Keys to Unlocking International Collaboration and Membership Growth Opportunities for Associations
Opening your association’s doors to an international audience can be a challenging but highly rewarding task. Not all associations succeed at “going global,” but those that do, reap the rewards of rapid growth: in membership, resources, collaboration, success, and more.
The big question for associations is, how do you go from local to international? What opportunities are out there that can help you reach potential partners and members abroad?
Let’s look at five proven ways to expand your association’s reach beyond borders.
1. Build an Online Presence and Community
With social media, everything and everyone around the world is just a few clicks away—this includes new collaborators and members for your association!
Use social media channels to highlight the benefits of joining your organization. Don’t forget to add links to your membership sign-up form, and make online registration as easy as possible.
You can also create an online community and organize virtual meet-ups and webinars to foster interaction and engagement. Now, everyone can join the fun, no matter their place or time zone.
2. Host Open Events and Activities
Let non-members catch a glimpse of what your association has to offer by hosting an exciting event at an international location that’s open to the public.
To attract new members, get creative! The event can be anything from a free luncheon, conference, charity event, business spotlight event, a booth at a fair, or a float at a parade.
3. Offer Training and Certification Programs
Offering free or discounted training and industry-specific certifications as incentives for joining your organization is another great way to boost membership growth and collaboration abroad.
It’s an excellent opportunity to provide new and old members alike with professional and educational value and keep them interested in staying in your association.
4. Form a Partnership
Find businesses or organizations worldwide with the same target audience and shared interests as your association. Work together to boost your visibility to potential members.
Start by making a list of your ideal partnerships, then send them a quick message outlining how both of you can benefit from the connection.
You can host a club mixer for your members to get to know each other, or cross-volunteer. Other options include partnering with universities, colleges, and government units abroad.
5. Create Engaging and Educational Content
Want all eyes on your association? Producing relevant, high-quality, and useful content is a guaranteed way to widen your global influence and grow your membership base.
Develop a content strategy that provides value to your audience, using fun and engaging formats, like videos, infographics, blog posts, online courses, podcasts, and more—extra points if your content goes viral (in a good way)!
Final Thoughts
Expanding your association’s reach into new and uncharted territories abroad can seem daunting. However, the opportunity for growth on a global scale is too great to ignore.
By creating a welcoming and inclusive atmosphere and using at least some of the strategies outlined in this guide, your association can achieve two of its main goals: to increase membership and foster collaboration among all members, new and old, local and international.