Flowers are blooming, butterflies all aflutter, and days are getting longer, which can only mean one thing. It's almost July 2. With 182 days before it and 182 after, July 2 is the exact middle of the year. If you're wondering where the time went, you're not alone. The good news is that right now is the perfect time to look at your 2019 plan and ask yourself if this year's results are meeting expectations. If you wait until your year-end review, you are missing out on more than 6 months to course correct.

If you answered "no," you are likely missing out on an opportunity to engage your members by referring their colleagues and friends, while promoting your association. How, you might wonder? With one of the oldest forms of advertising—"word of mouth." According to Nielsen, 92% of consumers trust referrals from people they know. When you are looking to introduce your association to potential new members, existing engaged members make great trusted sources; engaged members know the benefits of your association and how they have personally used their membership to grow their knowledge and network.

Flowers are blooming, butterflies are all aflutter, and days are getting longer, which can only mean one thing. Spring is here and we’re already nearly halfway through 2019! If you’re wondering where the time went, you’re not alone. The good news is that right now is the perfect time to look at your 2019 plan […]

Many associations struggle with the question of whether or not to offer new members an introductory discount to improve recruitment efforts. Within limits, the data that we have seen over the years support offering a discount to incentivize new members to join your association.

Coffee is for closers! What image comes to mind when you think about the S word? If you grew up in the 70s or early 80s, it might be Herb Tarlek of WKRP in Cincinnati. For movie fans from the 90s, images of Alec Baldwin in Glengarry Glen Ross might come to mind. Perfectly slicked back hair, a plaid jacket perhaps, a slight aura of cigarette smoke in the air. It is the Hollywood image of the S-person. Power lunches, power ties, power suits, pinkie rings, high pressure closes, golden circle clubs, spiffs, expense accounts, blah, blah, blah. You went to college, got your MBA, and pursued a CAE so you wouldn’t have to do that horrible stuff… right? Not Sales!

Once, very early in my career – actually right out of college – I took a stab at selling insurance. I won’t bore you with the particulars of my epic failure, but like most jobs in life, I did learn a few valuable lessons. And an aphorism or two to boot!