Did you know that 70% of customers say they would rather learn about a company through articles rather than advertisements? This is particularly important in the B2B world of organizations that are offering their services as products. Purchases that range from hundreds to thousands of dollars are not going to be made after two visits to your website. The savvy …
Storytelling: The (Marketing) Tie That Binds
Who’s the storyteller in your family? We all have at least one. Growing up, my dad’s mom, “Grammie,” was the storyteller in our family. She worked as a waitress at Howard Johnson’s on the PA Turnpike for over 35 years. A widow at a young age, with a limited education and three small boys to raise, she saw her …
ASAE: In Honor of Women Luncheon
How do you define an exemplary leader? My own experience has taught me that leadership style is a very individual thing. Effective leadership inspires us and sets a standard for us to aspire to. Yesterday, at the Fairmont Hotel in DC, the American Society for Association Executives (ASAE) held a luncheon and awards ceremony, “In Honor of Women,” to …
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Millennials: The Economic Engine of the Future
The wedding is just over 5 weeks away. After marrying 3 sons off in the last three years, I FINALLY get to play the role “Mother-of-the-Bride!” As the parent of 5 millennials, it’s easy to identify with the stereotypes of this younger generation as entitled, spoiled and non-committal. Wedding planning is a great microcosm to see these characteristics at their …
Gen Y: Retention and Loyalty
Our daughter was recognized as an Outstanding Scholar recently at her university and I was truly touched with the intimacy of the ceremony and recognition given to each student. But what blew me away was the tribute to the educators and influencers that helped motivate each student to achieve such a high level of excellence. As an educator myself, I …
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Association Membership: Keeping Gen Y Motivated and Engaged
“The challenge inherent in keeping Gen Y engaged is that we’re easily distracted, we want to see progress from our daily efforts, and have a high need to stay in touch with those leading us.” ~ (p. 108) Translation for Associations: GenY needs to know OFTEN why being a part of your association matters. They need to see measureable …
Associations, Are You Talking to Me?
I’ve been waiting to see if some of the associations that I’m interested in would reach out to me first. Why? I’d rather spend the money on a weekend get away or dinner at my favorite restaurant, unless you can convince me of the value of membership in your association. I love to read posts by XYZ University’s Shannon Neeser. …
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Y-Size: Getting Gen Y to Work For You (And Stay a While)
I am always updating my resume. When I look at it, I think, “Wow! Either I have no sense of loyalty to some of these companies, or I am a jack of all trades!” In fact, I have 2 resumes. One is for teaching and performing dance, while the other is for social media marketing. As a member of …
Brand Congruence: WHY Mission and Vision
Last in a series exploring mission vision & brand congruence. For more info, register for our FREE webinar presentation on Wednesday, March 20, at 10 AM—3 DANGEROUS TRENDS FACING ASSOCIATIONS AND NON-PROFITS. “Congruence: n. agreement, harmony” Have you ever stood in the grocery store line, picking up items to make a favorite family dinner and had the cashier try to …
Mission and Vision: HOW Mission Statements
This is the fourth in a series of posts exploring the difference between mission and vision, leading up to our webinar presentation in March—3 DANGEROUS TRENDS FACING ASSOCIATIONS AND NON-PROFITS. . For my children, the searing memory of the Twin Towers of New York collapsing will define a part of their personal history. I remember that when Kennedy was …