Membership Marketing on a Shoestring Budget

Top Tips for Membership Marketing on the Cheap

Barter!  Find a complimentary organization or two, and swap member lists, swap magazine ads, swap e-newsletter promotions, swap banner ads, swap conference attendance/booths/speaking spots, etc.

Email!  It takes time, but you can do personalized, segmented HTML emails using some very simple shareware tools, some skill, and a little legwork. It doesn’t require subscription to RealMagnet or Constant Contact, etc. (although that does make things WAY easier).  

Word  of  Mouth!  Who are your passionate members and volunteers? If you know, ask them to spread the word about the exciting things you’re doing (you

are doing exciting things for them, right?). If you don’t know, FIND OUT!

Customer  Service!  Don’t underestimate the value of excellent customer service at every level, from the CEO to the mail clerk. Retention is even more important than recruitment – it’s a much lower cost, higher value transaction. “How can we serve our members better today than we did

yesterday?”

Little  Things  Mean  a  Lot!  Get the invoices out on time. Track who’s paid and who hasn’t paid. Proof read all written communications. Test your emails to make sure

your links work. Double-check to make sure your return address (snail- or email) is correct in your marketing materials.

About Spark Consulting LLC

What Is Holding Your Association Back?

Spark is a boutique consulting firm that provides strategic membership and marketing services for associations that have the willingness and

capacity, at both the staff and board levels, to ask tough questions, take some risks, and reach for significant goals.

Forget settling for incremental growth by making minor changes to what you're doing - we're going to uncover and solve the root problems that are holding your association back!