With so many relationships to maintain in your professional life, from friends and colleagues to the networking groups and professional associations that are the core of your business, it is vital to choose online engagement tools wisely AND commit to using them regularly.
We no longer live in a world of “if you build it, they will come,” so if you want to interact with your members, AND build strong relationships with them, you’ll need to actively engage them on a regular basis.
Having tools that are simple to use and fit your work style will only make this easier as will following these top tips to making member engagement a breeze:
- Make engagement easier with a unified login system.
A unified login system provides access to multiple programs and tools utilizing a single username and password. By simplifying access to your various platforms, your members will be more likely to engage with you more often and on a deeper level.
- Share member data between your online tools.
Just like unified login simplifies member access to your tools, sharing member data across platforms offers a valuable benefit by not requiring them to enter the same information over and over as well as providing access to that data when and where it’s convenient to the member.
- Make sure your members have a way to connect with other members.
Build online communities, discussion boards, blogs, etc. to provide online networking tools for your members to supplement your in-person events and basic data sharing.
- When developing content, put yourself in your members’ shoes.
Members will be more likely to engage when you put out information and questions on topics in which they’re interested. Think about what’s important to your members, collect data on those topics and share the results.
- Use and present your data and content in multiple ways.
Not everyone loves a webinar nor does everyone enjoy sitting back with a comprehensive white paper to peruse. Present your data in multiple formats, on multiple platforms utilizing a variety of media to reach the widest audience. Consider these ideas:
- Writing articles, developing interactive webcasts, and even YouTube videos to share information with your audience.
- Engage your members to author articles, host webcasts and speak at your meetings.
- Establish new service offerings, affinity programs and/or other unique solutions to help your members run their businesses better.
- Share, Share, Share your data in all ways possible.
- Create tools that use cloud-based technology and user interaction to begin conversations.
There are many online tools that can be offered to your members. Use the information that is gathered with these tools to start a relevant dialogue with your members. Comments within a blogging thread or data obtained through surveying can provide ideas for topics that will interest and engage your members.
- Find out where your members ‘hang-out’ online and engage them there.
Which social media channels are used by your members? Engage in these platforms to build a social relationship that can provide meaningful insight into what your members are talking about and provide a framework for new content and tools:
- Twittter
- FaceBook
- LinkedIn
- Google+
- YouTube
- Specific blogs
- Treat your members as customers.
As with any good business, think about what your customers want first. Always give members a way to provide feedback and then respond to it quickly and with care.
However and wherever you choose to engage your members and colleagues always remember that the best conversations are interactive. Be sure to listen, ask questions, and always, always, engage your audience. You might be surprised at where it might lead.