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MW Feature: Postal contingency plans in place?
Pre-Christmas strikes have thanfully been cancelled but have you thought about the further strikes that are likely in early 2010? We have been looking at ways to maintain service levels and have 5 Top Tips for you:
1 - Be pro-active in your approach - Notify members that there are likely to be delays. Think email notification, an e-newsletter article and/or website news article.
Check out our deal with Vertical Response. This provider will enable you to send out up to 10k branded emails completely free of charge* and will provide full analytics.
2 - Promote the alternatives - E.g. Renew or upgrade membership online, by telephone or via fax.
Check out our fax to email/pdf deal via PopFax.
3 - Make sure your publications are available online and ensure your members know they are there!
Publish an online version of any regular hardcopy publication and consider promoting as a carbon-neutral alternative. Do not replace though as regular publications are seen by many as THE tangible benefit of membership.
4 - Consider sending/receiving invoices via email
Converting Word versions of invoices into PDF format and emailing them out is not rocket science and it is free.
5 - Look at alternative mail handling organisations
You will pay more but there is nothing to stop you fixing prices now. If more strikes occur you can rest assured companies offering alternatives will charge even more of a premium.
Bonus Tip: When all is well with Royal Mail ensure you are using MailSort to send out mass-mailings - it is a whopping 25% cheaper than 2nd class!
Note: Free Vertical Response accounts only available to charitable organisations. Mailsort - A minimum quantity of 4,000 letters/packets applies. Professional mailing houses use specialist software to enable the sorting of data.
Latest MemberWise Advice...
Online CPD and eLearning Good Practice
In response to a number of MemberWise subscriber requests we have compiled an online presentation that focuses on eLearning and online CPD schemes.
The presentation not only includes practical information and advice, but also includes some great case studies including the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), the General Optical Council (GOC) and the Institute of Certified Public Accountants (CPA) Ireland. We also took the opportunity to profile reputable suppliers.
Go to CPD and eLearning Advice Presentation…
Social Media as a Marketing Tool Advice Sheet
MemberWise has launched (in association with Mekon Creatives) a detailed advice sheet that shows how professional membership organisations and associations can use of social media platforms as effective marketing tools.
Go to Social Media as a Marketing Tool Advice Sheet...
MemberWise Online Professional Networking Group welcomes 95th Member!
Let’s start from the beginning…
What is LinkedIn? A free online networking website similar to FaceBook, however is focused on professional networking.
What is The MemberWise Network LinkedIn Group? A free online professional networking group specifically for membership organisation and association professionals.
What will I gain from joining? Apart from the obvious networking opportunities the group also includes a free job vacancy service. We post links that enable access to sector news and views, online polls as well as the latest good practice information, advice and case studies.
Who has joined so far? Approximately 100 membership organisation and association professionals already subscribe to the group including ACCA, RCGP, RIBA, REPs, PLASA and the IoD.
How will I be kept up-to-date with group activity? After registering on the website (if you have not already done so) you will need to ‘join’ the group and will be given the opportunity to opt-in to receiving email updates. We recommend you sign up to ‘weekly’ updates.
Recent posts include:
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Free membership forecasting tool launched!...
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A process to define member value…
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Royal Charters - Are they all that?
Go to the MemberWise Online Professional Network...
The Credit-Crunch: Carry on... Marketing...
The Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) has published a white paper that shows that those organisations that increase and hone their marketing during a recession are those that emerge strongest when recovery comes. This advice can be linked to membership organisation and association marketing, so we recommend that you have a read!
Go to White Paper...
Conference & Events Spotlight - York
York has long been a favourite location for annual conferences. Not only is the city centrally located and well connected; its ancient history can provide added ‘zing’ to an annual conference program. MemberWise has negotiated a 10% discount with venue provider, York Conferences, and some useful links can be found below:
MemCom Awards 2010 – Call for entries…
Now is the time to submit your entries for the MemCom 2010 awards. The awards recognise membership marketing and communications excellence - the 2010 event will be held in the prestigious Max Rayne Atrium at the Royal Society of Medicine and will be an event not to be missed.
Go to the MemCom website…
New Suppliers, deals and discounts...
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Aricia (Membership Analytics) - 10% off
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Elucidation (Research Company) - 10% off
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Instinctive Systems (database provider) - 10% off
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National Media Museum, West Yorkshire (corporate hire) - 20% off*
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National Railway Museum, York (corporate hire) - 20% off*
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Science Museum, London (corporate hire) - 20% off*
*20% discount for charitable associations and membership organisations. 10% discount for non-charitable organisations.
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