Across the world, museums and cultural institutions of all kinds are facing the financial ramifications of COVID-19. According to a study by the UNESCO, around 90% of the world’s cultural institutions had to temporarily close due to the pandemic. Months after closing their doors, some museums may just be entering into a phased re-opening period, and others may be closed for many more weeks or months longer. As a result, organizations of all sizes are bracing for a significant loss in revenue and looking for areas to cut costs and increase efficiency.
In this difficult time with limited financial resources, one way to reduce expenses is by switching from physical membership cards to digital membership cards. Along with a variety of benefits, including going green, adding value and convenience to members, and increasing membership renewals, a digital membership program can be a significant cost-cutting measure during these challenging fiscal times.
The (Hidden) Costs of Traditional Membership Cards
Traditional membership programs can be unnecessarily costly. Not only do physical membership cards have high production costs, but there are also postage, staff labor, and other promotional material costs that shouldn’t be overlooked. Staff also have to spend hours developing, mailing, and organizing membership materials for every member. Sending out renewal notifications via mail and email can also be add to the equation. Right now, many organizations are operating with reduced staff and reduced budgets, making cost-cutting and efficiency in these areas an even higher priority.
Saving Money with Digital Membership Cards
If you’re looking to cut costs, adopting a digital membership program can provide a more cost-effective and sustainable option for your organization, all while providing more value to members. By reducing staff labor devoted to membership fulfillment processes (especially envelope stuffing!), and eliminating the traditional costs of card production, paper, and postage, you can save big!
By switching to digital membership cards, institutions of all kinds have saved extensive amounts of their budgets. Whether you’re a museum, zoo, garden, aquarium, or cultural center, membership costs can be minimized at any institution.
For example, one mid-sized art museum in the Southeastern United States has saved $38,500 every year since going digital. Another organization, a 55-acre botanical garden with over 14,000 member households, has been able to save $50,000 annually.
Additionally, smaller organizations with 6 to 20 employees were also able to benefit from the Cuseum digital membership program – digital membership cards can provide advantages for any organization despite the size.
In addition to the freed up time and costs that can come with going digital, institutions can also use digital membership cards to communicate key information to members and to send push notifications: a message that pops up on a user’s mobile device. These push notifications can be key to driving membership renewals, making special offers to your members, and other special messaging. That’s why a digital membership program can be one of the most valuable assets to further membership retention and generate revenue. Digital can also help exceed customer expectations, enhance the visitor journey, and attract millennial donors.
As museums enter into phased reopenings, now may be the time to implement a digital membership program as a more cost-effective and convenient solution as you welcome back and re-engage your members. For more information, download our Guide: How to Launch & Succeed with Digital Membership Cards in 6 Steps.
Looking to switch to digital membership cards? Schedule a free consultation or demo with Cuseum!