A recent article in ASAE’s Associations Now magazine shared 33 Simple Ways to Build Member Loyalty. The list is well worth reading, and a few of their tips stand out in our world as great ways to engage members for the long haul. Here’s our take on a handful of tips:

• Tip #7: Ask Questions
  The authors advise associations to collect feedback from members on their needs, concerns, interests and views. Many associations with whom we work use online voting software to provide a secure, tamper-proof method for advisory voting and other polls. (Read “Online Voting Vs. Online Surveys: There Is a Difference“)
• Tip #19: Get Things Done Efficiently
  When it comes to voting for board elections, bylaw revisions and other propositions, members hate hassle. They want to be able to vote online with a seamless, integrated system that doesn’t involve multiple passwords and other roadblocks.
• Tip #20: Be Honest
  If an election or voting event has even a hint of scandal, you lose the trust of your voters. A verified, third-party online voting system can make your election tamper proof and scandal free.
• Tip #27: Personalize Your Communications
  Members don’t feel special when your invitation to participate in an election is addressed to “DEAR MEMBER.” Personalize your emails to make sure your members know the invitation is just for them, complete with their unique link for voting as well as username and password. In addition, you should make sure that your ballots can be customized to member types. (Read about the American Anthropological Association’s custom ballots here.)
• Tip #32: Acknowledge Achievements
  Your members work hard in their industries, and many associations offer awards for outstanding work. Simplify the process with an online contest/award management system that makes recognizing members easy.

What do you do to increase member loyalty? How has it affected your retention rate?