In this episode of The Member Engagement Show, we cover Higher Logic's recently released 2024 Association Community Benchmark Report, which collects community performance and engagement data specifically for associations and non-profits.

Not only do we discuss key metrics from the report, but expert community advisors Tiffany Moule and Kimmie Harrington share tips for improving your community performance and member engagement. Topics include:

• What the report is and how associations can best use it.
• Highlights from the report including:
  • Which months have the highest community engagement.
  • Average open rates for community digests.
  • Average discussion activity.
  • The impact of size and age on community engagement.
• How to engage different types of community users.
• The positive impact of tying mentoring, volunteering, and job board opportunities to your online community to increase engagement with your programs and community.
• Just how big a difference personalization makes.
• Why onboarding is a critical time for community engagement.
• The percentage of community members you can expect to contribute content.
• The impact of having resource libraries in a community.

Helpful Links:

Register and join us for our free upcoming webinar on the 2024 Association Community Benchmark Report, taking place September 25 at 2 PM ET.

Download the 2024 Community Benchmark Report

Explore the Community Manager Toolkit

More Higher Logic podcast episodes and resources

Our guests on this week’s episode are Higher Logic Senior Advisor of Customer Success, Kristen Parody, and Higher Logic Customer Success Manager, Cate Sauer. Kristen and Cate are both regulars on the Higher Logic Users Group (HUG) and former association management professionals. Their work at Higher Logic revolves around helping associations succeed by sharing high-level strategies, best practices, and support.

During the episode, we share tips for how associations can manage and engage groups, chapters, and events by using dedicated microsites.

• Hear about some common association use-cases for microsites.
• Learn why microsites are great for offering personalized branding and experiences for different member segments or events.
• Learn how chapter and other microsites can be used to empower volunteers and chapter leaders.
• Understand the best practices for setting up microsites, including the benefits of testing and starting small.
• Learn what Higher Logic's Component Management add-on is and how it can help.

Helpful Links:

Kristen Parody on LinkedIn Cate Sauer on LinkedIn

• FloridaMakes Webinar on how they use microsites.
• Microsite Resources in the HUG Education Library
• Info on Higher Logic's Component Management Add-On

Higher Logic Success Team Contacts: successteam@higherlogic.com realmagnetsuccessteam@higherlogic.com informzsuccessteam@higherlogic.com

Our guest this episode is Heather McNair, CEO of Cloud Generation. Heather has had a long career working on association communities and credentialing programs. Heather also shares how Higher Logic Thrive Credentialing can help associations administer their certification, certificate, and credential programs. In one example. Heather shares how an association more than doubled the number of new certificate participants in just one year, while cutting staff time spent on the program in half.

Throughout the episode, we discuss:

• The different types of credentialing programs: certifications, certificates, micro-credentials, and stacked credentials.
• How Higher Logic Thrive Credentialing makes managing complex certification programs.
• Opportunities associations are missing when it comes to certification and credentialing.
• How to ensure members understand the importance of certification, the process of getting their credentials, and how to approach re-certification.
• Strategies for nurturing members toward certification.
• How to revitalize a certification program that may be stalling out.
• Repurposing existing content for certification programs.
• Using technology to scale and improve certification programs.

Helpful Links:

Higher Logic Thrive Credentialing

Heather McNair on LinkedIn

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