experiment with their use of social media. Many associations, like the American Headache Society for example, have embraced Twitter to encourage interaction between its followers — and it’s coordinated online chats with its partners to provide expert advice in response to questions from the public. The association has found that collaborating on social media with other organizations has helped widen its audience and provide value to its members.

LinkedIn can be used to create a company page, publish testimonials from staff and association members, and start discussions by sharing research and news. On Facebook, associations can experiment with sharing compelling photos regarding their work, along with captivating captions as well as a call to action — such as a link to read more information on their website. Associations can experiment on all platforms with tagging partners or speakers — thanking them for their support or encouraging them to participate in advocacy efforts — to establish new and strengthen existing relationships.

It’s no secret why nearly all associations that are serious about engagement have embraced social media and integrated it into their daily communications efforts. Having healthy and engaging public discussions on social media will show potential members that your association is spearheading an online community that is dynamic and committed to the work you’re promoting.

In addition to all of the engagement benefits that come from having a social media presence, these accounts are nearly as important as an association’s website when it comes to brand awareness. They provide a chance to highlight an association’s mission and mandate, location and hours, and contact information while reinforcing a visual identity.

Having a robust social media presence and a professional website, with consistent and high-quality content, will put associations on their way toward building stronger membership engagement.

The post How Associations Can Use Technology To Increase Member Engagement appeared first on Online Learning Solutions | Association Management System | Vocalmeet.

Without members, associations can’t exist. Without engaged members, associations can’t flourish.

Unfortunately, belonging to an association might not be a priority for some professionals. They might ask themselves “why should I care about belonging to an association?” The simple answer is opportunities — like networking events, continuing education and other intangible member benefits— that might help individuals succeed in their profession. At the core of answering this complex question, associations should have one key idea in mind: membership engagement. Specifically, how to engage professionals so that they see value and understand the benefits of joining your associations and maintaining a membership for years to come.

By membership engagement, we mean the level of interaction and involvement an individual has with an association — often the result of strategy-driven initiatives that build relationships with members to create a collaborative and positive culture, which in turn attracts new and retains old members. Done successfully, membership engagement helps associations build value and loyalty. Here are four tips on how associations can increase their own member engagement.

1. What is your value proposition?

What’s in it for me? Before engaging with current or future members, associations should think carefully about why individuals should be excited to be a member of their association. Many associations are value-based and issue-focused. Their function includes promoting and advocating for a specific industry or segment of society on behalf of members. Associations have to identify their cause, objectives, and how their efforts distinguish them from other associations — this is key to moving forward with an engaged membership. And, associations must be able to clearly and succinctly articulate their messaging through multiple communication mediums.  Don’t be afraid to change, refine or update the cause, objectives, goals etc as the messaging must be in line with the needs of the sector and with the professionals who make up the sector.

2. What journey are your members on and how can you help?

Understanding who potential and current members are — what they hope to achieve in their careers, what their priorities are, and what hurdles they’re facing — will almost certainly help improve the way in which associations engage with their members.

Mapping a member’s journey — from their graduation to the retirement, for example — will help an association segment its audience and identify each group’s needs. An engaged member’s journey, which starts at awareness and progresses to membership and involvement with an association’s community, can be better understood by soliciting feedback on priorities and interests through online surveys.

With this membership intelligence in hand, an association can create tailored engagement strategies — events, networking opportunities, legislative advocacy, publicity and online education — that aims to satisfy the particular needs of each segment or channel.

Remember: new members should feel welcomed and existing members should feel like they belong to a community of like-minded and passionate individuals who are being served by their association. Associations will be able to accomplish both once they know who they’re working for.

3. Take stock of what members use and don’t use

Many associations distribute newsletters full of interesting and relevant content; but what if no one’s reading? Many associations host networking and educational events; but what if no one’s attending?

It’s critical that associations understand how their existing engagement strategies are working with members. Are members participating in your LinkedIn community more than Facebook? At what point do your videos start to lose their audience? Taking stock of what is and isn’t working, in combination with member intelligence, will give associations a sense of where they might experiment and re-prioritize their membership engagement efforts.

4. How do you encourage membership engagement?

A membership engagement target audience — in this case, channels of members segmented by length of membership or professional stature, for example — need to be made aware of how it can become engaged in an association’s community.

Prompting participation is an essential way to build engagement and will help create an active community of loyal members who feel a personal connection to the work, progress and success of the association. Having staff who specialize in online community management, for example, can help facilitate success in this realm.  Associations can also encourage participation through different types of online content and calls to action — such as monthly member challenges that encourage them to share their own success and learning on social media, live Q&A’s with experts, and weekly updates on industry news.

Associations can’t underestimate the effort and resources required to successfully implement engagement strategies. They require dedicated resources — staff, time, analytical and online communications tools — to ensure membership engagement is ongoing. From creating an onboarding process for new members — with personalized welcome messages — to moderated social media discussions on member-driven topics, membership engagement is an ongoing effort that is based on consistency, refinement, and measurement of membership growth and satisfaction.

Thanks for reading! Our next post will discuss how associations can specifically use technology to increase membership engagement.

The post 4 Best Practices To Increase Member Engagement appeared first on Online Learning Solutions | Association Management System | Vocalmeet.

If you or someone you know has recently completed an online course, chances are you’ve directly experienced or heard about the power of a Learning Management System (LMS).

An LMS helps big and small organizations, like professional associations, distribution companies or universities deliver education online. This includes lessons, messages, quizzes, readings, videos and more. But to be effective, enhance performance among learners, and build a culture of learning, an LMS must be properly organized and used to its full potential. Here are a few tips on how associations can get the most out of their own LMS.

Know your objective

Associations that adopt and use an LMS do so with the aim of delivering online education. But apart from building a culture of learning, associations should have a good sense of what they hope to achieve through their e-learning efforts. Is it increasing non-dues revenue? Sharing subject matter expertise? Adding membership value? Providing professional development opportunities for members?

Identifying clear objectives and making sure your staff, board, and members are aware of them will allow your association develop a learning journey with goals that can be implemented and tracked.

Training administrators and educators

For associations to succeed in their use of an LMS, it’s imperative that their system administrators and educators know what features are offered and how to use them.

An LMS vendor, in addition to understanding what an organization aims to accomplish with their e-learning, ought to offer their customers significant training and resources in how to setup and use the features offered by their LMS. For example, administrators should have an understanding of how to generate reports that give insight into the effectiveness of their e-learning content and approach. They should be able to easily gather information about whether or not learners are completing courses that they have signed up for, and in general, how their learners are progressing through courses. Remember that a good online experience for your members is the best marketing for your courses.

Comprehensive training with ongoing support and resources will help administrators and educators deliver their educational programming in a seamless way, and will help them understand whether or not their efforts are working.

Differentiate and track progress

Associations can experiment with how to best meet their members’ learning objectives by differentiating content. For example, focus on offering hot topics and topics that are relevant now.

Develop new content regularly and experiment with various course delivery formats. Specifically, experiment with short video segments of specific topics, blended learning approaches, videos, course interactions, and more.

An individualized learning experience through the LMS

A highly functional LMS also allows organizations to individualize the learning experience, which helps students feel more empowered and committed to their learning experience. Personalization through an LMS can be done for example by having students take part in a pre-assessment survey or test prior to beginning a course so that their learning journey is relative to their baseline competency. An individualized learning experience means students will be able to learn at their own pace and receive personalized feedback in a way and on subjects that are relevant to their needs.

Save time when communicating with learners

Among the most valuable resource to subject matter experts is time. They are busy professionals. However, for online learners, their commitment and success will be influenced by the quality of e-learning content. Therefore, if you are working with subject matter experts to develop content or if the courses are developed by your internal staff, make quality a must.

Because time is at a premium, communicate with your members regularly to draw attention to additional resources and to provide help for individuals struggling with a particular module or topic.Using the full engagement potential of an LMS will let your members know that their instructors care about their success.

Take stock of user feedback and commit to improving

It takes time to perfect an LMS experience for users — both educators and students. But perfection won’t occur without careful consideration of their feedback. At some point in the process, LMS administrators will receive enough feedback that it becomes time to revamp and reoptimize their system’s functionality. Is there low uptake on courses? Do students complain about how content is organized or searchable? Associations should make it a priority to continuously improve and fine-tune how their LMS is working. To do so, it’s critical to keep track of what is and isn’t working.

For more information on how to optimize your LMS and e-learning experience, contact us at Vocalmeet.

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There is an ongoing trend in immersive and meaningful continuing education: it’s being offered online. The approach is becoming ever more popular as a way to prevent and reduce unethical behavior in a variety of industries.

From the American Psychological Association and National Association of Professional Engineers to the American Bar Association and American Medical Association, associations and industry sectors have adopted codes of ethics. In order to be effective, these commitments require ethics programs centered around providing core knowledge and guidance on how to make the right decisions in difficult situations. For associations, online education is one of the key ways to ensure ethics training reaches all members and that members have access to information when they need it.

But why care about ethics?

Organizations around the world are becoming more concerned with ensuring ethical behavior in the workplace. They’re creating and implementing behavior standards — and prioritizing staff’s ability to distinguish and understand the seriousness of right and wrong conduct.

There are several reasons why organizations implement an ethics program, which typically consist of reporting mechanisms, codes of conduct and training. Sometimes these programs are mandated by government regulators; other times they’re voluntary initiatives.

Nevertheless, by aiming to create an integrity-based culture that promotes ethical behavior — by providing resources and clarity on what is meant by “being ethical”, creating transparency and openness in conversations around ethical behavior, and demonstrating and reinforcing ethical behavior —  organizations are helping create a healthy culture and environment, as well as a better overall organization given the “strong link between ethical performance and financial performance.”

It’s reported that organizations with an ethics program see less unethical behavior, but unethical behavior continues to be pervasive throughout organizations and industries. For example, in its 2017 survey of 5,101 people, the Ethics & Compliance Initiative reported that 47 per cent of respondents observed misconduct in their workplace. Just this past year we saw price collusion in pharmaceuticals; bribery in electronics; data and privacy breaches in tech; the mistreatment of customers in airline travel; and sexual assault and harassment allegations throughout media/entertainment and several other industries.

In addition to unethical behavior that captured headlines, ethical challenges arise in a variety of professions: medical professionals often confront legal and ethical challenges when asked to respect the wishes of patients, and lawyers have to respect the confidentiality and fiduciary responsibilities that come with the sanctity of client-privilege.

Ethical challenges are pervasive in the workplace. It’s critical that your members understand how to identify and respond to these situations.

How can continuing online education help?

Continuing education is most often aimed at adult learners who, according to expert Malcolm Knowles, share five traits. Adults learners are independent and self-directing; have a wealth of experience that can be recalled and applied when they’re asked to absorb lessons; are ready to learn when it will impact their immediate reality; are more interested in problem-based learning; and are motivated to learn based on internal factors like self-esteem and quality of life. Essentially, adults learn best through active approaches that emphasize problem-based learning and peer-to-peer interaction.

Online education often involves assigned readings and videos where learners are hearing from experts in the field. This often means that your association’s members for example do not have to retain all information at once and can replay areas that may be challenging to understand. Ethics training, in particular, requires intensive discussion that requires learners to analyse complex case studies and scenario-based problems. Learners are also often required to put forward, as well as defend, their ideas and solutions to ethical dilemmas. In the face of being a remote experience, the learning is immersive and engaging. In fact, several organizations have implemented online ethics training that considers and incorporates the aforementioned elements. For example, the Children’s Mercy Bioethics Center in Kansas City, Missouri, delivered a program for its Certificate Program in Pediatric Bioethics that afforded busy adults the opportunity to have self-direction and learn around their own daily obligations. The result was thoughtful and reflective online discussions, that were documented and open to moderation from a teacher, among students who might have refrained from participating in face-to-face class environments due to shyness.

The greatest benefit of continuing online education is its ability to provide just-in-time education. For example, in light of the #MeToo campaign as well as recent data scandals involving Cambridge Analytica and Facebook, continuing online education could be used to provide immediate and relevant company-wide training on sexual harassment and professional conduct, as well as training to chief data officers and data scientists on the ethical and legal responsibilities that come with harvesting personal data.

There are ethical tinderboxes just waiting to ignite. And while building an ethical culture at an organization and within a profession requires intensive and effective resources, time becomes critical when responding to ethical crises. Associations can step in and become even more relevant to their members by providing access to ethics training.

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Webinars have become an important way for associations to reach new and existing members. In terms of marketing, they’re a cost-effective tool to draw a crowd and brand yourself as an authority. Webinars are also convenient to run, leverageable for re-marketing purposes and, if done right, are an engaging experience for your members who have grown tired of written content.

After hosting a webinar, you want viewers to sign off feeling not only smarter but also inspired. You might be asking yourself, “But how?” Here are some tips to create an amazing webinar.

1. Webinars need to be specific

You want your webinar to be a can’t miss experience. You can do this by zeroing in on a topic that will teach your audience distinct lessons, opinions and approaches that they wouldn’t get anywhere else. Think of your webinar as an opportunity to provide the answers to a specific question they’ve all been asking. For example, if you’re thinking about running a webinar on project management and agile, you’re better off getting into the details rather than answering “what’s agile?” It’s too broad. Try focusing your entire webinar on how and why scrum methodology and sprints — an element of agile — can be the right approach for your audience by detailing roles and responsibilities associated with it. Still not sure what to focus on? Consider asking your product managers and customer support staff for the most popular (and specific) questions they receive from customers.

2. Promote the event (and yourself)

Once you’ve picked your topic and scheduled a date for your webinar, it’s time to get the word out. Using branded graphics, speaker bios (and photos), and key messages (including teasers) highlighting the topic and relevance of your webinar topic, you should start to share your event at least two weeks before the event date. Promote it on social media channels, on your website, and by e-mail with your members, partners and individuals who attended any past events you’ve hosted. This multi-channel approach will broaden your reach. Importantly, by using a registration page, you can keep track of how many people (and who) have signed up for your webinar. This list of attendees will come in handy once your event has wrapped up.

When promoting the event, you can also suggest non-members to join your association or explore other parts of your website, such as your blog and online store, and offer a promotional discount to those who register for the webinar.

3. Webinars need to be engaging

To keep viewers tuned in, your webinar needs to inspire. It’s easier said than done. But don’t worry. These tips will ensure a smooth, captivating experience that helps you and your organization forge a unique bond with your audience.

Decide on your talent and format

These are two of the most important elements to creating an engaging webinar. Picking the right speaker — whether it be a member of your team or an expert in the field — is an important way to ensure viewers are captivated with what and how you’re communicating with them. Audiences are drawn in by presenters who are positive, passionate, and motivational.

Your format will also help shape the type of discussion and dynamic in your webinar. Will you be running a lecture with graphics — or a Q&A and fireside chat between an expert and a moderator?

Prepare a storyboard — and script

Remember: it’s normal for webinar presenters to be nervous. Preparation is key to calming your talent — and knowing where you want to go and how you want to get there is a key way to do this. A storyboard with a strong script — that outlines the flow of your webinar and expectations of your talent — is essential to creating a coherent experience, especially when webinars can be up to an hour in length. Will there be 5 minutes for an introduction, 25 minutes for a presentation/discussion, and 10 minutes for online audience questions? Taking the time to consider both a storyboard and script will help your webinar stay on message and keep your talent calm, cool, and collected. Remember — always end your webinar with a call to action: suggest how your audience can learn more or implement one of your lessons in their own life.

4. Testing, testing 1, 2, 3

Yes, things can go wrong with a live broadcast and when presenting a webinar. But why not mitigate problems before they even have a chance to go sideways?

Conducting a dry-run — checking microphones, preparing studio space (including lighting), testing connections — and hiring a technical assistant who has camera experience and is on hand with background microphones, cables etc. can be an invaluable way to ensure webinar success.

Depending on your outlook, preparing for the worst — and expecting things to go wrong — might sound pessimistic or it might sound like prudent planning. Either way, you should be prepared early. You’ll appreciate the piece of mind.

5. Make hay while the sun shines

The fun isn’t over once your wrapped up the webinar. Now it’s your chance to follow up with attendees to ask what they liked or didn’t like, what they want more of or what they would like addressed next time. You can keep them engaged with your organization by asking them to offer feedback on an online forum (on your website or on social media), asking them to visit your blog and other resources, and by inviting them to share the webinar they just watch (or future planned webinars) with their colleagues.

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