The current Covid-19 situation poses a number of questions to many types of business, including trade associations. Here at Smart Admin Works, where we offer outsourced trade association management services, we are working hard with our clients to maintain activity and also plan for the future.
Here are a few thoughts on some steps that you could take at this time
1. Work hard to keep in touch with, reassure and retain your existing member base
This is a time when you could potentially lose members, so the objective must be to remain relevant and add value. This can be done by being in touch and offering business support and advice. Make sure that members can reach you either by phone, email or social media.
2. Be visible and active in front of your membership
You may need to upscale the level of communication with members (and potential members) to ensure that there is a steady stream of information on such matters as government business grants, HR issues and business insurance.
What can you achieve for your members by lobbying local and national government?
3. Prepare – Use this opportunity
Consider and challenge your membership recruitment and retention strategy. Does it need to change in the light of current circumstances and the outlook for when things return to a more normal footing? What else could be added – new communication channels?
This is a great chance to make sure that all of your member communications and material are ready to go. Audit what you have and how it will be used. Is it current? Are there gaps?
What about your member data? Is that accurate and GDPR compliant? Some data suppliers are offering free health checks on your customer and prospect data, so why not take them up on it?
What else can you add that would be seen as valuable by your members?
4. Challenge and Test
You have done things in a particular way and have planned as such. Now is the time to challenge that and consider new ways of working.
Could you outsource some or all of your trade association management? For example; financial management, secretariat services, member communication, technical helplines or event management?
At Smart Admin Works, we are fully operational at this time. As a full-service outsourced trade association management agency, we are able to help you with all of the above. Our planners and creative teams are working with clients to ensure that they continue to help members and plan for the future. If you would like a no obligation chat about any of the topics mentioned, please email info@smartadminworks.com