Whether you’re managing a union, an association, or another member-based organization, memberships are the backbone of your success. An engaged community doesn’t just make your organization stronger—it keeps the cash flowing and sets you up for long-term wins.

Let’s be honest—people are constantly swamped with content. So, how can you stand out, grab the attention of potential members, and convince them to sign up? The secret to success is creating a strong value proposition, streamlining the sign-up process, and continuously offering experiences that truly resonate with potential members.

When your audience sees the real advantages of joining—whether that means access to exclusive content, valuable networking opportunities, or special member perks—they’ll be far more inclined to take that next step and get involved.

It’s not just about getting people to sign up, though; it’s about creating an experience they want to stay for. So, without further ado, let’s look at some techniques to boost your membership and take your sales to the next level!

Developing a Marketing Plan

Before diving in and testing different approaches, it’s important to have a clear strategy. Here’s how to set yourself up for success:

• Set clear objectives: What’s the goal? More sign-ups? Higher engagement? A better retention rate? Get specific so you can measure your success.
• Identify your target audience: Who are your ideal members? Are they professionals looking for networking opportunities, newbies passionate about advancing in their field, or industry practitioners looking for accreditation? Know your crowd.
• Select the right marketing channels: Facebook, LinkedIn, email newsletters—each of these has its own “vibe”, so make sure to use the tools that your audience will actually engage with.

Strategies to Boost Membership Sales

Now for the fun part: making your membership sales soar!

1. Simplify the Enrollment Process

If your sign-up process is too complicated, potential members may give up before they even complete it. Instead, make it as easy as putting together a sandwich—simple, fast, and intuitive. A streamlined, user-friendly process reduces friction and increases conversions. Consider:

• One-click sign-ups
• Clear pricing (no hidden fees)
• Mobile responsivity (because nobody wants to struggle with a tiny screen!)

2. Offer Incentives and Limited-Time Deals

People are always drawn to a great deal. Build anticipation and drive action by creating a sense of urgency and excitement with:

• Early-bird discounts
• BOGO (Buy One, Get One) memberships for referrals
• Exclusive launch offers for first-time members (such as discounted/free courses)

3. Utilize Social Media & Online Platforms

If you’re not using social media to promote your memberships (and all they offer!), you’re leaving money on the table. Social media is a powerful tool for reaching potential members, engaging your current audience, and showcasing the value of your organization. Use platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and X (formerly Twitter) to:

• Post engaging content (such as behind-the-scenes videos, testimonials, and sneak peeks of new courses).
• Go live! Q&A sessions and virtual events can build hype. Run paid ads targeting your ideal members–after all, members can only join your association if they know you’re out there!

4. Offer Valuable & Exclusive Content

People don’t just want to join a group; they want to feel like they’re in a community of their peers. Building a strong sense of belonging is key to attracting and retaining members. Make them feel like VIPs by offering:

• Members-only webinars, courses, and/or networking events
• Special discounts, freebies, and/or priority access to new features
• Industry insider information they can’t get anywhere else

5. Partner with Complementary Organizations

Teamwork makes the dream work! Collaborate with businesses or groups that share your audience but aren’t direct competitors. Strategic partnerships can enhance your offerings, attract new members, and strengthen your association’s credibility. For example:

• A professional association could collaborate with soft skills career coaches.
• A teachers’ association could work with educational publishers.
• A medical association could partner with healthcare product providers.

6. Host Conferences and Exhibits

Sometimes, nothing beats face-to-face interaction when it comes to building relationships and growing your membership. Hosting industry conferences, trade shows, and networking events gives you direct access to potential members who are already engaged in your field. You can:

• Set up an eye-catching welcome booth with engaging visuals, informative materials, and interactive elements to draw attendees in.
• Offer live sessions, exclusive giveaways, or limited-time membership discounts to encourage sign-ups on the spot.

7. Leverage Social Proof & Testimonials

People trust real experiences more than advertisements. Highlight your satisfied members and let their stories showcase the value of your association:

• Share video testimonials
• Post screenshots of positive feedback
• Display success stories and case studies on your website

You may also like: Expanding Your Reach: How to Market Your Association’s Continuing Education

Monitor & Evaluate Strategies

What’s working? What’s not? Here’s how to ensure your strategy is helping (not hurting):

• Track KPIs: Monitor conversion rates, engagement levels, and retention rates.
• Gather feedback: Ask new members what convinced them to join (and what could be better).
• Refine based on data: If a strategy isn’t delivering, tweak it until it does!

Conclusion

Selling memberships doesn’t have to be a struggle. With the right mix of strategic marketing, compelling incentives, and meaningful engagement, you can turn potential members into enthusiastic advocates. The key is to make the process simple, exciting, and packed with value—because when people clearly see the benefits, they’ll be eager to join.

Now, go out there with confidence and boost your association’s membership!

References

Content Marketing Institute. (2023). CMI: Content Marketing Strategy, Research, “How-To” Advice. Content Marketing Institute. https://contentmarketinginstitute.com/

Marketing General Incorporated. (2025). The Membership Lifecycle. Marketinggeneral.com; Marketing General Incorporated. https://www.marketinggeneral.com/solutions/the-membership-lifecycle

MCIM, H. M. (2023, June 13). Elevating Club Membership Sales with Demand Generation Strategies. Linkedin.com. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/elevating-club-membership-sales-demand-generation-mcguckin-mcim/

The post Selling Memberships Like a Pro: Fun & Effective Strategies to Boost Your Numbers appeared first on Online Learning Solutions | Association Management System | Vocalmeet.

Despite this, organizations are still slow to realize the full potential of the practice. Back in 2016, about 44% of brands were incorporating live streaming. That number has grown steadily since but, for most, there’s still plenty of room to grow.

In general, videos perform much better than other media formats. Videos typically have a greater than 135% organic reach on social media channels compared to pictures. Additionally, viewers watch live videos longer, comment more, and share them more often than they do their pre-recorded counterparts.

However, when it comes to positive brand awareness, the effectiveness of a live stream is more important than just its widespread coverage. Live streams give organizations the power of immediacy. They can showcase sides of the organization that most consumers would never (or could never) otherwise see.

While there are countless ways that live streams can help your organization, today we’ll be exploring some of the best ways they can help promote your association’s brand:

1. Introduce Your Organization

One of the best ways for an organization to build true brand recognition is to give the world a closer look at its inner workings. Modern consumers connect best to organizations that display transparency, honesty, and authenticity.

In order to gain the trust of consumers, organizations need to be human, be responsible, and be available. How better to achieve this than to use live streams to show off your association? Live streams can highlight how your organization operates by bringing viewers behind-the-scenes:

• Showcase your creative process
• Take viewers on a tour
• Create videos that show off your organization’s culture

Some organizations even choose to live stream meetings or interviews with various personnel. This helps to add personality and a face to the company.

You may consider giving your consumers a chance to ask questions of different people. The goal here is to help bridge the gap between the organization and the consumer. Demystify your operations and unveil the processes involved in your work. The more people know and understand, the higher the chance they will connect with you.

These live streams don’t have to be polished pieces of art, either. In fact, many of the most effective live streams are unscripted and rough around the edges, making them come across as more “real” and authentic.

2. Highlight Your Initiatives

As a promotional tool, few mediums can compete with live streams.

Effective live streams remove the middleman and the confusing marketing language, instead providing immediate updates, increased awareness, and news announcements directly from the source.

Associations can use live streams to show-off or tease new and upcoming courses and conferences. Some may offer exclusive sales via discount codes or contests during the stream.

Other associations may use live streams to provide a countdown to an upcoming event or initiative. This can help build excitement and ensure a launch doesn’t go by unnoticed!

Another effective live streaming method is to highlight positive initiatives or charity work done by your organization. In this globally-conscious age, live streams with a social focus can inspire audiences and help them connect with your association’s mission.

No matter how you demonstrate your organization’s value or purpose, it’s important to keep your communications consistent and on-brand. Today’s members are much more willing to support associations when they feel that they’re contributing to a positive effort!

3. Stream Your Events

Improving access to your association’s events is a powerful way to increase brand awareness.

For one, live streaming your events will result in a more widespread reach: your consumers will enjoy more attendance options and, as a result, your attendance will become more diverse. As an organization, live streamed events position your brand as more accommodating and forward thinking.

Furthermore, live streams encourage and allow for real-time interaction with attendees. This high level engagement that live video attracts means that most social media platforms favor live streams in their promotional algorithms, allowing you to promote your brand further and farther. Live streams also allow your organization to better promote your events on social media, even directly linking to the event in posts.

Whether it’s product launches, association introductions, or a large industry forum, it’s important to remember that the best live streams offer audiences something that may not be available in person. This takes your live stream from being an extension of the physical event to something altogether unique and distinct.

Even after the live streams and events are finished, organizations can use the material they recorded in a variety of ways. Some organizations break up the video and use it for promotional purposes, enhancing their brand awareness even further.

Make sure to archive and catalog your content for ease of use!

4. Run Live Training Programs

Brand awareness is important, but how consumers recognize and remember a brand is perhaps the most important of all.

With live streams, organizations can inject more value for consumers in a greater number of ways. One of the most effective uses of this strategy–particularly in terms of brand awareness–is to offer live training programs.

Live training programs can be anything, from individual courses to industry certifications to a series of webinars. Some organizations may offer complex training programs, whereas others may prefer simple how-to videos or live demonstrations. Associations can even live stream customer support and customer onboarding videos!

No matter the content, the purpose is the same: education.

Providing educational content helps position associations as thought leaders in their industries, making them a hub of information and a landing spot for professional (and personal!) development.

The live delivery component of this kind of training makes the learning process more of a personal experience. Students and instructors can connect in real-time, and members feel more seen and heard in their studies. By offering live educational support, organizations can foster feelings of being seen and supported in their members.

5. Partner Up

In this age of information, brands are evaluated in many different ways.

Associations looking to build brand awareness should look into teaming up with brands and sponsors with similar values and goals. Organizations may, for example, align with another brand and participate together in a purposeful initiative. Others may seek out professional live streamers or social media influencers to partner with, which can have a major impact on reach and brand awareness.

It’s important, however, that organizations choose the right brands to partner with; when one organization aligns with another, their messaging should be consistent, or else audiences will be left confused.

Perhaps the most effective form of collaboration via live streams is when organizations work directly with their audience.

Associations that respond to and communicate with their members tend to be the more relatable and memorable brands in the digital landscape. Use live streams to:

• Talk to your audience,
• Gather feedback from members, and
• Use it to improve your services.

While crossover content and impressive guest appearances can have lasting effects, good old-fashioned customer appreciation is often what makes the biggest overall impression on your brand!

You may also like: Making Sure Your Next Event is Your BEST Event

Conclusion

In conclusion, live streaming is becoming an indispensable tool for organizations aiming to boost their brand recognition.

Live streaming’s unique ability to engage, captivate, and provide real-time connections makes it a key component in many a marketing strategy. From introducing an organization to showcasing initiatives, from offering live training programs to forging partnerships, live streaming empowers associations to resonate with members on a deeper level and leave a lasting impression.

As this dynamic medium continues to evolve, one thing is becoming clear: embracing live streaming isn’t just a promotional option–it’s rapidly becoming a necessity!

Sources

The post Boosting Brand Recognition: How Live Streaming Can Help appeared first on Online Learning Solutions | Association Management System | Vocalmeet.

On the association side, sponsors can help offset the cost of events. On the sponsor side, the more attendees an event gathers, the better the opportunity to boost their brand.

Because of this, adding a live stream to an event is an excellent way to improve sponsorship opportunities. While there’s no guarantee you’ll hook your ideal target every time (this is life, after all!), there’s no better way to land a big catch than to increase the value you offer–and boy, do live streams help you offer!

Now, while many of the draws of live streams are the same as in-person events, there are some differences. For instance:

• Live streams present fewer geographical limitations and can offer a more varied audience.
• Live streams can extend a sponsorship past the event date.
• Sponsorship content in a live stream can be presented and viewed in multiple ways.

The reality is, sponsors are interested in pairing up with live streams for a lot of the same reasons that your organization decided to implement them in the first place. Now, it’s just up to you to make sure that it’s your live stream that those sponsors choose!

Let’s take a look at how to accomplish this:

1. Upgrade your Stream

The first step to attracting sponsors is to work on your stream.

If your stream looks amateurish, is hard to access, or features an unstable presentation or connection, your viewership will suffer. Few viewers will tune in and even fewer will stick around! This, of course, presents a major issue for sponsors.

How do you avoid these issues without breaking the bank? Let’s find out!

1. You can develop a professional-looking stream with just a smartphone, some quality lighting (ring lights and light panels, anyone?), and a sturdy tripod. You may consider implementing an external microphone to capture high-quality audio, too.
2. Next, you’ll want to ensure that your connection is strong. Latency issues will drive away viewers more than most other factors–no one likes lag!
3. Finally, by hosting your live stream on a reputable streaming platform, you assure sponsors that viewers will be able to access the stream and receive the necessary support, should they need it.

How about that? It’s as simple as one-two-three!

2. Help Them Be Known

For most sponsors, one of the most important details is visibility. How will viewers know that the event, the organization, or the live stream itself is sponsored?

With the wide variety of streaming platforms and technologies available in this market, streamers can promote their sponsors in a growing number of ways:

• Event planners can have speakers verbally promote the brand.
• Associations can display a sponsor logo in the shot.
• Sponsors can have their own dedicated segments (for instance, introducing sessions or hosting their own informative talks).
• Logos can be added to the event landing page (and even overlaid in the event recording in post!).

With the right live streaming partners and platform, associations can offer different levels of promotion to match the needs of their various sponsors.

3. Integrate, Integrate, Integrate

While some sponsors are content with having their logo posted on a live stream, there are those who would be interested in having more involvement in the organizations and the streams that they sponsor.

Up the ante for sponsors by including them in your event in various ways. For instance, associations can:

• Offer sponsors an exhibitor position.
• Use one of their products as a central component at the event.
• Include links or downloadable information about sponsors to drive engagement from viewers.

Another positive about offering a variety of sponsorship options is that your organization can provide tiered sponsorship levels. This gives sponsors a selection to choose from, enabling them to get the right level of involvement at the right price.

Organizations may even want to offer an a la carte approach to sponsorship packages, allowing sponsors to completely customize their involvement. Display your flexibility and your value all in one go!

4. Present a Thorough Plan

Whether you’re reaching out to individual sponsors or presenting a blanket advertisement to attract a variety of organizations, what you need is a solid event plan.

It’s important to know and communicate your event’s purpose, its main themes, and what your audience demographics look like. Paint as clear a picture as you can in order to increase the quality and the relevance of your sponsors.

When searching for individual sponsors, look for those organizations that share your target audience. This will increase the stakes for them and their involvement. Consider what your values are and what themes you wish to illuminate during the event. Then, look for sponsors that align with these values and themes.

The consistency between association, event, and sponsor not only makes it more appealing for sponsors, but it can improve the overall experience for attendees as well!

5. Extend Your Reach

When it comes to sponsorships, live streamed events may look a little different than traditional events.

For one, the audience may be slightly different. Live streams offer a wider geographical reach than most in-person events, which means you’ll be bringing in additional viewers–some outside of your normal pull. This can provide more incentive for sponsors beyond your event’s specific location.

Not just this–an online setting provides the perfect opportunity to promote online-related brands and products. Because of this, you may even consider hosting additional sponsors; some for in-person events and some for the live stream aspect. Consider this for your tiered package approach (as outlined above!).

Your event’s reach doesn’t end here, however: many organizations choose to reuse their live stream content:

• In some cases, organizations allow users to rewatch the stream for a set period of time.
• Some organizations allow users to purchase viewing rights to the stream as a stand-alone course.
• Further still, some associations repackage their stream content into full training programs or use them in workshops.
• Some will even use snippets of a stream for marketing purposes

Whatever you choose, the results are all the same: the content’s life cycle is extended.

For a sponsor, this can mean extended visibility and higher sponsorship value. Consider some new ways that your organization can reuse your live stream content and you might uncover some new sponsorship opportunities while you’re at it!

You may also like: Making Sure Your Next Event is Your BEST Event

Conclusion

When looking to attract sponsors to your next event, don’t sleep on live streaming and the value it can bring. The relationship between associations and sponsors is bolstered by live streaming’s ability to transcend physical boundaries, extend brand exposure, and engage diverse audiences.

Stand out in the eyes of your potential sponsors: optimize your live stream quality, feature them prominently, integrate their presence, present a comprehensive plan, and maximize your reach. Do this and you’ll create a winning formula that not only enriches your events but also entices sponsors to choose your association’s live stream as its ideal partnership opportunity.

So, set the stage, roll the cameras, and let your live stream shine as a beacon that sponsors can’t resist!

The post Attracting More Sponsors: the Live Stream Appeal appeared first on Online Learning Solutions | Association Management System | Vocalmeet.

Events are incredibly important for members as well, as they provide some of the biggest membership benefits available. In fact, many members join associations entirely to gain access to industry events and networking opportunities.

With so much depending on these events, there’s a lot of pressure riding on the people who put them together. Thankfully, we’re here to help! Today we’ll be outlining some of the best strategies to employ when putting together a trade show, conference, or workshop.

Let’s dive in!

1. Collect Feedback

What better way to find out what your members want from events than to ask them? Send out a survey, call or email individual members, and ask questions about ideal events on registration forms. There are countless ways to collect this valuable information, so try multiple for the best results.

Another great source of information is social media. You can try to start a conversation about the best events members have been to, or simply pay attention to any already-in-progress conversations on the topic. There’s plenty of useful information available if you take the time to find it!

At your own event, you’ll want to continue the cycle of feedback. Since attendees tend not to fill out traditional post-event surveys in great numbers, you can try having them provide feedback at the event.

While members wait for a speaker or a workshop to start, ask them to fill out a small questionnaire; make it mobile for maximum effect! You can also open up an online forum for them to talk about their experiences. This won’t just get you feedback–it’ll boost networking, too. That’s a win for everyone!

2. Communicate Well and Often

Long before your event kicks off, you’ll want to make sure that every member is well-informed about what your event will offer:

• Set your dates and destination as early as possible, and be sure to post them in as many places as possible.
• Try offering early bird prices for eager registrants to get the ball rolling.
• As soon as event offerings and the agenda are nailed down, post it for your members to see.

These details will help convince members that they should attend–and help them convince their employers if they need time off work.

In terms of the registration process, ensure that the online registration form is clear and concise. Make it as easily accessible as you can, and make yourself (or your staff) available to answer any questions inquiring minds (potential attendees!) may have.

Use social media to discuss the event and make updates regarding the agenda and speakers. After all, this is likely the first place that attendees will check for information and questions.

3. Apply a Multi-Channel Marketing Strategy

A thorough multi-channel marketing strategy can improve event attendance more than any other element.

With so many events ongoing, however, associations have to think up creative ways to promote their sessions and get their message heard.

Digital marketing is one such way to get your event seen. Use social media and the tools available on each platform to your advantage. For example, Facebook’s targeted ads allow you to hone in on specific groups and demographics; you can even personalize your messages for greater effect!

Associations may also want to employ search engine optimization (SEO) strategies to rank highly on relevant searches. The higher your ranking, the more people will see your event.

Email marketing can also prove effective, especially if the email lists are curated and grouped smartly, with the emails catered to each recipient.

Associations will want to set up an event website (or at least page) to host registration forms, information, and FAQs. Make sure to link back to this page in all of your promotions! Think of it as the information “hub” of your event.

Finally, encourage your event speakers, exhibitors, and sponsors to join the marketing push. This might help get your event seen by eyes that may otherwise miss it!

4. Integrate Great Speakers and Sponsors

When speakers and sponsors are more engaged in an event, they tend to bring more to the table. Therefore, when sourcing speakers, search for the ones that align most closely with your association.

Speakers should have something to gain from your audience and vice versa. Don’t be afraid to take risks when bringing on speakers; while those used to the event circuit may bring more security, newer speakers can bring a fresh message and help make your event unique!

Many associations look for any sponsors they can get for their events, but getting the right sponsors can add great value to your event.

To attract the best sponsors for your organization, ensure that those you approach align with your association’s values. If they do, you have the opportunity to offer a more integrated sponsorship; you can try offering the sponsor a speaker slot or allow them to run a workshop. The more cohesive you make your event, the stronger it will be.

Like speakers, the more sponsors are involved in your event, the more they may bring to the table!

5. Stimulate Networking

As we mentioned above, networking is often thought of as one of the most important elements of any event.

Many people attend events with the hopes of developing their professional network and adding new contacts to their lists. But, all too often, associations leave networking up to the event attendees. Unfortunately, simply putting people in a room together and hoping for the best likely won’t produce the results you (and your members) are looking for!

Instead, try something new and different.

• Try adding in a few games to break the ice.
  • You can find examples online or even make some up yourself! If you do the latter, see how on-theme you can make them.
• Have attendees work in teams.
  • You may want to make the teams up yourself, matching people with others whose interests might align.
• Consider using a mobile app or an online event forum to connect attendees and make conversation a little easier.
  • Some apps even have discovery features that help attendees find their networking match.

A little pizzazz can go a long way!

6. Go Digital

There are so many technology options for events these days–far too many to list or to make use of! Thankfully, there are a few more specific options that can help put your next conference ahead of the competition.

One such piece of technology is a conference app or an accessible conference website. These can allow attendees to easily access event information, such as exhibitor information, maps, calendars, and your forums. Participants can also use it to network, ask questions, and communicate with speakers during presentations.

In general, many associations are now moving toward digital event technology, as it can help accomplish several goals at once.

For one, it’s a greener way of doing things, and incorporating environmental friendliness isn’t just smart and better for the world–it shows that your organization is current and cutting-edge.

Going green with event apps can also help save money during the event and, since most digital conference applications are entirely reusable, they’ll help save money for your next event as well!

7. Justification Letters

A justification letter or package can really help boost event attendance by helping potential attendees convince their employers of your event’s value. Travel and registration costs are often the reason why guests don’t attend your event, so don’t leave your members empty-handed when approaching their managers.

Justification comes in two major steps: registration and recap.

To help improve registration, consider offering your potential registrants a benefit letter for their employer. Highlight the event’s important features, workshops, and networking opportunities. Make it clear what the attendee will get from the event and how it might help them professionally. The more enticing you make it, the more the employer may want to send additional attendees!

The next step is the recap. To ensure that attendees come to your next event, help them show their employers what they gained from this one when they get back. Provide them with a highlights package or a trip report that can help them create an executive summary for their employer–or even act as one by itself!

Remember: the more support you give, the more you’ll get in return.

8. Post-Conference Follow-ups

While the steps above will help with your next event, this step is looking even further ahead: the event after next.

To ensure that the registrants you worked so hard to get keep coming back, you should offer a post-conference follow-up. Reach out to your guests post-conference and keep that connection close. You might even consider providing an attendee-only offer, such as a discount on a training course or early bird access to the next event–whatever helps keep them coming back for more!

You can also share photos, videos, or special moments from your event. While these components can help personalize your follow-up and add more oomph to your thank you, they can also double as marketing or justification package tools, as recipients may share these on social media or with their employers. At the very least, you’ll be able to show potential future attendees how much fun everyone had!

You may also like: Boosting Your Revenue Potential with Live Streamed Events

Conclusion

When it comes to boosting non-dues revenue, orchestrating successful events is crucial for any associations. The careful implementation of strategies can significantly elevate the quality and impact of your event and showcase the value of membership with your organization.

Pave the way for memorable, enriching experiences–follow the above steps and make your next event your best one yet, for both your attendees and your association!

Sources

The post Making Sure Your Next Event is Your BEST Event appeared first on Online Learning Solutions | Association Management System | Vocalmeet.

As an association, you have to consider how your environmental outlook will be viewed by your industry, your members, and non-members alike. While it, of course, looks good for an association to go green, it’s important to recognize that organizations hold the power to make a difference as they hold positions of power and influence in their respective industries. 

Unfortunately, associations also participate in creating an enormous amount of waste–especially during events! According to MeetGreen, a typical three-day event with 1,000 attendees produces an average of more than 5,500 kg of waste. 

For associations looking to make a difference and develop a green initiative that members can get behind, a green-focused venue is a great opportunity. To help you realize this goal, we’ve outlined several ways that you can green up your next venue–without breaking the bank! 

1. Team Green 

When you start developing your venue and considering everyone who will be involved, you should examine the environmental policies of every person and organization attached to the event. Remember, they’ll be representing your association!

You can:

• Ask them to give some background on any green initiatives or efforts they’re currently running. 
• Review their policies and look for 3rd party sustainability certifications (such as LEED, APEX/ASTM, or Green Leaders).

Remember, every speaker, vendor, and exhibitor should be accounted for. The more effort you put into the research and planning in the beginning, the more cohesive your event and your message will be in the end!

2. A Healthy Venue 

Just as your association has to select its partners carefully, your venue choice can greatly impact your event’s environmental impact. 

Locating an environmentally friendly venue may be easier than you think. In fact, many venues today will readily offer up that information in advance–especially if it’s a point of pride for them. 

You can also research green venue reports, sustainability indexes, and ask for more information from the venue administrators. Among other things, look into their waste reduction and energy efficiency policies before you make a decision.

While the venue itself plays a massive role, the location of your event is also important to the overall initiative. You’ll want to consider, for example, where attendees will stay and dine while there. 

• Are there hotels and restaurants close by? 
• Are they environmentally friendly, or are there greener options available? 

You can also consider setting up a carpool project or providing a shuttle during event hours to cut down on car use and pollution. Every little bit helps!

3. Make it Digital

In most settings, going digital can have a significant impact on green initiatives. Additionally, there are multiple options for going digital–and perhaps just as many benefits! 

Associations may consider developing or using an event app, as well as emailing out presentation notes instead of using paper. Meanwhile, speakers can integrate technology into their presentations as much as possible and/or encourage attendees to connect to the event webpage through their smartphones. 

As for the benefits, incorporating digital options can dramatically cut back on paper and other waste during an event. Cost-wise, digital events can end up saving your association  money in the long term. 

Since event apps and other technology can be used for multiple events, your overall costs can be reduced considerably over time. Adding technology can also add to the experience: event apps are powerful tools for networking and communication, as attendees can chat in a less intimidating environment and even ask questions of speakers, exhibitors, and administrators. Less waste, more value!

4. A Green Theme

Once you’ve established that you’re pushing for a green event, you’ve recruited the best of the best to represent your association, and you’ve found your venue, you can now look at developing a green theme to really make an impression on your guests. 

Discuss your themes with the different speakers and exhibitors. Ask them to incorporate some type of environmental theme into their messaging to develop a more cohesive overall product. 

Just as a rising tide raises all boats, this type of consistency can improve the event’s green goals and improve each individual presentation and product.

5. Food and Drink 

One of the biggest waste producers at any event is the food and drink.

You can cut back on this waste by seeking out recyclable or compostable food and drink containers. Consider meatless menus for less carbon production, bulk condiments for fewer packaging requirements, and organic food options to promote healthier farming and eating practices. 

Another great option to promote sustainability is to buy from local food and drink producers. Buy only what is needed and serve only what will be eaten!

6. Start an Initiative

While cutting back on waste and developing a green theme can go a long way, your association can further enhance its impact by getting everyone involved. 

Leading up to the event, think of ways of generating interest in environmental change. Consider creating a green contest of some sort. Celebrate the winners and their stories during the event. To stir up involvement, offer prizes for winners, such as course or event discounts (or even free admission!). You can extend the initiative after the event as well, encouraging attendees to keep the momentum going. 

If you continue this green initiative, you can even track the event’s results year over year, finding new and better ways to hone your environmental skills. 

You may also like: 5 Benefits to Live Streaming Your Association’s Event

Conclusion

When it comes down to it, adopting eco-friendly practices and implementing green initiatives for events can not only improve the reputation of an association but also create a positive impact on the environment. 

By carefully considering every aspect of the event, from venue selection to waste reduction strategies, associations can pave the way for more sustainable practices within their industries. Engaging all stakeholders–including event partners and attendees!–in the green mission can also amplify your effort and inspire others to follow suit. 

As leaders in their fields, associations can (and should!) embrace sustainability and set an example for members–while maybe even saving some coin in the process!

Sources

The post Make Your Events More Green (Without Spending It!) appeared first on Online Learning Solutions | Association Management System | Vocalmeet.

For those who have yet to master the art of live streaming and develop their own methods, however, the process can seem daunting–and even a little overwhelming. While there is no one way to build a guaranteed-successful live stream, your organization can dramatically improve its odds of triumph by following a set of tried and tested guidelines.

That’s where we come in! Today, we’ve compiled a list of steps that can serve as a helpful roadmap, filled with tips on where to start and what to look out for. Before long, your organization will have high-quality live streams up and running. Your audience will thank you for it!

1. Simplify Your Setup

It can be tempting to go out and get the biggest and best live stream setup available, but unless you really know what you’re doing, it might be better to opt for something more simple at first. The more components your setup has, the more complex your system is, and the greater the room for error.

Remember, a simple setup can still generate an extremely high quality live stream if done right!

In the beginning, your organization should focus on mastering live stream basics. Use only the most crucial tools and components to lower your odds of facing technical errors. With enough experience over time, you’ll build a more informed understanding of what you lack and what you can upgrade in order to improve.

Remember to KISS: Keep it Simple, Silly. Take things one step at a time!

2. Plan, Test, Practice

Long before you take your stream live, you should have a plan drawn up.

Think:

• What parts of the event will be streamed?
• Where will the cameras be positioned?
• Does the lighting look good from every (filmed) angle?
• Does the audio pick up clearly on every camera?
• Who is operating what equipment, and when?

Be sure to check each piece of equipment that you plan to use, and do a rehearsal “test run” before starting up the live stream engines. It’s also wise to try the stream out on multiple devices to see how everything looks and runs before going live.

Finally, it’s not a bad idea to have a backup plan in place should anything go wrong. Even a quality smartphone or two can do in a pinch!

3. Getting Connected

Your internet connection and choice of streaming methods are every bit as important as the technical setup itself.

Assuming you’re using the internet, it’s always best to use a wired connection whenever possible. WiFi is convenient, but if it blips, you could encounter problems. It’s also good practice to set up an isolated connection so that no other users can interrupt your connection.

When deciding on the quality to generate for the stream, you’ll need to know a few things:

• What bandwidth is available to you?
• How many attendees are expected?
• How long is the stream?

Generally, you’ll want a bandwidth that is two times that of the desired stream bitrate.

4. Changing the View

Depending on the technology you have available to you, your live stream could benefit from multiple camera angles and perspectives.

If you have the resources, try setting up different cameras to catch different aspects of the presentation. With a video switcher, you can move between cameras with the click of a button. You can also create presets on the switcher to catch more unique and dynamic shots, including things like:

• Microphone closeups
• Projector screen views
• A Q&A angle
• Even the audience!

The type of switcher you use is completely up to your personal preferences and budget–there’s one to suit every association, so don’t be afraid to look into them.

No matter the tools you choose, presenting a variety of camera angles and perspectives can break up the monotony of a single shot and give the audience a more dynamic experience. This can go a long way in simulating actually being present at the event as well–making viewers feel more engaged and “in the moment”!

5. The Skinny on Encoding

Encoding is the process of turning a recording into a live stream. The technology used to do this varies considerably. Your organization may choose between a free encoder, software, or hardware. Before you choose one method, look into the pros and cons of each and decide on which would be the best fit for your organization and event.

You’ll also need to decide how you want the streams transcoded to your viewers: do it yourself onsite, or have another organization take care of it offsite?

Many streaming services now allow you to submit a single stream at the highest possible bitrate and then permit viewers to choose their preferred quality. As always, consider your audience and what would work best for them.

6. Start Early and End Effectively

One of the best ways to ensure that viewers join the live stream on time is to start the stream before the actual event is set to begin. Open the virtual room ten or fifteen minutes early and let your audience join and get comfortable. You can even chat with participants while you wait!

Additionally, if your stream doesn’t start until the last possible minute, you shouldn’t expect viewers to join early. While some early visitors may wait patiently for a stream to start, a blank screen or a black screen may give them the impression that your live stream is experiencing technical difficulties. Instead, give early visitors a sign that you are on schedule. You could:

• Stream the empty stage
• Stream a graphic indicating the stream will begin soon
• Talk with early joiners (like a pre-show meet and greet!)

Whatever method you choose, letting your audience in early and notifying them of the event start time will ensure that everyone is ready to go when you are.

When it comes time to end the stream, you should avoid the fade-to-black method. The period after a stream ends is a great opportunity to present a call to action, such as encouraging members to sign up for the next event or directing viewers to your organization’s website.

But wait, there’s more! Many stream locations also provide a video replay, which allows viewers to rewatch the stream to catch up on anything they missed–a great way to help your audience to get the most out of your event.

7. Record and Store all Content

While you may not want to live stream everything at your event, if you have the technology and the cameras available, it can be incredibly beneficial to record each session. You never know when something will become useful, and storing the additional video shouldn’t take up too much space. Remember: it’s better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it!

After the event, you can look into various ways of repurposing the content or adding the material to other areas. You may want to turn recorded sessions into on-demand webinars for your association (which can help you earn more non-dues revenue!) or cut it into snippets to help market your association and promote future events.

Finally, these recordings can also give your organization plenty of test material to see what works and what doesn’t, helping you improve your future live streams. The more streams you host, the more experience you’ll gain, and the better value you (and your members!) will reap from it.

You may also like: We’re All Watching: Why Video is the Most Engaging Medium

Conclusion

In the end, mastering the art of live streaming requires a little planning, a bit of technical know-how, and a solid commitment to delivering high-quality content to your audience. By following the steps above, hosting lots of informative streams, and improving your approach with every event you throw, you’ll soon be leading engaging and successful live streams that captivate and connect with your audience!

Sources

The post Live Streaming 101 appeared first on Online Learning Solutions | Association Management System | Vocalmeet.

Thankfully, advances in the field have made it so that people can better access events of all kinds–from international conferences to simple meetings and workshops–and interact with them from anywhere in the world.

From a business standpoint, live streams allow associations to diversify their offerings and better accommodate their members.

Despite all this, some organizations have yet to adopt live streams for their events. Some may worry about the initial start up costs or the learning curve. Some may wonder if live streaming is really for them.

The truth is, live streaming can make an impact for most associations, and they suit virtually every kind of event. They can bring in new revenue streams and give some of your already established streams a nice boost.

Today, we’ll be looking at some of the ways live streams can benefit your organization!

1. Boost Your Online Attendance

In general, live streams give your would-be event attendees more options when attending.

Research indicates that digital attendance doesn’t cut into physical attendance. In other words, if an attendee can attend an in-person event, they usually will. If anything, live streams typically increase in-person attendance in future years, as approximately one-third of digital attendees will attend the physical event the following year.

Think of it like this: live streams give digital attendees a taste of what you offer. Live streams also provide a useful alternative for those restricted by time, cost, and distance (among other things).

This isn’t all, however; live streams also bring in a new and dedicated audience altogether. Live streams have the ability to bypass geographical restrictions and expand audiences. They can cater to different personality types and those in situations that may limit their physical attendance. Live streams are accessible to anyone with a computer, phone, or tablet!

To find the best live stream attendance pricing, consider the value of the streamed content compared to the in-person event.

2. Offer Online Specials

Once your organization has committed to running live streams, you can develop an entirely new line of product and service offers for your virtual audience. This can include anything from discounted attendance on future live streams to online-only offers, such as access to online workshops and training programs.

You may even decide to offer online specials with your live stream partners, sponsors, and advertisers! Revenue from any resulting conversions can be split in whatever way you and your collaborators see fit.

Another option to consider is offering group specials for larger groups attending your stream. While this can (and should!) be offered for in-person events as well, live streams have the benefit of a much greater reach. After all, people can join the stream without having to commit a great deal of time or energy. This also allows your organization to consider a much larger pool of potentially interested groups!

With the right marketing strategy and discount program, your next live stream may see a big spike in attendance.

3. Increase Your Advertising and Sponsorships

In addition to ticket revenues, sponsorships and advertisements are probably the biggest non-dues revenue generators for live streams.

When broadcast across the digital landscape, events take on a different shape. They may appeal to new sponsors and advertisers now: those who wish to promote a digital product or brand and/or those who wish to reach an online audience. This can open a lot of doors for additional opportunities and revenue streams!

Furthermore, your event sponsors and advertisers get to stretch the shelf life of their investment through the very nature of live streams. After all, if you’re live streaming your event, it only makes sense to keep a recording of the stream!

Consequently, recorded events can be played back at later dates on-demand and used in various ways long after the physical event ended. This means that your sponsors and advertisers get to show up on-screen again and again with every playback!

Additionally, like with an in-person event, live stream planners can offer their sponsors and advertisers different integration opportunities. With a clear understanding of how your event will be displayed live and how it will be used in the future, your organization can offer multi-tiered advertising packages–netting you a number of revenue streams in the process!

4. Gain New Partners and Exhibitors

The addition of an online audience can lead to new partnerships and financial opportunities.

If your organization can demonstrate that live streams have broadened your audience and consumer base or expanded your geographical reach, it’s quite possible that more organizations will see value in working with you and participating in your events. Not only can this lead to increased investment and involvement in the in-person events, but some new partners (for instance, those advertising virtual services) may look to be solely integrated in your live streams!

To make the most of these possible new avenues, it’s important to consider what your live stream audience will see or be interested in that the in-person audience will not. Perhaps you may want to partner with organizations that offer live streaming and other relevant technology.

Consider broadcasting unique interviews or behind-the-scenes looks at specific vendors and exhibitors. Find ways of providing partners with broader exposure, and you’ll attract more in-depth investments in return!

5. Create New (and Repackaged) Material

While the majority of the appeal for a live stream is the accessibility in real-time, your content can still offer a great deal of value after the event ends. And, the more ways your organization can think to reuse this content, the more revenue streams you’ll open with it!

For example, recorded workshops or presentations may be reused as part of a training program. You may develop a workshop series by pairing new content with workshops from past events.

Over time, your cache of recorded content will make for more varied package opportunities, allowing your organization to present offers by theme, speaker, goal–whatever you can think of! Build a solid backlog of content and you’ll be prepared for whatever trends your industry throws at you.

6. Attract Future Attendees

There’s no set way to benefit from live streams or the content they bring. Think outside the box when looking for new avenues of opportunity–especially when it comes to marketing for your next event!

For instance, your organization may decide to rebroadcast one of its previous events.Though the live-ness of the stream has come and gone, those who missed out the first time will get a second chance, and everyone will get the opportunity to see what the hype is about.

For best results, consider making the new broadcast accessible only for a limited period of time, and be sure to monetize it. You can even offer it at a discounted price compared to the original to increase its allure.

A rebroadcast can be an extremely effective promotional tool for upcoming events, giving potential attendees a look at what took place in prior years (and thus, a look at the kind of quality they can expect in the future).

You can even cut segments out and upload them to your association’s social media accounts like commercials!

You may also like: We’re All Watching: Why Video is the Most Engaging Medium

Conclusion

Overall, the live streaming of events can be an incredibly valuable tool for member-based organizations.

By embracing live streams, associations can expand their reach and attract a global audience, increasing online attendance and engagement. Moreover, the ability to offer online specials and better integrate advertising and sponsorships into live streamed events opens up new revenue streams and partnership opportunities. Live streaming also allows organizations to create new content and packages for members, increasing value and helping attract attendees to future events.

Help your association grow and succeed in this ever-evolving digital landscape: consider live streaming your next event!

Sources

The post Boosting Your Revenue Potential with Live Streamed Events appeared first on Online Learning Solutions | Association Management System | Vocalmeet.

Of these revenue opportunities, sponsorships often contribute a significant amount. Not only can sponsorships increase your event budget, but they can help attract new audiences and bolster your credibility as well!

Yet, many associations don’t quite know where to start when recruiting sponsors. 

Thankfully, while the process can seem daunting at first, there are a few steps you can take to take the guesswork out of it all. Below, you’ll find an outline of some of the things you can do to appeal to the sponsors of your choice. 

Without further ado, let’s delve into what it takes to get the support you need for your next event!

1. Develop Your Brand

Before you approach any potential sponsors, it’s important to build a strong brand. Unfortunately, there isn’t a single or simple way of accomplishing this. 

Every sponsor that signs on to your event will be putting their name next to yours, so you need to think about the vetting process these brands will go through and ensure you measure up. That may mean beefing up your website and making sure everything is accurate and up-to-date. You may also need to ensure that your mission statement is clear and something that your desired sponsors will support. 

You’ll also want to clean up and strengthen your social media accounts. This will help demonstrate that you hold a solid position in your industry and that your members and consumers recognize this. 

For many sponsors, nothing is more attractive than an association with an active community. Give your members the space and reason to be active, such as an online forum or a well-attended social media channel. Each of these factors will combine to help define your brand identity. 

The more a sponsor knows and understands your organization, the more willing they will be to support it.

2. Know Your Audience and Your Event 

The biggest reason why organizations sponsor events is to reach the attendees. This means that associations should know who their audience is before ever reaching out to potential sponsors. 

Start by getting some information and statistics about your attendees. Whatever you can learn about your ideal sponsors’ audience can prove useful as well. If your target demographics overlap or your primary members are an underutilized demographic for the sponsor, a sponsorship could carry more value. 

You can also reach out to your audience and ask them what type of sponsors they want to see at future events. You can use this information in your proposal, informing the brand that there is demand for a partnership. Your customers likely know, trust, and follow the sponsor already, so there is a mutual benefit already in place. Your attendees will appreciate sponsors more as well!

3. Seek Out Aligned Organizations

One of the best sponsorship search approaches is to seek out brands that align with your organization in various ways. 

Perhaps you share similar goals or missions that you can highlight in your pitches. There’s a good chance that you share a similar audience with the proposed sponsor if both organizations are pointed in the same direction and looking for the same things. 

You’ll also want to look at your upcoming events. Think about the themes of the events and what sponsors might value that messaging most. 

A good method for identifying potential sponsors is to look at related events from the recent past. If an organization has sponsored a similar event, that means they are already familiar with the industry, the audience demographics, and the returns on their investment. 

While some sponsors may be loyal to your competition, most are open to any and all ways of improving their own businesses! 

4. Fill Out the Proposal 

In addition to including much of the information above, you need to ensure that your sponsorship proposal clearly outlines how the sponsor’s investment will generate a return. 

It’s important to be as specific as possible. Use as much data as you have access to in order to reflect the potential and actual value–remember, numbers talk! 

Use all of the information you currently have and fill in the blanks with numbers from past events. Consider ticket and registration numbers, resulting sales, attendance numbers, specific demographics, vendor information, social media engagement, website traffic, and past sponsorship and advertising returns. 

Possible sponsors won’t know what they’re missing unless you show them, so make sure to dazzle them with your experience!

5. Provide Integration Options

As a way to improve the value of a sponsorship deal for your events, think of ways that you can integrate them; this can add some extra incentive to your proposal and give sponsors something more to consider. 

Some possible integration options can include offering the customers of your sponsors free admission to the event (or even a membership with your association!). You may try using the sponsor’s brand of technology during sessions or giving them an exhibitor booth. 

Think about what would be attractive to your organization if you were to be a sponsor. If it sounds too costly, don’t worry–adding non-financial benefits to your proposal can still be a powerful motivator! Get creative with it and you’ll have sponsors lined up in no time.

6. Offer Different Packages

When it comes to sponsorship opportunities, one size rarely fits all. 

To give your potential sponsors some choice and flexibility, consider offering a variety of packages. Allow them to choose how invested they want to be by setting up a tiered system. A basic sponsorship package can open the door to some really impactful brands that might otherwise not get involved. 

You can also allow for customizability in the sponsorship. Enable organizations to suggest their own level of involvement and work with them to find an appropriate middle ground. Giving over some control can also lead to more invested sponsors; they may take on more responsibility in the success of the event and give more of themselves in return!

7. Take the Event Online

Once an in-person event is complete, most event sponsorships come to an end. For some organizations, this is how they want it set up. 

Many, however, would love to have their sponsorship extended beyond the timeframes and location of the event. This is what live streaming and online events can offer. By posting videos of the event online–both during the actual event and after it ends–traditional sponsorships can take on new life. 

Not only is an online audience different in many ways, but live streamed events can cast a much larger net. The recorded events can be played long afterward, which means sponsors can receive returns much longer than they would otherwise. 

As a result of the boosted audience and reach, online events can also change the type of sponsors available. Your association may be able to look for sponsors outside of your local area or explore possible sponsors with a greater online presence. 

Think about how live streams will alter your event and your audience, then look for sponsors who might benefit most from this change.

Conclusion

By following the tips above, you can increase the chances of success the next time your association looks for sponsors. It’s essential to put in the time and effort to properly structure your proposal and effectively represent your event (and its value!). Gain an edge in appealing to potential sponsors and secure the support you need for your next event–you’ve got this!

Sources

The post How to Get Sponsors for Your Next Event (and Beyond!) appeared first on Online Learning Solutions | Association Management System | Vocalmeet.