Associations Deliver Value, But They Don't Know How Much
Are you an association volunteer leader? If so, tell me quickly the yearly sustainable real-dollar value you receive from your yearly investment of time and money? Can you do it? Most likely you cannot. If you are an association staff member, tell me the average yearly return on investment (ROI) your members receive. Can you do it? Most likely you cannot.
While associations and societies have traditionally created plenty of value for their members, they have done quite a poor job of demonstrating the value that they deliver. For years, it did not matter. Why? Through the 1980s, people still joined their trade association or professional society simply because it was the thing to do. Most of those wonderful people have either retired or died off.
Today, younger persons ask themselves, "What's in it for me?" and unfortunately, organizations don't have the answers. For several years now, I have been conducting my Member Value Process for associations and societies-they can answer my above questions of yearly sustainable real-dollar value received and ROI.
For about half a decade I have been talking to my association audiences about a 1999 study conducted by the American Society of Association Executives on why members do not retain their membership. My personal synthesizing of the data leads me to believe that over 75% of the members surveyed that did not renew their membership selected not to do so because they did not believe they were receiving enough value for their membership investment.
While no two associations are the same, I have listed below a few common line items of member benefits that should help you to have a better understanding as to the real-dollar amounts that organization members have assigned during my sessions. Remember, these "cumulative specific value information" numbers are the yearly sustainable dollar-value amounts.
1. Training & Education-Range: $500 to $4,000
-Average: $1,857
2. Industry Specific Research, Regulatory & Code
-Range: $1,000 to $4,750
-Average: $2,596
3. Networking
-Range: $200 to $10,000
-Average: $4,029
4. Professional Recognition, Image & Credibility
-Range: $200 to $5,000
-Average: $1,507
Telling your members what it is that you do for them is important. Telling them how much it is worth to them yearly is crucial for your success or that of any other trade association or professional society.
© Copyright Ed Rigsbee 2007
Related Tags: networking, roi, collaboration, trade association, professional society, member value
Ed Rigsbee, CSP is a leading national authority on collaborative business relationships. He is the author of: PartnerShift-How to Profit from the Partnering Trend Developing Strategic Alliances The Art of Partnering. All his books are available at Amazon.com. Rigsbee has over 1,000 published magazine articles to his credit and is a regular keynote presenter at corporate and trade association conferences across North America. Contact him for your next meeting at http://www.rigsbee.com At http://www.rigsbee.com/downloadaccess.htm, you may access a partner quiz, chapter one of Developing Strategic Alliances and other partnering resources that will help you to better select an alliance partner.
Your Article Search Directory : Find in ArticlesRecent articles in this category:
- Conference Venues: Five Tips To Finding The Perfect Conference Facilities
If you're organizing a conference, tracking down a suitable venue is crucial. While cost is an impor - Measurementcamp: Social Media For Fashion Brands
For those who haven't heard of it, MeasurementCamp is a loose collective of individuals (mainly from - Free Traffic - 3 Good Reasons Not To Buy Traffic Software
When you're done building a website the first big thing that you have to think about is free traffic - Business Networking For Entrepreneurs --7 Tips For Success
Is there anyone else out there who can relate to this scenario? You arrive a little later than you a - Achieve The Best Mlm Skills For The Best Mlm Leads And Finally Get Out In Front
I really want to bring home the importance of learning the best MLM skills in this article.Too many - Understanding Internet Marketing Advertising Concept For Your Business
Internet marketing advertising concept is considered as an important tool for increasing business sa - Mlm Training- The Benefits Of Home-based Network Marketing Business Training
In multi-level marketing industry, many network marketers have failed and quit, not because their bu - Is Cash Gifting Legal Or Is It Just Another Scam?
If you are looking for an opportunity to provide you with financial freedom, there are many opportun - Tish Washington Joins Infinity Downline Extreme Team
Yes, it's true Tish has come on board.Tish Washington? Who's that?Tish is a very nice lady from sout - Good Diet Plans That Work Most Effectively
When somebody talks about diet programs, most of us instantly suppose that it's because we are searc
Most viewed articles in this category:
- MLM Training - How to Keep Prospects From Feeling "Baited and Switched"
Before a prospect will "reach out" for more information about your MLM business or products, you mus - Network Marketing - When You Shouldn't Be The Expert
I see a lot of different advice on how to talk to prospects or as I look at it-potential team member - Web 2.0 Business To Business Social Networking
Despite its now rampant popularity across the internet you still may not at this point have heard of - 2007 - Goal!
Welcome to 2007... Have you set goals for yourself for the next 12 months? Do you know that less t - Truth Behind Business Conference Calls
With all the latest technology, do you ever feel like you are out of the groove? There are so many n - Free Web Site Traffic
Anyone in any business who has a web site would love free web site traffic. It is the lifeblood of a - MLM Success - How Many Network Marketers Does It Take To Screw In a Light Bulb?
Assuming that you are in this industry in order to secure your financial future, then before choosin - Managing Hardware Assets
Managing Hardware Assets can be a daunting task. Exactly what needs to be tracked and for what reaso - Ten Tips for Evaluating Internet Home Business Opportunities
Some of the mot popular internet home business opportunities offer you the ability to start an affil - How Not to Mulligan Your Business Golf Game
Golf season brings with it the opportunity to network and forge new business relationships on the go
