subject: How to Increase Membership Retention in Your Organization [print this page] How to Increase Membership Retention in Your Organization
It's not only restaurants, retail stores, golf courses, or service based businesses that dish out some really bad customer service. Some membership organizations treat their members as if they were interruptions to their day. Do they really think that the group would exist without the members paying the dues that back their salaries? I think not.
A member of a membership organization is a customer, and hence should be treated as such. Too often, clubs just focus on recruitment and don't take the time to work with new members and help them get accustomed to the group.
Here are some things you can do to help increase membership retention within your organization.
Learn the names of the members. And use them! Address members by name in meetings, outside meetings, when you bump into them at the supermarket, when you see them at the movies You get the picture. Followers are more likely to follow if you establish a personal relationship with them.
Meet with each member regularly. Doing so lets them know you value them. You can also take this opportunity to ask them how they think the group is doing.
Get to know one another. The more you do, the more the group can work together efficiently. So take some time to know the members what they do, what their interests are, etc.
Be sincere and open. People are more likely to trust someone who is honest. And trusting people are more likely to be motivated to perform well.
Spend more time with new members. Tell them how they can get involved in the organization. A bit of attention now will pay off well later!
Smile and be positive. People like being with happy folks. Nobody wants to stick around moody, negative, or whiny people!
Say thank you. These two words may be simple but they go a long way. So use them on a regular basis!
Now, want a real out of the box thought? (And, believe me -I'm nothing about out of the box. In fact, I often like to share that I think there really is "no box" except for the one that you create for yourself and your organization. And, often, you are the one that's supplied the wood, nails and hammer to create that box. Those self-imposed barriers and obstacles often really exist only in our minds and we create the circumstances to "bring them to life".)
So in the vein that there is "no box" polls and publishing the results of those polls in another great way to can build strength, comradeship and relationship in your membership. Look at Facebook as a prime, real life case study. Polls and 20 questions abound as "friends" interact, learn more about each other, discover trends and share information.
You can use polls and publish the results to provide a real life "Facebook" book amongst your membership. And people may leave businesses yet they'll be hard pressed to leave friends.
