How to Engage a New Generation of Members

2015 was a landmark for North American demographics. The Baby Boomers no longer constituted the largest living generation for the first time since their first boom. Instead, the title was handed to Millennials, a group that is typically defined as people born between 1980-2000. Millennials are the largest generation with the highest purchasing power and the greatest diversity, education, and technological capabilities.

Millennials are the most apprehensive when it comes to joining an association. Naylor's Association Communications Benchmarking Survey found that more than half of associations (56%) find it difficult to engage with Millennials. Many people believe that Millennials are impulsive and noncommittal. However, this is not true. There are many ways to attract this generation to your association. First, you need to understand what they want with the help of Vocalmeet review. KNOW YOUR CAUSE

Millennials are more inclined to support causes than institutions, which is a departure from previous generations. Millennials are socially conscious and responsible and seek associations with the same values. According to the Cone Millennial Cause study, 68% said that an organization's commitment to social causes significantly influences their buying decisions. It is important to ensure that your association's cause is clearly understood and communicated effectively. Millennials expect their commitments and contributions to be rewarded with tangible results. They want to know what they are doing, who it is, and how. Millennials want to be able to choose from a variety of membership options. The bottom line is that Millennials will be loyal and involved if their association represents something they can stand behind. PERSONALIZED EXPERIENCE

Although millennials are often grouped as one demographic, the truth is that they are as diverse as they come. They are diverse racially and physically. They want their non-traditional views to be reflected in their associations. It is difficult for associations to create a personalized experience that Millennials love while still demonstrating the inclusiveness they seek. There are many ways to achieve this, such as adopting the "Amazon experience" and "consumer experience," which simplify the online experience for users. The Millennial wants the experience to be all about the member and their membership. So, please stop talking about yourself and instead start talking about them. ADOPT EMERGING TRENDS IN TECHNOLOGY

It is well-known how important technology is in Millennials' lives. Every organization should expect incorporated technology, particularly mobile technology. This trend does not end there. Millennials expect every online experience to feel fluid, intuitive, and seamless. Online forms and checkouts should be user-friendly and compatible with mobile devices. Information should also be easily accessible, and new technologies should be adopted immediately or compatible. Although Millennials may prefer self-service over human service, it is important to be able to reach out to a human being when necessary. CONNECT THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA

Social media is essential for connecting with Millennials. However, it is not hard to do so effectively. Many believe that Millennials use social media to share and be visible but seek connections. This is what the most socially-savvy organizations are doing. They increase their online presence, connect with the public, and make themselves accessible and contactable. The 2015 Elite Daily Millennial Consumer Study found that 62% of Millennials believe that if a brand connects with them on social media, they are more likely to be loyal customers. In addition, millennials are more likely to make decisions together, which makes it more effective for brands to be present in their social networks than traditional advertising.

Make your posts actionable if your association uses social media channels to market. Engage in conversations by sharing mission-focused messages and encouraging people to comment on the posts. Some associations use member-generated content to reach a wider audience and infiltrate friend networks. Keep in mind the visual savvy of Millennials when it comes to creating marketing content. Visuals are more effective than text on social media because they cut through the clutter and communicate much more clearly than text. While long articles are still acceptable, they do not have the same impact as visuals BE TRANSPARENT

Millennials will engage more with transparent organizations, whether you call it distrust or wariness. The information age has enabled Millennials to have instant access to all the information they need whenever they need it. Millennials will look for other options to obtain the required information. According to the "2016 Label Insight Transparency ROI Study", 73% of Millennials said they would pay more for a product that promised complete transparency. This means that associations need to be concise about their purpose, which the members are, and what the association does.