On average, members have a 50% retention rate<\/a> in their first year, which jumps to 80% in year two and only grows further from there. By showing new members you appreciate them, you can secure your future long-term cheerleaders who will grow your community, recommend your association to others, and provide vital dues revenue. <\/p>\n\n\n\n For associations that only host a few events a year, a stable online community generates ongoing revenue and increases overall engagement. When members feel like a valuable part of your association, they\u2019re more likely to engage with the rest of your member base and continue interacting with your community between major activities. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Plus, many top member appreciation strategies revolve around bringing people together. Not only does this provide members with additional networking opportunities, but it also strengthens your community as a whole. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Staff, volunteers, and board members play an enormous role in operating your association. When you get in the habit of saying thank you to members, it becomes natural to say thank you to colleagues as well. Considering that over 80% of employees<\/a> say they work harder when their manager appreciates their work, a culture of gratitude bodes well for your organization\u2019s future!<\/p>\n\n\n\n While there is a wide range of unique member appreciation ideas, most of these strategies can be divided into one of four key categories:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Holding in-person events like a member appreciation day creates positive memories for members and boosts engagement simultaneously! Association professionals agree, with 74% of associations<\/a> considering event attendance as the best measurement of member engagement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Valuable in-person member appreciation events will:<\/p>\n\n\n\n In-person events are an opportunity to put a face to your organization and engage members one-on-one. The space you curate represents your association and makes membership value feel more tangible!<\/p>\n\n\n\n While in-person events generate an energetic atmosphere, chances are that you can only hold so many get-togethers every year. To keep members engaged, pick up the slack with virtual events<\/a> and member appreciation ideas. <\/p>\n\n\n\n By showing members appreciation online, you can:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Take a member appreciation week as an example. To appreciate members without going overboard on spending, you might plan a mix of in-person activities and schedule social media shout outs, webinars, and virtual games in close succession.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some members get excited about receiving special goodies like:<\/p>\n\n\n\n All member appreciation gifts should be relevant to your members\u2019 interests and tie back to your organization. For example, members of a writers\u2019 union might appreciate receiving book bags full of titles from sponsors! <\/p>\n\n\n\n Give out these gifts and perks on special anniversaries as part of your member appreciation strategy. Of course, the occasional surprise gift, such as a discount code for your merchandise store, can perk up member engagement and increase renewal rates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Trade and professional associations maintain active membership bases due to the resources and opportunities they offer. Expanding these benefits shows members you value their time and money and are dedicated to creating a positive experience for your community. <\/p>\n\n\n\n You might improve or expand your current offerings by providing members with: <\/p>\n\n\n\n Member appreciation is about thanking your members and continuing to show you value them by constantly upgrading what your association has to offer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Recommended Resource: <\/strong>Looking for a strategy to engage and appreciate your event attendees? Check out our guide to year-round engagement<\/a>!<\/strong> \ud83e\udd1d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ready to show members your gratitude? Here are 15 member appreciation ideas to get your gears turning:<\/p>\n\n\n\n A member appreciation week or day is an opportunity to recognize and celebrate your members in various ways, such as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n For a hybrid approach, include one in-person member appreciation day during the week. This can help activate your local community while still engaging members who live abroad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Associations create longevity by facilitating connections between emerging professionals and established mentors. Ask senior members of your association to volunteer to mentor new ones, helping bring in the next generation of your industry. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Mentorship programs give new members someone to turn to for advice and jumpstart their networking journey. Mentors might help facilitate introductions, recommend educational opportunities, or simply answer questions about how best to engage with your association\u2019s offerings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Take the Association of Canadian Archivists (ACA) Mentorship Program<\/a>, for example. By doing the work to pair mentees with compatible mentors, they show recognition for their members\u2019 unique needs and appreciation for what they have to offer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Be sure to show appreciation for members who volunteer as mentors. Consider offering perks in exchange for stepping into this role, such as free event tickets or a discount on their membership fees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Like mentorship programs, educational resources show your members that they\u2019re important to your community and that your organization wants to invest in their presence and development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n These resources may include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Continually update these resources to ensure your members receive relevant training for their fields. This not only helps you attract new members but also gives long-term members opportunities to freshen up their knowledge, helping you maintain high levels of engagement<\/a> year after year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Announcing a member of the month in your newsletter and on social media allows you to appreciate a handful of members directly. Including a small prize alongside the title adds extra value to the program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A member of the month award is also an opportunity to encourage specific behaviors in your community. For example, you might base the award on:<\/p>\n\n\n\n For the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons<\/a>\u2019 member of the month program, members send applications to be featured. If your organization has a large membership program, this strategy saves time searching for monthly candidates. Additionally, member engagement platforms can track participation in your community, so you can have hard numbers about who your most active members are. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Give your members some public recognition by shouting them out on social media for notable accomplishments and milestones, like: <\/p>\n\n\n\n Making someone feel appreciated<\/a> often comes down to being specific and personal. Noting and celebrating these details in members\u2019 lives (with their permission) shows that they\u2019re more than just numbers to you. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If you learn that one of your members has a business, program, or initiative that aligns with your organization\u2019s values, consider inviting them to form a partnership. Not only will this opportunity potentially increase your association\u2019s offerings, but it can also elevate members\u2019 individual endeavors, giving them more reasons to stay part of your association.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Signing onto a partnership benefits your members and your association by:<\/p>\n\n\n\n To help form these organizational relationships, check out Community Tool Box\u2019s toolkit<\/a> for creating and maintaining partnerships between different organizations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When reaching out to members, avoid only sending promotions and sales opportunities. Instead, engage them by sharing a range of accessible benefits and activities. These might include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Pay attention to what types of content members respond to so you can shape your benefits based on member interests. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Appreciation videos from staff members, board members, and volunteers are a member appreciation idea that keeps things personal. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In general, adding video to your event strategy<\/a> helps deliver content in an accessible and engaging way. Plus, it puts faces to your organization\u2019s staff, demystifying those working behind the scenes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Why not turn birthdays into member appreciation opportunities?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Use your association management software to track member birthdays. Then, on their special days, reach out to members with:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Perks don\u2019t have to be complicated or expensive. Automated birthday emails with attached gift card codes are plenty effective, and associations can use this strategy at scale.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Bringing your members together for a community outing provides an easy networking opportunity. Offering free or affordable activities and events shows appreciation while encouraging participation in your community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some community outing ideas include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Be aware that when it comes to outdoor activities<\/a>, there are a few additional factors to consider, like weather conditions and transportation needs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Casual meet-ups allow members to make connections, and formal galas can add that extra flair of professionalism needed to make a great impression. Holding a formal event in a classy venue not only allows your members to interact in a new setting but also tells them that you think they\u2019re worth the extra extravagance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Galas are also an opportunity to incorporate other member recognition ideas, such as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n This type of member appreciation event comes with a higher start up cost, which also makes it an opportunity to connect with sponsors. Promote sponsors by featuring them on banners around your event venue and thanking them in any planned speeches. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Did you know it can be 5 to 10 times more costly to attract new members than to retain existing ones? Delivering a strong welcome from the moment members sign up is vital for securing their continued participation in your association. Plus, it shows that appreciation and member experience are your priorities, raising the chances they\u2019ll stick with your organization.<\/p>\n\n\n\n These welcome gifts could include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n These gifts also do best when they come with a thorough welcome packet that teaches members how to access their benefits. Give your new members a one-stop shop for all their membership perks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What\u2019s better for a growing association than referrals? Having members talk up your organization to friends and colleagues is an organic way to build a community<\/a>. With a structured referral program, members who feel positively about your association will be incentivized to recommend it to their friends, family, and colleagues. <\/p>\n\n\n\n This program can come with perks like:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Thank members who participate in your referral program promptly and consider offering joint benefits. For instance, you might provide both the member who signed up and the person who referred them with a discount on their first month of membership as a thanks for recommending and trying out your organization.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some of the best membership appreciation ideas come with physical milestone gifts. Give your members something to cherish after years of membership.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Award special merch to members who have:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Gifts, events, and resources are all great ways to show appreciation. However, members often simply want to know you\u2019re listening to them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you don\u2019t currently have the budget to invest in complex member appreciation ideas, it is often more than enough to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Asking members what they want and then giving it to them whenever possible is the most authentic way to show that you appreciate their voice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Member retention largely comes down to value. When people feel their membership is valuable and valued by <\/em>the organization, they\u2019re more likely to stick around! With member appreciation strategies in place, you can build genuine relationships that help your organization thrive as a community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Interested in learning more about EventMobi? <\/strong><\/strong>Book your personalized demo<\/a> of EventMobi\u2019s Event Management Software platform today!<\/p>\n\n\n\nCommunity building<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
A culture of gratitude<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Types of Member Appreciation<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1. In-person member appreciation events<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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2. Virtual member recognition ideas<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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<\/figure>\n\n\n\n3. Gifts & perks<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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4. Resources & opportunities<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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15 Virtual & In Person Member Appreciation Ideas<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Member appreciation day or week<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Mentorship programs<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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<\/figure>\n\n\n\nEducational resources<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Member of the month<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Social media shout outs<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Partnership invitations<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Varied content<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Appreciation videos<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Birthday perks<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Community outing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Gala<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Welcome gifts<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Referral program<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Merchandise for long-time members<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Conduct surveys & connect with members<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Recognition & Gratitude in Member Relationships<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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