01/19/2024

Consider Ways to Develop Connections with Non-members at Your Annual Meeting

This can be a prime opportunity to engage with them

Though most annual meetings are filled with members looking to learn and network with peers, there are usually some non-members in attendance, as well. While they have not joined the association, they are clearly interested in what your meeting offers.

That is why the annual conference can be a great opportunity to talk to these non-members and better understand how they perceive your current offerings. Doing so can ultimately help your association improve member benefits and other products and services—and perhaps convince some non-member conference attendees to join your ranks. Here are some ideas on how to create a strategy around engaging and collecting feedback from non-members onsite.

Connect Peer to Peer

If your association has a method of identifying non-member attendees, such as a label on their name badges, it’s a good idea to take time to chat with them. Alexandra Bradley, director of marketing and communications at the American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery, recommends introducing non-member attendees to an available board or committee member. If you have a membership booth or other area at the meeting, ask board or committee members to sign up for 15-minute increments to talk to prospective members who stop by.

Please select this link to read the complete article from Associations Now.