The Member Engagement Show – Details, episodes & analysis

In this episode of The Member Engagement Show, we speak with Higher Logic’s Senior Privacy Analyst Amanda DeLuke about much-talked-about concerns around AI, privacy, security, and data protection. Topics covered include:

• What is ISO and SOC2, and why are they important security standards?
• The latest AI and privacy trends.
• How to approach AI at your organization with your eyes wide open.
• Considerations when approaching different use cases for AI in associations.
• Free resources on privacy and security.
• How to not be overwhelmed by the AI revolution.
• How data classification factors into privacy and security.
• What the legislators are doing (or not) to help.

Some Helpful Links:

Podcast on AI with Conor Sibley, Higher Logic's CTO

Higher Logic Blog Posts on AI (including tips for prompts, things associations should know, and Higher Logic's partnership with IBM to harness the power of community and AI)

Messaging, Malware, and Mobile Antiabuse Working Group (M3AAWG)

National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)

International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP)

Our guest this episode is Michael Jones, VP of Mobile Technologies at Results Direct. Results Direct helps associations leverage mobile apps and engagement trends to enhance member communication, engagement, and retention and improve the member experience. Results Direct is a longtime partner of Higher Logic and partnered with us to create Higher Logic Thrive Mobile 365. During this episode, we explore:

• Current tech and engagement challenges facing associations.
• Learnings from The State of Mobile in Associations Benchmark Report.
• How mobile apps help associations address some of their biggest priorities.
• The three places associations interface most with their members.
• How overall mobile use is trending across all demographics.
• How mobile opens a new communication channel for going beyond email.
• Why a mobile responsive website doesn’t tap the full advantages of a mobile app.
• How to get members to download your app.
• Tips for making your association app a success.

Helpful links:

Higher Logic Thrive Mobile 365

Results Direct

In this episode of The Member Engagement Show, Kelly talks with Kunal Johar, Co-founder and Chief Technology Officer of OpenWater by ASI. Kunal shares how anyone can help their organization digitally transform. He also walks through the transformative impacts of using the latest addition to the Higher Logic Thrive suite: Higher Logic Thrive Submissions and Review. The result of a partnership between Higher Logic and OpenWater, Higher Logic Thrive Submissions and Review is an abstract software that integrates with Higher Logic Thrive Community enabling organizations to collect and manage award, abstract, scholarship, grant, and other submissions and applications.

Listen to the episode for more:

• Digital Transformation doesn't have to be a giant structural change; it can be one person deciding to improve a process (and you can iterate on that improvement).
• Member needs and day-to-day efficiency is what drives digital transformation. Associations should ask "what are our daily roadblocks?" and then consider "is there a simple way to fix this?"
• Associations should explore ways to use the tools they already have for digital transformation - avoiding additional budget approval. 

Kunal will also be joining us for Super Forum 2024, April 10-12 - don't miss out!

Learn more about Higher Logic Thrive Submissions and Review, and check out other resources we've referenced on The Member Engagement Show at higherlogic.com/podcasts.

On this episode of The Member Engagement Show, Kelly talks with Higher Logic’s Sr. Sales Engineer Emily Stamm about association volunteer and mentorship programs. The episode covers:

• How mentorship programs benefit both seasoned experts and younger members.
• Why you should establish volunteer programs in your association.
• What makes for great volunteer opportunities.
• How to spot and foster the best potential volunteers.
• How use community to create member engagement in volunteer and mentoring programs.
• Showcasing volunteer efforts, programs, and results.
• Ways to show your appreciation for your volunteers.

Check out the resources and events mentioned during this episode at higherlogic.com/podcasts, including:

• Super Forum 2024, which takes place, April 10-12 - Emily Stamm will be teaching a session to help you improve your mentoring and volunteering programs!
• Our guide, Path to Renewal: Mentoring & Volunteering

Our guest on today’s episode is Higher Logic’s own Martha Jack. Martha is the Senior Director of Design Services, where she leads the Design Services team in helping customers build communities uniquely tailored to association needs. Martha has worked with countless clients to create community and website experiences that foster member engagement and support the objectives of associations. Topics covered on this episode include:

• Creating synergy between websites and communities.
• Why community design is so important for helping members stay engaged and find the information they need
• Creating sustainable communities with automation that saves staff time.
• Why your community homepage doesn't need to have everything, everywhere, all at once.
• How to create ongoing interest by launching new community features over time.
• Important design considerations that are unique to association websites.
• Website and community design trends.
• Why you should never consider your community “finished.”

Find links to our Higher Logic Thrive Community Lookbook, and more information about Higher Logic Design Services at higherlogic.com/podcasts.

Martha will also be teaching a session at Higher Logic's Super Forum 2024, April 10-12, on web accessibility to help you learn how to make your community better for everyone. Register to learn more from Martha and others!

Kelly's guest on this episode of The Member Engagement Show is Shaine Anderson, Executive Vice President and COO of the commercial real estate development association, NAIOP.

Shaine has also held roles at the National Association of Landscape Professionals, the US Indoor Soccer Association, and the American Composites Manufacturers Association. Over the years, Shaine has just about seen it all in the association space. In this episode, she shares tips for those starting a job with an association and for others thinking through their career growth in the association industry. She also explores trends in the field. Topics covered include:

• Working in an association is, first and foremost, a people-centered job. Those who succeed cultivate emotional intelligence and love to work with others.
• Working in the association world means being curious and having a thirst for learning. Get to know multiple areas of associations for more context around your particular role.
• For your association to succeed, members must feel they can't miss out on what you offer.
• When your association is doing advocacy work, share the behind-the-scenes work with your members.
• Test different tools and technologies, but once you choose, maintain consistency.

Check out the resources and events mentioned during this episode, including:

• Super Forum, April 10-12 - The early-bird discount is still in effect!
• Higher Logic's on-demand webinar, Future-Proof Your Association.
• Higher Logic's 2023 Association Member Experience Report.

Our guest on this episode of The Member Engagement Show is Lucas McCann, President/CEO of Core Affinity. Lucas is also President and owner of the Big Red M and the host of the 6 Degrees of Associations podcast. He's worked with over 1000 associations to develop successful programs, optimize marketing, increase revenue, and cultivate industry partnerships.

Kelly chats with Lucas about association affinity programs, covering topics such as:

• What does an affinity program for an association look like?
• Common misperceptions about affinity programs.
• The dangers of not properly resourcing affinity programs.
• Common mistakes made in running affinity programs.
• The near-magical powers of member feedback.
• The near-magical powers of making experiences easy.
• The steps to starting or reviving an affinity program.
• The importance of data and reporting.
• Trends and innovations in affinity programs.

Learn more about Core Affinity.

Listen to the 6 Degrees of Association podcast.

Check out Higher Logic's recent 2023 Association Member Experience Report.

Register for Super Forum 2024 by February 2, 2024 to save $200 on your registration!

In this episode, Higher Logic’s Kelly Whelan talks with Teri Carden, creator of Non Dues-A-Palooza, an organization that brings together industry thought leaders and curious association professionals to explore new and innovative ways to generate and implement non-dues revenue for associations. Give the episode a listen and you’ll learn:

• Why NDR so important and impactful for associations.
• Today’s typical dues/NDR split for association revenue.
• Examples of non-dues revenue streams.
• Key takeaways from this year’s Non Dues-A-Palooza event and what to expect from Non Dues-A-Palooza popups coming to a city near you.
• Three things your sponsors are looking for.

Links mentioned in the episode:

• Learn more about Non-Dues-a-Palooza: https://www.nonduesapalooza.com/
• Contact Teri Carden: teri@nonduesapalooza.com
• Higher Logic's upcoming webinar, with CEO Rob Wenger, The Future Is Now: AI and Automation in Association Software (choose the time that works for you)
  • November 16: http://www.higherlogic.com/w/november-2023-rob-product-ai-webinar-rsvp/
  • November 20: http://www.higherlogic.com/w/november-2023-apac-rob-product-ai-webinar-rsvp/
• Register for Super Forum 2024, where Teri and others will share tips and ideas for helping your association thrive: https://superforum.higherlogic.com/

Today we discuss Higher Logic’s 2023 Association Community Benchmark Report with Senior Customer Advisor Kristen Parody. Kristen and Kelly cover topics like:

• Why associations should review benchmarks and how they can use them.
• Using benchmarks to inform discussions with your leadership team.
• The trends in engagement pre-, during, and post-pandemic.
• Using benchmarks for reasonable goal setting.
• The percentage of users that actually engage.
• Why email digest open rate is important.
• Tips for collecting and analyzing your own community data.
• Strategies for improving engagement with your community.
• Adopting a personal voice in your community.

There are several resources mentioned in this episode that are useful as you review community benchmarks and work on increasing your association’s member engagement.

• Download the 2023 Association Community Benchmark Report.
• Read Kristen’s checklist of things community managers can do to ensure online community health.
• Higher Logic customers can log into the Higher Logic User Group (HUG) and join us for monthly Hug Connects to learn from their peers.

We're also currently soliciting speaker proposals for Super Forum 2024 - share your insights, your successes, and even your failures through a workshop, panel, or speaker session. The deadline for submissions is October 13, 2023.

On this episode of the Member Engagement Show, Kelly talks with Sarah Spinosa, Product Marketing Manager at Higher Logic and a member of the ASAE Marketing Advisory Council. Sarah has 15 years of marketing experience and served on the 2023 ASAE MMCC Program Advisory Council and as an ASAE Gold Circle Award judge.   The conversation revolves around member-generated content and touches on: *What member-generated content is *Why it's important for associations *Ideas for leveraging your members’ expertise *Ways to gather member-generated content *Making it easy for members to submit content *Tapping into sponsors and partners for content *Encouraging content from newer, younger members who are earlier in their careers *Promoting and highlighting member-generated content

Sarah will be presenting a deeper dive on this subject at the ASAE Annual Meeting & Exposition August 5-8, 2023 in Atlanta, GA.