Lisa Boylan
Associations Now
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Discover and connect with journalists and influencers around the world, save time on email research, monitor the news, and more.
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Past articles by Lisa:
Membership Pro Tip: Better Buy-In to a Dues Overhaul
If your association is rolling out a new dues structure, getting buy-in from key players is necessary. But when it comes involving your board in the process, it’s all about making the most of their expertise and giving them the chance to provide feedback. → Read More
A Creative Way to Solve a Membership Dues Riddle
The pandemic’s impact has been inconsistent—affecting people in vastly different ways. One association came up with a plan to keep dues revenue steady, while also giving its members a part to play in building—and sustaining—the community in crisis. → Read More
Three Ways to Make Pride Month Count—All Year Long
Pride Month is more than a 30-day show of support. There is a lot of hard work to be done in the LGBTQ+ community. Here are three ways associations can be better allies, not just in June but year-round. → Read More
Membership Pro Tip: One-Word Change Increases Email Response Rates
Getting members to respond to emails is a perennial challenge. It would be great to just wave a magic wand—and this method comes close. It turns out that swapping one word for another works very well. Here’s how. → Read More
Keeping a Finger on Members’ Pulse Delivers Long-Term Growth for American Medical Association
AMA managed to achieve record growth during one of the most difficult times in its members’ profession. Getting an accurate pulse on what they want and need are main factors for its enduring progress and success. → Read More
Membership Pro Tip: An Easy Way to Digitize Member Files
Looking for a way to streamline membership applications? There’s a good chance you already have a tool that can create digital forms quickly, easily, and efficiently—minus the bad handwriting. → Read More
A Surprising Tactic to Engage New Members Emerges
Email and phone calls remain the top two ways associations are engaging new members, but an upcoming report reveals a different method is fast becoming popular, likely because it offers a different level of personalization and immediacy. → Read More
Three Ways to Help AAPI Staff Feel Safe Amid Uptick in Anti-Asian Violence
Anti-Asian violence continues to proliferate, in stark contrast to a month dedicated to celebrating Asian American Pacific Islander history. A DEI expert provides clear examples of how to help AAPI staff feel safe in the workplace. → Read More
Membership Pro Tip: Online Communities of Practice
Looking for a no-cost benefit that informally brings your members together so they can brainstorm, collaborate, and learn from one another in an accessible, productive way? Here’s one way of doing it. → Read More
A Real-Time Dues Increase and New Membership Model Success Story
Two challenging membership dilemmas—raising dues and a new membership model—ended up working out very well for the Alpaca Owners Association. → Read More
Membership Pro Tip: Telemarketing Effort Ramps Up Renewals
A routine telemarketing campaign turned into something special with an added personal touch that ended up meeting member needs directly. It also reaped an impressive return on investment—and saved a lot of money. → Read More
How Small Tweaks to Your Membership Structure Can Yield Big Results
Raising dues is always a sensitive topic, but what if there were a way to avoid it altogether and still have significant increases in member recruitment and retention? A CEO shares strategies that worked well for her association. → Read More
#MMCCon Keynote: Mike Maddock on the Expertise Trap
Disruptors make good leaders because they don’t have to be the smartest or loudest person in the room. They also don’t mind breaking the rules, says entrepreneur and CEO coach Mike Maddock. Find out why the power of disruption is a path to success. → Read More
Simple Steps for Better Delivering on Member Expectations
Your members expect to receive the same level of personalization and service that they do from Amazon, Netflix, and other subscription services. Here are four ways associations can replicate that—even on a small scale. → Read More
Three Ways to Make the Most of National Volunteer Week
Volunteers are often the unsung heroes of organizations, and now is a great time to remedy that by recognizing them during National Volunteer Week, reminding them what a difference they make, and encouraging them to return if they’ve been away. → Read More
Tech Exec to Tech Exec: Build a More Diverse Leadership Pipeline
Attracting new and diverse talent requires a more innovative approach to finding the right people. Now is the time to be open to new possibilities instead of defaulting to the usual suspects. Representation matters. Throw the net wide and, rather than thinking of geography as an obstacle, consider it an opportunity. → Read More
Library Group Fights Back Against Efforts to Ban Books
During National Library Week, the American Library Association highlighted an unprecedented number of attempts to ban books, with the highest number being ones about Black or LGBTQIA+ persons, and launched a new campaign to combat the bans. → Read More
Membership Pro Tip: Good Branding Means Better Engagement
What you provide members isn’t always tangible. Sometimes it’s about a sense of belonging that makes a member feel special, which benefits them personally, professionally, and more. Achieving that starts with a solid brand. → Read More
Four Ways the Pandemic Affected Your Members
After an onslaught of not-so-great news over the past two years, a newly released Association Laboratory report on the pandemic’s effect on members shows lots of promising signs about associations like reduced anxiety, better adaptability, and a chance to capitalize on new opportunities. → Read More
Better Member Engagement With Zero-Party Data
Although consumers have become savvier about protecting their digital privacy, there is still an easy and intuitive way to engage with them: Ask them questions to start a conversation. Engagement will follow. → Read More