Ah, summer is in the air. The air is warmer and the palm trees are looking their very best in California and it is time to think VACATION! If you were in Kansas, you might wonder Why someone would think that they could not have a glorious vacation in there own California backyard. Heck if you stretch your imagination, Laguna Beach can almost pass for the South of France and it is right there, less than one hour from Disneyland!
We all the know the saying that ”The grass always greener on the other side.” Never mind that California has miles of wonderful beaches, deserts and mountains galor. It seems like we always want what we can’t have or at least something different, it is our incentive for all our hard work. How can you keep your employees, members or donors for looking for what appears to be greener pastures? You start with an honest assessment about why you do what you do? Why are you part of your organization? Do you need to change your view point? Then take a stroll through your competitors business and/or website. Does it make you want to become a member? If the answer is a loud “NO”, congratulations! You now have information emphasizing the differences between your services and theirs.
Help make it easy for your members to find joy and satisfaction in your membership. Look for positive qualities that your organizations offers on a human level. Is each touch point something that provides a sense of community? Do network connections go beyond a handshake and have possibilities of truly becoming viable relationships that nurtures and builds each others business? When we feel good about an experience that alone will leave us satisfied with our decision to join a membership organization. We feel we are in the right place and we want to share our positive experience with others. Forget the usual Chamber of Commerce old, stale techniques. Create a membership based on feeling good, getting energized and one that provides purpose.
Here are some more ways to keep your grass as green as the grass in Ireland:
1) Take your old ideas and put them aside. Change, change, change. Keep it interesting and keep them coming back. Survey your members, research trends on the Internet and empower your members to participate in the evolution of your membership.
2) Cross pollinate with non-competitng organization. There is always a complimentary organization out there to network with providing your members a terrific networking event.
3) Fill your calendar with days to give back to charities, youth and other novice enetrepreneurs out there. Nothing feels better than when you help others. Nothing makes members more proud and gets them talking to others about their membership organization than feel good, give back moments.
4) Turn up the music and key in the fun. Everyone works hard but what keeps them together and inspired is motivational high spirited time together. Regardless what your member’s business is, members of all kinds are there for one reason and that is to build relationships.
5) Celebrate relationships by celebrating friendship anniversaries that began at you membership organization.
6) Announce business deals that were possible because of membership relationships.
7) Research, listen and visit the kid inside of you frequently and often.
8) Blog, blog and more blogs with helpful hints, success stories and motivation.
Change it up and keep them capativated. You don’t want to eat the same darn thing for dinner every day do you? Learn from our friends the retailers. They know what keeps them coming back with new and colorful changing windows is what works. Keep positive believe and share the spirit of a pioneering entrepreneur.