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Five Reasons Why People Hate Your Association's Website

By Samir Balwani — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 18:04:54 GMT

As your website becomes more and more important (people look for your association online before searching anywhere else), making sure you are giving members and potential members a positive experience becomes more important, too.

Front-of-Book Content: What's the Right Mix?

Steve Ford — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 19:21:58 GMT

What role does front-of-book material play in your magazine?

A Phrase That Pays

Patricia Fripp, CSP, CPAE — Wed, 21 Nov 2012 13:10:42 GMT

Every day, your readers are bombarded with more and more information until their ears are positively ringing. How on earth can you make your messages the ones that stick in their memories?

Don't Delegate and Forget

Hardy Smith, Consultant — Thu, 08 Nov 2012 09:37:41 GMT

Volunteers who sign up for involvement in a nonprofit or an association are anticipating a positive experience. When they don't find that gratification, they face frustration, and the organization faces volunteer and member-retention issues.

Fall In Love with Your Product and Prospects Will Do the Same

JT Hroncich, AdBoom — Mon, 22 Oct 2012 15:18:17 GMT

Have you ever been around someone newly in love? They get enthusiastic talking about it. They smile and light up describing it. They can (and will) tell you all the great things about that person, all the time. And when they finally introduce this new great love to their friends, they typically highlight the things you and they have in common.

Some Sailing and Sleuthing

Apryl Motley, Communications Consultant — Fri, 05 Oct 2012 12:17:48 GMT

During my most recent vacation this summer, I actually got some R&R. At least I went to the part of the cruise ship specifically designated as the relaxation area so that type As like me would know what it was for. Immediately I saw an opportunity for relaxation and research. While cruising on the high seas aboard the Norwegian Star en route to Bermuda, I couldn't resist the urge to investigate how my fellow passengers were "taking in" content.

The World's Worst Webinar Attendee

Apryl Motley, Communications Consultant — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 17:07:51 GMT

I admit it. Despite the fact that I've spent the past four years planning them and how valuable I think they are as a learning tool, webinars are not for me. I've tried and tried to stay on task while attending webinars. Invariably, I start multi-tasking and doing something other than listening to the speakers. For the most part, I learn best face-to-face in a traditional classroom setting.

My E-mail is Slowly Killing Me

Cathy McNamara Fitzgerald — Mon, 10 Sep 2012 09:33:54 GMT

How did we ever get anything done before email? Oh, that's right -- we picked up the phone or walked down the hallway. For the important stuff, we used the fax. Now that I think about it, we probably got more done before email.

Advertising Will Not Hurt Your Members

Jim Elliott, James G. Elliott Co., Inc. — Thu, 23 Aug 2012 16:57:56 GMT

Do you set the stage for interaction and engagement between members and suppliers by accepting advertising on your website, or do you believe that a website free of advertising is a better service to members?

Printer Proofs: Now Typo-free!

Cathy McNamara Fitzgerald — Tue, 14 Aug 2012 08:16:23 GMT

Isn't it great when you grab your latest issue, hot off the press, and, as you start flipping through it, your eye catches something? Something is wrong, terribly wrong. A typo. An incorrect folio. Your stomach turns, your face flushes. And then, if you are like me, you feel a sense of rage. How could the editorial team miss something so obvious during their pre-printer team check?

How Good are You at Driving Home the Member Benefit?

Elizabeth O. Hurst, Society for Neuroscience. — Mon, 23 Jul 2012 10:10:44 GMT

One of the only things I had in common with the presenters at "10 Strategies to Ensure Your Publications Aren't Living in the Past" (a presentation at the recent Association Media & Publishing Annual Meeting) is that we all had recently inventoried our publication strategies and made plans for updating them. Otherwise, our publications had entirely different organizational purposes. Also, our readers have very different expectations.

Young Professionals and the Transition to Twitter Prime Time

Cecily Walters, School Nutrition Association — Mon, 09 Jul 2012 09:40:35 GMT

As an association communicator, you may have noticed that members of the younger generation don’t always have an understanding of Twitter and the role it can play for them professionally.

Five Ways to Seize Momentum on Facebook

John Haydon, Inbound Zombie — Mon, 25 Jun 2012 13:01:26 GMT

Most nonprofits don't really have a plan on Facebook. They create a Facebook Page and then wonder what to do next. Before June, The Ellie Fund's Facebook Page looked nice, but lacked any real growth or engagement. In June, however, Facebook was a primary channel that helped The Ellie Fund win Twive and Receive, and in the process, their Facebook page got a bump in both fans and engagement.

Pre-Launch Advice for Digital Editions

Cecily Walters, School Nutrition Association — Mon, 21 May 2012 08:09:28 GMT

Is your association publications team contemplating adding a digital magazine to complement your print offering?

Chief Content Officer - a job description (finally!)

Monica Bussolati, BUSSOLATI — Tue, 15 May 2012 18:48:57 GMT

How to connect with audiences has changed, and doing so requires new skill sets and team roles that either didn't exist before or are amalgams of previous roles.

5 Ways to Future Proof Your Website

Andrew Hanelly, TMG Custom Media — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 15:58:34 GMT

Not too long ago, I presented a talk at an Association Media & Publishing Lunch & Learn on the future of websites. At the event, I purposely avoided making a grand declaration about the future of the web and instead focused on how associations can stay relevant online.

Freelance Writer Frustration

Emily Allen, International Association of Administrative Professionals. — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 10:33:34 GMT

I freelanced for years when I didn't hold down a full-time job. As a freelancer, after I got an assignment, I'd check in with the editor to make sure I was writing in the correct direction. I'd get my article in before deadline, over-deliver on the article, and write what I said I'd write.

What Percentage of Your Tweets Should be Links or Replies

Dan Zarrella, HubSpot — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 20:15:21 GMT

If associations are interested in re-tweets, broadcasting lots of interesting content works much better than "engaging in the conversation."

Prevent Silos from Reducing Association Revenues

Jim Elliott, James G. Elliott Co., Inc. — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 12:32:00 GMT

As executive directors try to find sources of revenue to serve their members without raising dues beyond the breaking point, selling advertising in their publications and websites is a logical place to start.

Why I Will Never Skip on an Opportunity to Judge the EXCEL Awards

Brian Davis, American Health Lawyers Association — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 14:06:36 GMT

When I signed up to judge Association Media & Publishing's 2012 EXCEL Awards, I expected to truly enjoy the judging experience-scanning stunning, well-composed magazines and backing those entries I felt warranted a judge's representation-and the judging didn't let me down one bit.

Are Shorter Articles Really the Short Attention Span Panacea?

Monica Bussolati, BUSSOLATI — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 10:11:18 GMT

The data indicates that people have ever-shortening attention spans. Or do they? What is really going on? And what are editorial teams to do about it?

7 Tips to Harness the Power of Creativity to Evolve Your Magazine

Monica Bussolati, BUSSOLATI — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 15:46:32 GMT

Creativity can be harnessed to help you overcome one of the hardest challenges you may face: making change happen for your association magazine.

How to Work More Successfully with a Designer

Monique Soranno — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 15:40:27 GMT

Whether you have limited-or lots-of experience working with a designer, here is a handy outline of things to keep in mind before, during, and after a significant design project.

Five More Timesavers Freelancers Will Thank You For

Apryl Motley, Communications Consultant — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 09:05:34 GMT

Here are five more timesavers most freelancers hope will be among your resolutions for 2012.

Free Images for the Taking

Joe Vallina — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 08:41:18 GMT

Here are three easy ways to source free, legal images for your media initiatives.