Social Media Expectations from Association Members

In a world where social media is relevant in both my personal life and business, it is easy to lump the two into the same category. If you already know how to handle social media for yourself, you may assume the same concepts apply to your business or association. This, however, could not be further from the truth. Because it can be hard to separate the two, I decided to watch a webinar on social media and learn more about how the two are separate and what your audience is looking for in your social media platforms. I watched Sprout Social’s webinar on the Evolution of Social Media.

The webinar was very informative and provided many insights on how to better manage social media with a business mindset. I came away from the webinar with two takeaways that relate closely to working with associations. I learned how important it is to be transparent and authentic when posting as well as the effectiveness of employee advocacy.

Followers have transitioned over time as to what they are looking for from an association’s social media. This transition has moved the way companies and associations are speaking with their audience. The platforms started as a way for the association to talk to members and simply have them listen, to a more dynamic relationship between the two. The number one thing that followers are looking for in brands is a sense of authenticity. If you are an association, your primary goals are to make money for the cause and recruit new members. Trying to hide the fact that you are doing this, can come across as misleading. This can be handled by being upfront about the fact that you need money and new members while ensuring the audience that it is for a good cause. Going over why the association is in place and the difference it can make will make members feel as though you are being transparent and honest, therefore, making them more apt to donate.

The webinar also talked about the importance of employee advocacy including a company’s CEO. This concept can also be applied to an association. Involving board members on social media is an effective way to show people who is behind the association and proving that these members believe in it. It not only makes the association more open but also allows another form of marketing on social media for the association. When board members post or share content about the association, they are reaching more people and spreading the message further.

Understanding how social media evolves and what your members expect from you allows you to utilize the platforms in a cheap and effective way.

Utilizing TechSoup for your Nonprofit

TechSoup is a nonprofit network of non-government organizations that provides technical support and tools to other nonprofits. The company saw the need for this support within organizations and provided it though webinars, forums, and other resources. Our team at Impact Services has found many benefits while using the program including the following.

• Just snap a photo! TechSoup allows you to capture receipts on your phone, making it quick and convenient. This feature keeps things consistently up to date no matter where you are.

• Minimize data entry. With TechSoup, you can automatically download bank and credit transactions. This can be a huge plus for nonprofits considering the amount of money coming in and out and the added stress it puts on the administrator.

• Work from anywhere. The program allows you to work from PC, MAC, a smartphone, or tablet. This eliminates the hassle of switching back and forth, as well as, allows you to work anytime. If you have a spare moment, you can turn it into a productive time for getting things done! Think of all you can get done waiting in a doctor’s office or in that dreaded car rider line at your child’s school.

• Instant access. TechSoup also has instant file access for your accountant. This can make tax time a little bit less stressful.

Impact Services is loving TechSoup and all it has to offer. Implementing it with our clients has made tasks more efficient and less costly which is what we strive for with all of our associations.

An Association's Guide to Board Meetings

Upping Your Association's Facebook Game

With social media always evolving, it is important to keep up with where your audience is and how to effectively reach them. Although new social platforms have come out over the past few years, Facebook has remained stable. Attracting and engaging your audience can be difficult at times, so here are a few tips on how to do just that!

1. Make your page valuable. As an association, use the Facebook page to inform the audience. This can be about your specific association, industry related articles, and more. Sharing blog posts, webinars, and upcoming event information are all ways in which you can inform the readers and keep them coming back for more.

2. Do not underestimate the value of visuals. Both photos and videos draw in the most impressions on posts. They are interesting to the member and provide both entertainment as well as information. If you are hosting an upcoming event, try having a board member explain the perks of attending that event. This can be done through Facebook live or uploading your own edited version. This allows members to see the page as a resource for information.

3. Create calls to action. It is important for members of an association to feel valued. By giving members an action to complete, you are making them an active member with a purpose. This can be done by posting polls and surveys related to the association or the industry, sharing links, as well as sending members to your own website.

If you are still looking for more tips on engaging your audience on Facebook, head to Wild Apricots blog, Facebook: The 5 Best Ways to Promote Your Organization. Keeping up with these trends is important in drawing in new members and retaining the ones you have.

Dealing with Spooky Scammers

Over the past couple of months, our team at Impact, has noticed several scam emails filing in from various unknown sources.  After doing further research, we noticed this was a trend among many associations and association management companies. These fraudulent emails often came with the request of a money transfer. Keeping money in the correct hands is incredibly important and because of this, we have created a list of tips to help associations keep an eye out for suspicious emails and scams.

• Look at the email address of the sender. If the email is unfamiliar or appears odd, this should be your first red flag.

• Pay close attention to messages during times where money is already being transferred. If your association is dealing with an upcoming event, membership renewals, or other busy times, make sure that nothing fishy passes under the radar. This is a prime time for scammers to target associations.

• Alert other association members and leaders. Scammers can often use a leader’s name or email to send the request. Talking with the person in charge can clarify whether the email is from them and can spread the word of the issue. This can help to further prevent the problem in future cases.

Keep an eye out for scam emails and follow our tips or it just might come back to haunt you!