Online Community Tips

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In his bestselling book, The Lean Startup, Eric Ries makes the case for  getting new products into customers’ hands faster. He advocates for a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) approach, starting lean instead of investing time and money perfecting a product that may end up being of little or no interest to customers. Ries’s methodology starts with launching the MVP and using it to learn what the market actually wants, then continually iterating based on that learned intelligence. This “build-measure-learn” feedback loop saves both time and money, enabling lean startups to get a product to market quickly and customers to help shape the solution that meets their actual needs, rather than needs founders think they have.

Generating ongoing member engagement for your association is about more than just giving your members a good experience. With increased engagement, you can boost renewal rates and attract new members. Since members primarily join associations to connect with others in their industry, engaged members are likely getting more of the value they are seeking from their membership. Happier members means a more financially stable association — in short, everyone wins.

When online communities are at their best, content is valuable, members are consistently engaged and everyone involved feels supported and fulfilled by the connection.

When online communities are at their best, content is valuable, members are consistently engaged and everyone involved feels supported and fulfilled by the connection.

The transition into the digital space has created both an opportunity and a challenge for members and associations. With in-person or other physical elements traditionally providing value to their membership packages, defining member benefits in the digital sphere isn’t always a natural step.

Since first appearing on the scene in the 1800’s, associations have been in a constant state of evolution. While first a means of networking at meetings, conferences and advocacy, the digital world provides an additional way for members to make connections.