The Member Lounge Podcast: Unlocking Association Success

Get insights into:

1. The Importance of Personalized Member Journeys: different member types require different kinds of interaction. Creating personalized experiences is crucial for engagement, and eventually retention. Learn more about a holistic member journey and discover the best practices to engage different membership types.
2. The Role of Technology in Enhancing Member Journeys: It’s time to transition to Digital Experience Platforms (DXPs) from traditional Content Management Systems to build dynamic and personalized member experiences. Find out how DXPs make membership management a breeze while making the experience more relevant to each member.
3. A Seamless Member Experience: Think Netflix for your membership website. Your members desire an experience where they can quickly find what they need. Discover the key engagement features for your member portal that can greatly improve member engagement.
4. Benefits of Integrated Systems: Make it easier for your members to access the information they need without logging into multiple systems. Unlock a seamless member experience by integrating different systems like CRM, LMS and DXP. Unlock consistency and a unified experience through a connected ecosystem.
5. Challenges in Implementing New Technologies: Adopting to technology changes is always hard. Getting your staff on board is challenging, especially those who may be resistant to change. Learn how you can encourage your team to adopt new platforms and simplify your membership management and engagement tactics.

Special acknowledgement to our guests for providing powerful insights into member engagement. 

Follow our podcast for more free educational content.

Visit memberlounge.app to learn more about us.

About the Episode:

1. Strategic Planning and Data Utilization for Purposeful Abandonment

Learn how to effectively use data to identify when a project or offering has become more of a burden than benefit.  Leverage external information from studies, consultants, or your competitors to drive meaningful engagement within your association.

2. Adapt to Multigenerational Membership and Leadership for Consensus Building

Understand the needs of segmenting membership to cater to different age groups within the association. Learn how you can build consensus on what initiatives to cut by considering the needs of both legacy and younger members.

3. Deliver Tangible Value and Benefits to Members Through Resource Reallocation

Members seek actionable and tangible benefits from their membership. Learn how to reallocate resources to initiatives that provide real value such as networking opportunities, mentoring programs, and other relationship-building activities.

4. Assess Program Effectiveness for Smooth Sunsetting

Securing sponsors and fundraising is not enough to save a project. It’s important to address the core issues and evaluate the effectiveness and financial viability of initiatives. Learn how you can identify underperforming offerings for potential abandonment.

5. Balance Personal and Professional Dynamics in Decision-Making

Navigate the intersection of personal and professional dynamics for your association’s success. Remove personal bias and focus on objective, data-driven decision-making for your association’s best interests and strategic goals.

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About the Guest:

Elisa Pratt, CEO and Chief Strategist of Brewer Pratt Solutions, is an influential strategic specialist who served as an impactful senior staff member for several trade and individual membership associations, both domestic and international. She leverages a record of transformative success and specializes in strategic planning, leadership development, and engagement.

As an association management executive for more than 20 years, she delivers strategic and actionable innovations, future-focused member engagement solutions, and tactical operational effectiveness solutions.

With a unique background in components, Pratt is a Certified Association Executive (CAE), has earned her Certified Virtual Facilitator designation from the International Institute for Facilitation (INIFAC), and holds a MA in Government from Johns Hopkins University.

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About the Host

Farhad Khan is the CEO & Membership Strategist at Grype Digital. He has helped numerous associations automate member engagement and retention over his career of 15+ years.

With his expertise in digital strategies and membership websites, he led Member Lounge to become one of Ottawa's Fastest Growing Companies in 2024.

Farhad was awarded the Bootstrap Awards for Best Guerrilla Marketing, and an Entrepreneurial Rising Star by Invest Ottawa. He is also a 2016 Top Forty Under 40 award Honoree by Ottawa Business Journal and Ottawa Chamber of Commerce. 

Special acknowledgement to our guests for providing powerful insights into member engagement. 

Follow our podcast for more free educational content.

Visit memberlounge.app to learn more about us.

About the Episode:

• Deepen Your Understanding of Member Engagement: Engagement metrics often miss member expertise. Go beyond transactions, track member contributions. Learn how engagement data can align your member engagement with your association’s goals. Lowell shares how having deeper forms of engagement can foster deeper connections and a boost member experience.
• Unlock the Full Potential of Your Leadership: Partnership with experts to develop governance structures can fast track your success. Learn how you can empower leaders to foster collaboration and communication by using professional facilitation techniques. Achieve association excellence by strategically structuring your leadership.
• Explore Volunteerism Within Your Association: Discover best practices to encourage volunteer contributions within your association. Maximize their impact with clear strategies, while fostering engagement and leadership development. Drive your association’s success by offering meaningful opportunities to volunteers.
• Plan for Growth, Design for Engagement: Develop a strategic plan to drive engagement within your association that expands your membership. Design member journeys and experiences that cater to the needs of your members. “There is a myth that growth just happens organically… real growth happens by careful planning and design”
• Chart Vision & Action for Your Association’s Success: Crafting a clear strategic vision defining your association’s long-term goals is the key to your success. Uncover strategies to align your daily actions with your association’s roadmap. The focus will guarantee saving your time and resources.

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About the Guest:

Lowell Aplebaum, CEO of Vista Cova, is an expert facilitator, vision & strategy catalyst. He has worked with hundreds of associations of all sizes guiding leaders, members, and staff through facilitation, keynoting, and collaboration.

Lowell is an IAF Certified Professional Facilitator and currently studying to achieve his Doctorate of Education in Leadership. He is the former Chief

Special acknowledgement to our guests for providing powerful insights into member engagement. 

Follow our podcast for more free educational content.

Visit memberlounge.app to learn more about us.

Improving Board Engagement and Performance

Find out why it is important to set a higher standard of stewardship for navigating future challenges.

Discover key strategies to keep board members engaged between meetings with technology for continuous communication.

Ensure board meetings are productive and focused on strategic decisions rather than administrative details.

Foresight and Future-Oriented Governance

Understand the concept of the duty of foresight for board members. Learn why boards need to adapt and continuously rethink their purpose and approach to overcome emerging challenges.

Learn to foster a culture of learning, and engage in continuous improvement practices for long-term success.

Recruitment, Onboarding, and Board Composition

Learn how to assemble the board with the right mix of skills and perspectives.

Explore strategies to maintain continuity and building a cohesive board culture despite changes in board composition.

Encourage the use of technology, including AI, to streamline board operations and improve efficiency. Find out the ethical considerations in technology adoption board members should identify and resolve.

Board’s Role in Membership Engagement and Technology Adoption

Enhance the role of the board in supporting strategies for member engagement, and leveraging membership management systems to automate and enhance engagement efforts.

Why the board plays a critical role in ensuring aligning technology adoption with the organization’s mission and ethical standards.

Special acknowledgement to our guests for providing powerful insights into member engagement. 

Follow our podcast for more free educational content.

Visit memberlounge.app to learn more about us.

1. Crafting a Winning Member Engagement Strategy:

• Navigating Challenges: The landscape of member engagement is evolving, presenting new challenges. The solution lies in a dual focus on delivering value and implementing effective engagement strategies.
• Diverse Engagement Tactics: Acknowledge the diversity within your membership, including those not fully embracing technology. Initiate a volunteer journey, starting with smaller roles, to cultivate engagement.

2. Corporate Sponsorship Unveiled:

• Strategic Approaches: Moving corporate members into sponsorship programs requires a nuanced strategy. Understand their unique goals, involve them in the decision-making process, and gradually progress sponsorship levels.
• Customization is Key: Recognize that corporate goals evolve. Tailor engagement for sponsors, offering customized opportunities that align with their shifting objectives.
• Inclusive Conversations: Break away from traditional sponsorship models. Engage sponsors in meaningful conversations, making them integral to strategic planning and committees.

3. Unraveling Member and Sponsor Objectives:

• Qualitative Research for Members: Dive deep into member experiences through qualitative research. Understand their challenges, goals, and preferences to create tailored programs that add significant value.
• Strategic Business Alignment: For sponsors, inquire about their business objectives, marketing goals, and preferred outreach methods. Align association offerings with their unique needs.
• Beyond Traditional Models: Shift the conversation beyond traditional sponsorship. Explore innovative, customized opportunities that cater to sponsors' evolving goals.

4. Navigating the Technology Landscape:

• Challenge Assumptions: Rethink assumptions about member technology use. Bridge gaps by meeting members where they are, and employ a multichannel approach.
• Seamless Multichannel Engagement: Utilize various channels such as SMS and email to engage members seamlessly, respecting their channel preferences and ensuring a cohesive experience.

5. Elevating Conference Sponsorships:

• Personalized Engagement: Steer clear of a one-size-fits-all approach in conference sponsorships. Understand each sponsor's unique goals and objectives for a personalized experience.
• Value Beyond Logos: Go beyond logo placements; sponsors desire active involvement. Make them part of the conversation, provide tangible value, and involve them in strategic discussions.

6. Evolution in Continuous Engagement:

• Sustaining Dialogue: Establish ongoing dialogues with both members and sponsors. Regularly reassess their needs to adapt programs and ensure continued success.
• Dynamic Reassessment: Continuously revisit conversations with sponsors. Understand changes in their initiatives and audience focus, allowing for dynamic adjustments.

About our panel members:

Amanda Kaiser is a sought-after member engagement strategist. She is the Keynote Speaker & Engagement Strategist at Kaiser Insights LLC and the author of “Elevating Engagement: Uncommon Strategies for Creating a Thriving Member Community”. 

Bruce Rosenthal is the Founder & Convener at Partnership Professionals Network. Bruce is a corporate partnership and sponsorship guru with more than two decades of experience as a strategic advisor, consultant and education for trade and professional associations. 

About our host:

Farhad Khan is a thought leader in membership websites and digital strategies for associations. He is the CEO & Membership Strategist at Grype Digital. He has helped numerous associations automate member engagement and retention over his career of 12+ years.

As you embark on your association's journey, remember that Member Lounge is your steadfast ally, ready to support the implementation of these strategic insights for unparalleled success! 🌐💬 #MemberEngagement #SponsorshipSuccess #AssociationStrategies #LearningPost

Special acknowledgement to our guests for providing powerful insights into member engagement. 

Follow our podcast for more free educational content.

Visit memberlounge.app to learn more about us.

Multi-Touch Recruitment Strategies

• Emphasizes diverse communication channels.
• Focuses on personalized messaging to prospective members.

Member Value Documentation

• Stresses the importance of understanding members' needs and values.
• Suggests regular updates and adaptations to these values.

Technology in Member Engagement

• Discusses leveraging digital platforms for enhanced member interaction.
• Highlights the use of data analytics for better engagement strategies.

Creating Vibrant Member Communities

• Advocates for building active, engaging online and offline member communities.
• Emphasizes regular events and forums for member interaction.

Tailored Communication for Different Segments

• Addresses the need to understand various member segments.
• Suggests customized communication strategies for each segment.

About our panel members: 

Scott Oser is the President of Scott Oser Associates Inc. Scott has spent the past 25 years working with hundreds of associations. He is an accomplished speaker, writer, and respected authority in the membership communication space. 

Farhad Khan is the CEO & Membership Strategist at Grype Digital. He is a thought leader in membership strategy and an expert in membership consultation helping associations automate member engagement and retention. 

Special acknowledgement to our guests for providing powerful insights into member engagement. 

Follow our podcast for more free educational content.

Visit memberlounge.app to learn more about us.

If you ever had second thoughts about your association management system,  you should follow your gut feeling. Here’s what we talked about in our super insightful session with association technology experts Jeff Horne and Farhad Khan -

• Adopting more modern and interconnected tools to create a seamless member journey and boost team efficiency.
• Strategic approach to technology selection in your association to ensure it meets the needs of your members.
• Empower your team by choosing technology systems that boost job satisfaction and productivity.
• Navigating association management software challenges to maintain a high-quality member experience.
• Current trends and future of association management technology to enrich your association’s experience

About Our Guest:

Co-Founder & CEO of Wicket, Jeff is a passionate advocate and change agent for software solutions available to member-driven organizations. He has been working with digital technologies for over 20 years and has helped numerous associations and nonprofits increase member acquisition and engagement.

About Our Host:

Farhad Khan is the CEO & Membership Strategist at Grype Digital. He is one of the thought leaders in digital strategy consultation, helping associations automate member engagement and retention.

Special acknowledgement to our guests for providing powerful insights into member engagement. 

Follow our podcast for more free educational content.

Visit memberlounge.app to learn more about us.

About the panel discussion: 

Explore creative financial strategies to generate revenue for your association through automated marketing. Get invaluable insights into the best practices to engage and retain your stakeholders!

Learn how to attract sponsors whose goals align with your association's mission while maintaining member happiness with the power of state-of-the-art marketing tools.

Meet the experts in sponsorship, business development and marketing: 

Edward Byers is the Director of Membership at the Canadian Society of Association Executives. He is a passionate non-for-profit executive who has a significant role in boosting partnerships in the association realm. 

Lydia Israel is the marketing manager at Grype Digital, who is also an expert in agile marketing and business development. She has led both local and international organizations to immeasurable success in her 20 years of career.

Connect with the Experts!

The Member Lounge Discussion Community is not just a platform, it’s a hub of innovation and collaboration. Connect with the brightest minds in the association world and explore game-changing strategies to boost your association’s success. 

Engage in conversations to get the answers to your burning questions. Whether it’s pricing for your association or governance or technology planning, there’s a space for every topic!

Special acknowledgement to our guests for providing powerful insights into member engagement. 

Follow our podcast for more free educational content.

Visit memberlounge.app to learn more about us.

Do you find yourself asking "How can we create content that not only attracts new members, but also keeps them coming back for more?" If you want to keep your association members enchanted and engaged, content is the key to solve your retention woes! Discover the secret sauce to maximize your content to engage and retain members to make your association stand out from the crowd.

About our Guest
Leona Scott is a content connoisseur with passion and expertise in membership and content creation. 

She founded JEP Marketing Communication and has helped numerous member-based associations with content marketing needs.

Leona has won the Dallas Fort Worth Association Executives (DFWAE) 2023 Award for her brilliant marketing and communication efforts in the association realm and the President's Award for her excellent skills in developing popular online monthly meetups that created incredible value for its members.

Special acknowledgement to our guests for providing powerful insights into member engagement. 

Follow our podcast for more free educational content.

Visit memberlounge.app to learn more about us.