Feeling the Love: Practical, Cost Effective (Cheap) and Useful Techniques to Enhance Value for Your Members

Transcription

1 Feeling the Love: Practical, Cost Effective (Cheap) and Useful Techniques to Enhance Value for Your Members Pat Yevics, Director of Law Office Management Assistance, Maryland State Bar Association Whitney von Haam, Executive Director, Wake County Bar Association

2 Members love us when they value what they receive from us. Learn some practical, fun, cheap and useful tips on what other bar associations are doing to enhance member services and to promote the services that are offered by our bars. By the time you leave this 60 minute session you will be armed with 60 (give or take) quick tips and ideas so pay attention because we will be moving fast!

3 Categories Technology Social Media Value Added Opportunities Communications Information & Assistance Whatever

4 How we came up with these tips Tips had to be easy and cheap to implement especially for smaller bars Took ideas from all size bars If from large bars, easy to scale back for small bars If from small bars, easy to expand for large bars Traditional techniques re invented or revived

5 Tip # 1 Web Tutorials

6 Tip # 2 tech.aspx

7 Tip # 3 Constantly use website as a major resource for your members.

8 Tip # 4 Expand on what is already available

9 Tip # 5 Using LinkedIn for Bar Members State Bar of Michigan

10 Tip # 6 Don t Wait for Members to Make Connections on LinkedIn make them for them

11 Tip # 7 Post Photos on LinkedIn and Facebook Groups Directly from Your Event

12 Tip # 8 Post Video Footage and Powerpoint Presentations to Your Social Media Sites, too

13 Tip # 9 Get the Conversation Going On Your Social Media Sites What s the best piece of advice a colleague gave you when you first started out? Secrets about getting around the courthouse Funniest thing overheard in a courtroom The one thing I couldn t live without in my firm People like to have a reason to check out what is the latest being discussed on your site; it doesn t all have to be deep discussion about the latest legal developments

14 Tip # 10 Put a member value tip each week on your group s social media site.

15 Tip # 11 A little birdie told me Create a variety of Twitter accounts for members Law Office Management CLE Communications Legislative issues Annual Meetings

16 Tip # 12 Some of NABE Tweeters Office Management Tweeters What some bars are tweeting

17 Tip # 13 Webinars with Affinity Partners

18 Tip # 14

19 Tip # 15 Help members connect Consider listing member s twitter accounts on your website either on a special page or via Section pages This can be another reason for members to join sections list tweeting lawyers by state

20 Tip # 16 Online CLE sign ups no bar is too small to offer this benefit

21 Tip # 17 Use Members Time Effectively: Utilize free scheduling websites such as meet o matic or doodle.com to cut down on the number of s between committee members

22 Tip # 18 Sharing Document Sharing online Allows members of sections to share forms and documents

23 Tip # 19 Use Outlook for meeting notices Will appear as an for all members, and those who use Outlook can accept it and have it go directly on their calendar

24 Tip # 20 Welcome from staff In addition to a welcome packet and letter from president, correspond with your new members whether from Executive Director, Communications Director or Membership Director

25 Tip # 21 Thanks & Recognition Highlight Members

26 Tip # 22 from the In Oregon, a letter from people who have had a wonderful experience with a member attorney is acknowledged with a letter of thanks from the executive director (with cc to the lauded attorney), and then they are shared as an agenda item at the next Board of Governors meeting.

27 Tip # 23 Never underestimate the power of recognition: Handwritten thank you notes still go a long way. Recognition = Motivation

28 Tip # 24 Social

29 Tip # 25

30 Tip # 26

31 Tip # 27 When the president speaks Ask for feedback in the column

32 Tip # 28 Member to Member relationships are better to promote retention: "Partner with a Board Member" program for new members at Association events

33 Tip # 29 Personally sign letters not all letters, but important letters to members and make sure it s in blue

34 Tip # 30 Win/Win Put information about affinity partners on website and in e newsletters Reminds members what you offer Helps revenue

35 Tip # Can I Quote You On That? I enjoy the networking opportunities at the Bar luncheons each month and the family picnic in the Fall. The CLE gives me an inexpensive way to help meet my CLE requirements, which is especially helpful since I have to pay for my own CLE. The quality of the CLE is excellent and I always enjoy the programs. Member North Carolina Youth Advocacy & Involvement Office Continually collect testimonials from members if anyone says something complimentary, ask them to it to you. Not only is it great for your marketing pieces later, it makes that member feel like their opinion is heard and that it matters.

36 Tip # 31 Make Members Matter, not More Mad When they call to complain, listen to them and thank them for taking the time to call and let you know (even if you have no intention of shutting down the program due to their complaints)

37 Tip # 32 Everyone on the Same Page All Bar Staff should be able to list all the reasons for being a member All Bar Staff should know all the benefits A member of the bar staff should never say I do not know

38 Tip # 33 Same thing goes for Public: Send every member of the public away with a good feeling about the Bar Association. Never send them away with 'we don't do that. I don't know where you can go next.' A good experience with the bar association = a good experience with lawyers in their eyes. And THAT makes our members happy.

39 Tip # 34 Get them early

40 Tip # 35 Donuts and Fruit 8:00 AM -11:00 AM Compliments of the Maryland State Bar Association

41 Tip # 36 Make it easy to connect Add Social Media icons to all signatures for ALL staff so members can sign up easily.

42 Tip # 36 Blogging to help

43 Tip # 37 Make sure your value proposition is in a healthy balance. What you get for your membership dues Eight lunches: $96 Oyster roast: $25 Family picnic: $50 Holiday party: $50 10 hours CLE: $250 TOTAL VALUE - $471 Send a value statement with your dues invoice, as well as accomplishments of the past year.

44 Tip # 38 Explain why you are the best

45 Tip # 39 Touch base with first year members before invoices are due. Personal touch is even better Personal touch by another member the best. YLD project?

46 Tip # 40 Member Relationships Commit yourself to finding out one new piece of information about a member every time you interact

47 Tip # 41 Member Relationships Commit yourself to finding out one new piece of information about a member every time you interact Be genuine in asking the question and caring about their response

48 Tip # 42 Member Relationships Commit yourself to finding out one new piece of information about a member every time you interact Be genuine in asking the question and caring about their response Aspirational goal: Remember the information

49 Tip # 43 Help is on the way

50 Tip # 44 Mentoring in a Group Groups consist of two mentors and up to twelve mentees. Groups meet monthly starting in September for discussions about career paths, work life balance issues and professional challenges. It is targeted to Young Lawyers and New Lawyers who have been in practice for 8 years or less.

51 Tip # 45 Online Mentoring A list of volunteer mentors online Listed by location and practice area To answer practical questions Not designed to be one to one mentoring but depends upon individuals

52 Tip # 46 Update Member Materials If your membership materials do not look like something that would appeal to your biggest group of potential members (i.e. Generation Y), then they are ineffective.

53 Tip # 47 Monitor members closely for burnout Don't continue putting that superstar member on every hobbling committee or the task force that is going to restructure the whole association talk to them about whether they need a lighter assignment. Do this annually. Keep the lines of communication open so that they will tell you when it s time to take a step back...rather than just fade away mid year and never come back. Don t assume when they will want to step back

54 Tip # 48 Free CLE

55 Tip # 49 Not free CLE but Close HANGING OUT A SHINGLE How to Develop a Thriving Solo Practice Maryland State Bar Association Solo and Small Firm Practice Section Saturday, July 16, :30 AM 4:00 PM HOLIDAY INN LAUREL WEST, Sweitzer Lane, Laurel, MD $60.00 for May, 2011 Admittees $80.00 MSBA $ non-msba $45.00 Full-time law school Student SCHEDULE AND TOPICS 8:15-8:45 am REGISTRATION/BREAKFAST 8:45-9:00 am WELCOME/ INTRODUCTIONS 9:00-10:00 am AVOIDING GRIEVANCE & MALPRACTICE 10:15-11:15 am TECHNOLOGY EVERY SOLO NEEDS 11:30 am 12:30 pm PRACTICAL BUSINESS TIPS: STARTING A SOLO PRACTICE 12:30-1:30 pm LUNCH (Provided) 1:30 2:00 pm HANDLING THE STRESS OF SOLO PRACTICE 2:00 3:00 pm BUILDING A PRACTICE: HOW TO GET AND KEEP CLIENTS 3:15 4:00 pm EVERYTHING ELSE: TIPS ON WHAT NO ONE ELSE TOLD YOU

56 Tip # 50 Electronic CLE

57 Tip # 51 CLE/Movie/Dinner Combo

58 Tip # 52 CLE & Social Combinations

59 Tip # 53 Taking it to the people

60 Tip # 54 Give them information

61 Tip # 55 Groupon type partnership opportunities Making these more specific Find legal profession specific deals, either with current vendors or partners, or find ones with whom you don t have a long standing relationship

62 Tip # 56 Grassroots Career Help: The Job Distribution List

63 Tip # One day, discrete service opportunities

64 Tip # 57 Taking Care of Members: TCOM No matter your bar size, you can reach out to members who are hurting.

65 Tip #60 Contact us with any questions! Pat Yevics, Whitney von Haam,