If you’ve been in the chamber business for a long time, it’s likely you recognize a good chamber member from a bad one before they even become one. You likely know the characteristics of what makes members successful and what makes them fall into the category of a non-renewer.
I’m not suggesting you turn people away because you don’t see them renewing next year. However, you probably have a pretty good eye for which kind of member they’ll be. You may even have a list of key indicators that helps you recognize what makes a successful member. While that is largely chamber-specific there are some things that most successful chamber members have in common.
3 Beliefs of Successful Chamber Members
Looking for these things can help you recognize someone who is likely to become a satisfied and successful chamber member versus someone who won’t renew. This allows you to focus your efforts and limited resources on those who are more likely to become a valuable part of your member community. Successful chamber members believe:
- Membership is an investment in their business. Successful chamber members don’t see the yearly dues as a charitable contribution. They see it as an essential part of growth and a cost of doing business.
- A strong community makes for a strong business. Successful members see that working with the chamber is also an investment in the community as the chamber advocates for all businesses, making the local economy stronger.
- They get out what they put in. The business investment in chamber membership requires participation on some level. That could be attending networking events, mentoring, helping to design local education requirements for a stronger future workforce, or volunteering time. Relationships don’t get built by simply signing a check. Successful members know this.
Looking for these success indicators will help you gain a better understanding of who may renew and who probably won’t. You can also analyze your data to see what your long-time renewals have in common. How many events do they attend? What activities do they partake in on a regular basis? Do they open chamber emails? Examining member history can help you extract the secret to member longevity.
