{"id":1497,"date":"2023-03-28T06:49:49","date_gmt":"2023-03-28T06:49:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wildapricot.wpengine.com\/?p=1497"},"modified":"2025-05-12T05:29:38","modified_gmt":"2025-05-12T05:29:38","slug":"member-engagement","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.wildapricot.com\/blog\/member-engagement","title":{"rendered":"Your Complete Guide To Increase Member Engagement"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you run a membership organization, you already know the key to attracting and retaining members is strong member engagement. That\u2019s why it\u2019s important to think about how your nonprofit, association, or club creates engagement through every step of the <\/span>membership journey<\/span><\/a>!<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Download<\/a><\/p>\n

In this article, we\u2019ll explore engagement strategies your organization can implement to keep members engaged for years to come. These tips are practical for most membership organizations, no matter the size.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Let\u2019s get started!<\/span><\/p>\n

Why Member Engagement Matters<\/span><\/h2>\n

What Is Member Engagement, Anyway?<\/span><\/h3>\n

Member engagement refers to online activity like forum communications, emails (opens and sends), and social media engagement. It can also refer to how your members are engaging in person: at meetings, at events, and in their communities.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Since member engagement looks like a lot of things, a smart membership engagement strategy tackles it from multiple angles. You want to reach your members no matter their preferences\u2014to catch those at in-person events <\/span>and<\/span><\/i> the ones frequenting your <\/span>membership website<\/span><\/a>!<\/span><\/p>\n

Engaging Members = Growing Your Membership!<\/span><\/h3>\n

When it comes to growing your membership, recruitment is only half the battle. After all, acquiring a new customer is anywhere from five to 25 times more expensive than <\/span>retaining an existing one<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Once a member has signed up, they bring tons of value to your association. You can collect membership dues without investing the time and money into re-capturing their interest. That\u2019s why it\u2019s important to keep up the effort to engage your members once they\u2019ve joined.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Investing resources in your current members does more than build community. It\u2019s just good money sense!<\/span><\/p>\n

How to Engage (and Understand!) Your Members<\/span><\/h2>\n

Conduct Member Surveys<\/span><\/h3>\n

One easy way to engage your membership is\u2026 to learn what they want, and give it to them!<\/span><\/p>\n

Sure. Easy, right?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

With <\/span>member satisfaction surveys<\/span><\/a>, it can be. Surveys ask your membership directly what they\u2019d like to see from your organization. This enables you to provide tailored perks and programming guaranteed to appeal to them.<\/span><\/p>\n

Learning more about your membership <\/span>is useful for more than just member retention<\/span><\/a>. It can improve networking, increase referrals, and render your programming more successful, too!<\/span><\/p>\n

5 Types of Members\u2014and How To Engage Them<\/span><\/h3>\n

Check out five different types of members below and think about how your organization can target each of these different kinds of members in your engagement plan.<\/span><\/p>\n

1. Shy Members<\/span><\/h4>\n

These members come to all of your nonprofit\u2019s events, but it\u2019s hard to get them to engage with other members. They may not participate in Q&As or share their opinions in a group setting, but they obviously support your organization\u2019s mission\u2014they keep attending your events!<\/span><\/p>\n

How to Engage Shy Members<\/b><\/p>\n

Shy people might be introverted\u2026 or they might be waiting for the right time to jump in! Small, low-key introductions might help break the ice and encourage more vocal participation:<\/span><\/p>\n