Welcome to your May issue!

It has been yet another busy month for the membership organisation and association sector and I hope all is well at your organisation!

In this issue we highlight two key developments as well as our usual good practice articles:

1) A new and improved MemberWise website! We outline some of the key developments, changes and improvements below. Alternatively, why not visit and see for yourself!

2) A short consultation on our next proposed conference topic - 'Harnessing the Web to Drive Membership Value and Growth'. Share your thoughts/feelings on our proposed topic and in return you can gain access to a limited allocation of discounted places and enter our competition to win a £30 John Lewis voucher. See below or Respond now!... 

In this issue we also launch two great new advice sheets, invite you to our Membership and Association Professional (MAP) competency framework focus group and much more. 

This issue is kindly sponsored by MemberWise Recognised Research Agency, Research by Design. 

Enjoy!

The MemberWise Network 

New MemberWise website launched! 

Following your feedback we have relaunched our website.

Why? To provide more comprehensive, structured and practical help and advice. 

So, what's changed? We take a look! 

The Sector's Leading Supplier Directory: Our new site hosts over 100 MemberWise Recognised Supplier profiles featured in 24 membership organisation and association-specific categories. Take a look...

Practitioner-Driven Research: This new section of our new site features our latest research. Great for benchmarking! You will find our Recruiting and Retaining Members During Challenging Times survey results here. Benchmark here...

Online Professional Networking Opportunities: You will find links to our growing online networking groups, including our LinkedIn Group, Facebook page and Twitter feed. Join in the conversation right now...

And much more!: Our Events Calendar, eUpdate Archive, and our competency based CPD project - Membership and Association Professional (MAP) project.   

Take a look!...  

Provide feedback...  

Five Steps to Writing the Perfect Market Research Brief 

When looking to commission research, the brief is crucial. 

The more time you give to thinking about your research beforehand, the more likely the final outcomes will meet your needs and feed into your business objectives.

She details the five key elements:

We are now consulting on the proposed topic of our next one-day conference. It's time to have your say on the matter! 

Proposed themes will include:  

It is proposed that over 20 dedicated seminars/lectures fit into the above 'Pick & Mix' programme. All will be 100% membership focused and educational, seminars will be interactive and led by visionary leaders, senior membership professionals, and leading sector suppliers.

Round-table networking/good-practice sessions will also form a major part of the concept.

Our consultation topic has so received 70 'completes'

- 100% endorse a web-focused conference

- 90% are keen to see a related research project
- 85% want to find out more/gain discounted entry 

So, what do you think? 

Take part in our consultation and gain access to a unique discount code (that can be used if the conference goes ahead) PLUS one lucky respondent will win a £30 John Lewis voucher.

Note: Our consultation closes on Friday. 

Have your say...

We are currently welcoming expressions of interest from potential speakers/sponsors & exhibitors so if you would like further information please Contact Us. 

In February we received the 'green light' from over 20 membership organisation/association representatives to develop a dedicated competency framework for our sector.

We have done just that, so now it's time for you to 'test drive'!

A dedicated half-day focus group will take place in Central London on 22nd June and will be generously hosted by the Trade Association Forum (TAF).

We now invite you to register an interest in attending!

Educational 'take-aways' from this session will be:

- A deeper understanding of the general and technical competencies required by membership and association professionals
- The opportunity to benchmark your activities with colleagues from other membership organisations and associations
- The opportunity to be one of the first membership organisations and associations to pilot the resource (completely free-of-charge for attendees at this focus group event)

We are now inviting up to 15 membership organisations and associations to attend this exclusive event where we will be focusing on the following areas - CPD, Professional Services, Governance, Membership, Marketing, Communications, Operations and Project Management.

Find out more about this project...

Express an interest in attending our focus group... 

Five Steps to Perfect Press-Releases

Generating your own positive publicity by engaging in public relations activity is a cost effective route to attracting new members and increasing return on investment.  

Louise Clarke, a communications consultant specialising in the membership organisation and association sector, demonstrates how producing perfect press releases can help to raise your profile, strengthen your brand and increase sales.  

Louise outlines five key tips:  

1. Short, snappy headlines.    

2. Tight, clear and succinct writing.

3. Answer the questions: Who? What ? When? Where? And Why?

4. Include an interesting quote if possible.

5. Finish with a call to action.

The full article can be found on the MemberWise website. It includes a number of press release 'golden rules', live examples and useful links.

Find out more...

Our online professional networking group provides you with a unique opportunity to network with fellow membership organisation and association professionals.

Our group provides 

- The latest news & views within & outside of our sector
- Good practice sharing, case studies & news items
- Newsfeeds from key sector organisations

- Updates on MemberWise Network activity 

This month's 'hot topics':

Manager's Choice: During the Olympics - Business as Usual?

1: The best day of the week to send membership surveys

2: Top Ten Tips - Using Social Media to Retain Members   

3: Seeking events management companies in the North West

4: MemCom Awards - Shortlist announced 

Join in the conversation now... 

 
Richard Gott
Founder
The MemberWise Network

Research by Design provides research solutions for membership and professional associations.  

Unlike other research agencies, we have a specialist department focused solely on the membership sector.  

We therefore offer a unique approach: expert membership insight combined with unparalleled research acumen.

Membership officer

1 year contract
Up to £28k per annum

 We are seeking a Membership Officer who will support our engagement with current and prospective members and help us achieve targets for member recruitment and retention, reputation and revenue.

10th Annual TAF Best Practice Awards and Networking Dinner

The 10th Annual Best Practice Awards is the annual prestigious event that recognises,  

Find out more...

MemberWise website

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