Resources for Community Success

Associations can drive sustainable success by connecting with members through hands, head, and heart.

When it comes to your online professional community, “if you build it, they will come” may not be the best mantra.

It comes as no surprise that attention spans - and content consumption habits - have changed. And through this shift, association leaders have struggled to maximize members' engagement with and the monetization of their rich libraries of content.

The environment we’re working in today is complex and constantly changing. We’re faced with an accelerating need for digital transformation. We’re trying to keep pace with evolving member and consumer expectations. We’re uncovering what the new “world of work” looks like.

Forj, a leading member experience and virtual events platform for associations and professional community organizations, launched its MX Maturity Model, a comprehensive framework to help leaders identify where their association lies on the continuum of excellence in member experience.

The concept of community in professional associations has significantly evolved in recent years, with organizations investing in building online environments that foster more meaningful member connections. And as their communities continue to grow and change, they’re eagerly anticipating the future.  

Finding ways to reach new people has been a happy advantage of many associations shifting to a digital-first approach. Reacting to a rapidly changing environment, many association leaders have increased their reliance on virtual events and other opportunities for online engagement.

As people seek new and better ways to link with like-minded peers and learn from industry experts, many see professional associations and their member communities as the best way to forge those connections.

One of the many events that’s constantly evolving is the traditional holiday party. More and more organizations are forgoing the office potlucks and evenings out, opting instead for creative and flexible ways to connect colleagues and members during the festive season.

Sponsorship has long been a big driver of associations' non-dues revenue, and the need for solid sponsor partnerships is only getting stronger. Recent studies have indicated virtual events are increasingly more reliant on sponsorship as their primary source of revenue.