A recent report by Growth Zone stated that member engagement and retention was the number 1 concern when it came to challenges facing associations. That aligns with conversations I am having with new customers when they join Guidebook as a reason they came to us.

Associations must continue to innovate and be brave when finding new ways to engage their members. Mobile apps are not new, and we already know that everyone owns and uses them every single day. But what is true is we are still not always finding the best ways to penetrate through all the noise. When we build strategies that work on mobile phones, the results are massive!

You need to make it a powerful tool to foster connection, communication, and involvement among members. Below are ten effective tips to leverage a mobile app to boost member engagement in your association.

1. Personalized Member Experience

Start with onboarding and think about how you can personalize that experience based on the content and audience you have within the app. You have a good amount of data from the sign-up or renewal process that allows you to get people to use the app in the most effective way straight away.

Tailor the app experience to each member by offering personalized content and notifications to drive relevant groups or people to the right areas and make recommendations. Use the app data like activity, interests, and engagement metrics to curate a more unique experience. When members feel that the content is relevant to them, they’re more likely to engage regularly.

2. Push Notifications for Real-Time Engagement

Push notifications are a direct way to reach your members and keep them informed about important events, deadlines, or new content. However, the key is to strike a balance—too many notifications can be annoying, while timely and relevant ones can drive significant engagement.

When you upload new items to the app or make changes, ensure you are directing the relevant people there. Use push notifications to welcome new members each month or highlight particular people who drive peer-to-peer engagement.

3. Exclusive Content Access for Member Engagement

Provide members with exclusive content through the app. This could include early access to events, members-only articles, or special webinars. When members know they can get something valuable that’s not available elsewhere, they’ll have more reason to use the app consistently.

4. Interactive Features and Gamification

Incorporate interactive elements like polls, quizzes, and discussion forums to encourage active participation. Gamification techniques, such as awarding points for certain activities (e.g., attending events and participating in discussions), can further motivate members to engage.

5. Streamlined Event Management

Use the app to manage all aspects of events, from registration to networking. Offer features like event schedules, speaker bios, sponsor information, blogs, real-time updates, and interactive maps. By making event participation easier and more interactive, members are more likely to attend and engage.

6. Social Integration and Community Building

Facilitate social connections among members by integrating social media features or creating a community within the app. Encourage members to connect, share, and collaborate, which not only boosts engagement but also strengthens the association’s sense of community.

You can really push people to connect through gamification; it creates the habit of connection and discussion and helps new users to start using the app more effectively.

7. Feedback and Surveys in Member Engagement Apps

Regularly seek feedback from members through in-app surveys and polls. This not only shows that you value their opinions but also provides you with insights to improve the app and the overall member experience. Engaging members in decision-making processes can increase their investment in the association.

8. Resource Center and Knowledge Sharing

Create a resource center within the app where members can easily access industry reports, articles, webinars, and other educational materials. A well-organized, searchable library encourages members to return to the app for valuable insights and learning opportunities.

Make this the hub for all your new and most valuable resources. If it is easy to find and easy to use, you will be surprised at how often people open your app.

9. Member Recognition and Highlights

Use the app to recognize and highlight member achievements, whether it’s through a “Member of the Month” feature, showcasing success stories, or highlighting contributions in discussions. Recognition fosters a sense of belonging and motivates members to engage more.

Our interact feature allows you to highlight posts and pin posts. This is a great way to really bring this to life and ensure all members are seeing the very best of your posts.

10. Continuous Improvement and Updates for Member Engagement Apps

Regularly update the app with new features, content, and improvements based on member feedback and usage analytics. A dynamic app that evolves over time keeps members interested and shows that the association is committed to providing the best possible experience. Learn other ways you can use your app for more than just events.

Engagement needs to be nurtured. You can't take it for granted, and you need to have a clear strategy for short-term tasks and a longer-term vision to foster engagement within your membership. Advocates and group leaders are a great way to bring some of this to life. You can leverage your most engaged members to facilitate a lot of the ideas mentioned here. Offer them some value add or discounts in return for them being loud and effective voices within your association, it will also help raise their profile and build their own network.

With these tips in mind, your association can build a thriving, engaged community that stays connected and involved long-term. This will help with retention but also bring newer and younger members into the association.

For more questions, get in touch today!