In the digital age, membership teams at cultural organizations, associations, and institutions of higher education are spending far too many hours of the day on emails and phone calls - particularly to carry out laborious tasks like managing changes to members’ personal information, payment information, and more.
To solve this problem, Cuseum is excited to bring the benefits of customer self-service to the world of membership with Member Portal.
5 Ways Digital Can Help Associations Grow Their Membership
If you’re a membership professional at an association, you already know how challenging it is to drive sustainable membership growth.
With this in mind, it is vitally important for associations to start thinking creatively about more effective approaches to acquiring and retaining their members. While there are many ways to grow your association or society’s membership, in our increasingly connected world, innovative digital strategies can be particularly useful.
From launching an online referral program to spearheading a content marketing strategy and upping your social media game, here are five ways digital can help you grow your association’s membership:
Top Technology Trends in 2022 – And What They Mean for Associations & Membership Organizations
6 Insights from the 2021 Membership Marketing Benchmarking Report You Don’t Want to Miss
For membership and association professionals, it has never been more important to stay on top of the latest developments and best practices in constituent engagement and marketing. But, when you’re short on time, staff, and budget, this can be an extra chore you don’t have the hours in the day for!
Here at Cuseum, we combed through the latest insights from MGI’s newly released 2021 Membership Marketing Benchmarking Report, and we are here to share some enlightening trends and numbers. In case you don’t have time to read the full report, here are six insights that you don’t want to miss.
Introducing Member Portal by Cuseum
In today’s day and age, serving members, providing modern conveniences, and offering valuable benefits have never been more important for membership organizations. Indeed, for museums, attractions, nonprofits, universities, and associations, there is heightened urgency to attract and retain members with new perks and incentives.
At the same time, organizations are facing many challenges and inefficiencies: membership professionals often devote significant time and resources towards updating database records, answering redundant questions, and helping members access their benefits. These inefficiencies can likewise diminish the member experience, as constituents struggle to update their own information, access their membership benefits, and enjoy a seamless experience.
In response to these challenges, Cuseum is thrilled to announce the latest innovation in membership: the Member Portal.
5 Cuseum Success Stories to Inspire Your Membership Program
In the past several years, and even more since 2020, we’ve witnessed an explosion of innovation in membership programs across a wide range of cultural organizations. Many institutions have chosen to modernize their membership programs by launching Digital Membership Cards with Cuseum, and we couldn’t be more proud and excited to witness so many museums move their membership programs into the digital era. We’re also inspired by the multitude of creative membership initiatives that Cuseum partners have spearheaded to keep membership relevant and deepen engagement with constituents.
If you’re looking to update your membership program, make the most of your Digital Membership Cards, and/or experiment with new ways to engage members, check out five Cuseum partner success stories to inspire you!
Webinar Highlights: Membership Mondays: Exploring New Membership Models and Trends
In the past several years, and especially in the past six months, we’ve seen an explosion of new museum membership models. From virtual membership levels and benefits, month-to-month subscription models, to free membership programs, many organizations are considering alternatives to traditional annual membership. In light of these new trends, many questions and challenges have emerged. For example, how do you balance the needs of a traditional membership base with a virtual membership base? Is monthly membership feasible in the long-term? And, how can we keep membership relevant?
Join Dan Sullivan (Head of Growth & Partnerships @ Cuseum), Christina Brown (Director of Membership Programs @ Phoenix Art Museum), Heather Cahill (Director of Development @ Springfield Museums) & Brad Ingles (Membership & Community Partnerships Manager @ MCA Denver) for a discussion on new conceptions of the membership model. Each of these panelists will share a new membership model they’ve implemented at their institution, and they’ll explore some of the benefits and challenges of these membership trends.
How Your Museum Can Save by Switching to Digital Membership Cards
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.
Webinar Highlights: Membership Mondays: Diversity & Community Support in Membership & Visitor Service
Across the nation, we are deeply shaken and distressed by the death of George Floyd and the widespread injustice towards the Black community. In light of current events and the national reckoning with deeply-rooted systemic racism in our country, it is vital and urgent to explore these issues in relation to museums and cultural institutions, both internally and in the context of supporting communities, serving diverse populations, and creating social impact.
This Monday, over 1,700 people joined Dan Sullivan (Head of Partnerships @ Cuseum), Kevin Thomas (Senior Manager, Membership and Annual Fund @ National Museum of African American History and Culture), Jeanette O’Bryant (Development Officer @ National Civil Rights Museum) & Ash Harris (VP of Guest Experience @ San Antonio Zoo) for a discussion that situated the national situation in the context of museums and culture. As membership, development, and guest services professionals, the panelists offered unique perspectives on how cultural organizations can renew their commitments to diversity, inclusion, and community support in this current moment and going forward.
Watch the full recording here.
Here are a few of the biggest takeaways from the conversation.
Webinar Highlights: Membership Mondays: The Onsite Member Experience After Coronavirus Closures
Across the world, we’re beginning to see museums, zoos, gardens, and other cultural sites reopen after coronavirus closures. Many are initiating phased reopenings, using timed-ticketing and contactless modes of entry, opening to members only, and/or creating special hours for different groups. As these organizations began to reopen in the era of social distancing, many are rethinking what the onsite member experience may look like without the close interactions, friendly encounters with staff, and other personalized experiences that make visiting your organization so special.
Last Monday, over 1,400 people joined Dan Sullivan (Head of Growth and Partnerships @ Cuseum), John Perell (Director of Strategy & Member Experience @ Smithsonian Institution), Melissa Dietrich (Associate Director, Membership @ Longwood Gardens) & Zach Winfield (Vice President @ Zoo Advisors) as they discussed what the onsite member experience may look like after coronavirus closures and going into the future.
Watch the full recording here.
Here are a few of the biggest takeaways from the conversation.
Webinar Transcript: Membership Mondays: The Onsite Membership Experience After Coronavirus Closures
Across the world, we’re beginning to see museums, zoos, gardens, and other cultural sites reopen after coronavirus closures. Many are initiating phased reopenings, using timed-ticketing and contactless modes of entry, opening to members only, and/or creating special hours for different groups. As these organizations began to reopen in the era of social distancing, many are rethinking what the onsite member experience may look like without the close interactions, friendly encounters with staff, and other personalized experiences that make visiting your organization so special.
Join Dan Sullivan (Head of Growth and Partnerships @ Cuseum), John Perell (Director of Strategy & Member Experience @ Smithsonian Institution), Melissa Dietrich (Associate Director, Membership @ Longwood Gardens) & Zach Winfield (Vice President @ Zoo Advisors) as they discuss what the onsite member experience may look like after coronavirus closures and going into the future.
View the video recording here.
Read the full transcript below.
Webinar Highlights: Membership Mondays: Membership Marketing, Audience Shifts & Community Engagement after Coronavirus
After almost two months of coronavirus closures, many museums and cultural organizations are preparing to welcome visitors and members back. However, while organizations may be reopening, many are doing so in a graduated way and facing new challenges. In particular, many are realizing that tourism will be down for quite some time, which has the potential to profoundly affect admissions and membership revenue. At the same time, cultural organizations may have renewed appeal to local audiences as the world embraces a “stay local” or “staycation” mentality for the foreseeable future.
Last Monday, 1,600 people joined Dan Sullivan (Head of Growth and Partnerships @ Cuseum), Tim O’Connell (Director of Membership & Annual Giving @ North Carolina Museum of Art), Julie Knight (Director of Membership @ San Francisco Museum of Modern Art), Sewon Barrera (Digital Marketing Manager @ Exploratorium) & Daniel Vincent (Director of Membership @ Trustees of Reservations) as they discussed shifts in audiences and membership marketing strategy in light of coronavirus. The webinar addressed how organizations can reorient the value propositions of membership and double down on local audience development to survive and thrive in the coronavirus era.
Watch the full recording here.
Here are a few of the biggest takeaways from the conversation:
Webinar Transcript: Membership Mondays: Membership Marketing, Audience Shifts & Community, Engagement Shifts after Coronavirus
After almost two months of coronavirus closures, many museums and cultural organizations are preparing to welcome visitors and members back. However, while organizations may be reopening, many are doing so in a graduated way and facing new challenges. In particular, many are realizing that tourism will be down for quite some time, which has the potential to profoundly affect admissions and membership revenue. At the same time, cultural organizations may have renewed appeal to local audiences as the world embraces a “stay local” or “staycation” mentality for the foreseeable future.
Last Monday, 1,600 people joined Dan Sullivan (Head of Growth and Partnerships @ Cuseum), Tim O’Connell (Director of Membership & Annual Giving @ North Carolina Museum of Art), Julie Knight (Director of Membership @ San Francisco Museum of Modern Art), Sewon Barrera (Digital Marketing Manager @ Exploratorium) & Daniel Vincent (Director of Membership @ Trustees of Reservations) as they discussed shifts in audiences and membership marketing strategy in light of coronavirus. The webinar addressed how organizations can reorient the value propositions of membership and double down on local audience development to survive and thrive in the coronavirus era.
Watch the full recording here.
Read the full transcript below.
Webinar Highlights: Membership Mondays: Reimagining Revenue Streams & Events
Due to COVID-19, many museums and cultural organizations are facing significant disruptions to revenue with the absence of gate attendance and on-site purchases. From membership extensions, halted acquisition campaigns, canceled events, to public funding cuts, many other traditional revenue streams have also been interrupted. Even as organizations prepare to reopen and welcome members back, traditional events and other common revenue sources may be diminished or even off the table entirely for quite some time.
Despite the challenges, by rethinking the membership business model, initiating virtual events, and seeking out new revenue opportunities, membership departments and cultural institutions have the potential to bounce back, and membership can continue to be a primary revenue stream.
Over 2,000 guests joined Dan Sullivan (Head of Growth and Partnerships @ Cuseum), Claire Byfield (Membership Manager: Engagement @ British Museum), Tom Knowles (Membership Events Manager @ British Museum) & Rosie Siemer (Founder & CEO @ FIVESEED Membership Consulting) as they discussed how membership, revenue, and events can be reimagined to bolster museums and ensure their financial health going into the future.
View the video recording here.
Read the top takeaways below!
Webinar Transcript: Membership Mondays: Reinforcing the Value of Membership During Coronavirus
As the perpetual state of Coronavirus uncertainty continues to loom over us, cultural organizations have never faced prolonged, unplanned, closures in the way we are now. Historically, the majority of closures are brief, lasting for a few days or even weeks. Yet with no end in sight, cultural organizations are facing an entirely new, unprecedented challenge.
For many organizations who depend on income from on-site purchases like admission tickets, special exhibitions, and gift shop sales, the membership department is one of the only sources of income at the moment. In a time, however, when members cannot physically come on-site, the question becomes, how do we reinforce the value of being a member?
This past Monday, over 700 membership and museum professionals joined Ash Harris (Vice President of Guest Experience @ San Antonio Zoo), Kelli Buchan (Director of Membership @ The Franklin Institute) and Dan Sullivan (Head of Partnerships @ Cuseum), as they discuss ways that you can continue to reinforce the value of your membership, even when members cannot visit on site.
Watch the full recording here.
Read the full transcript below:
Webinar Highlights: Membership Mondays - Communicating with Your Members During Coronavirus
With the growing uncertainty around Coronavirus and its duration, museums and cultural organizations are wondering the best ways to navigate these uncharted waters. In the face of closures, requests for membership extensions, and member turnover, many cultural organizations are all experiencing the unprecedented challenge of maintaining their membership bases. During this unusual time, communication with those members is critical - but where do we start, and how do we stay relevant in members’ eyes when nobody can actually see us?
Webinar Transcript: Membership Mondays - Communicating with Your Members During Coronavirus
With the growing uncertainty around Coronavirus and its duration, museums and cultural organizations are wondering the best ways to navigate these uncharted waters. In the face of closures, requests for membership extensions, and member turnover, many cultural organizations are all experiencing the unprecedented challenge of maintaining their membership bases. During this unusual time, communication with those members is critical - but where do we start, and how do we stay relevant in members’ eyes when nobody can actually see us?
This past Monday, over 500 membership, development, and cultural space professionals came together with Dan Sullivan (Head of Partnerships @ Cuseum), along with Ingrid Van Haastrecht (Director of Advancement Services, Analysis and Membership @ Dallas Museum of Art) and Jennifer Thomas (Director of Annual Programs @ St. Louis Art Museum) to discuss actionable strategies for keeping members informed during closures.
Watch the full webinar recording online.
Read the full transcript below!
5 Tips to Reduce Membership Turnover
Museums and cultural attractions spend a lot of time searching for creative and effective new ways to attract new members while retaining and engaging their existing constituents.
With everything that goes in to expanding your reach, sometimes it is easy to forget that keeping members in the long-term is just as important as getting new members to sign up (if not more)! Research shows that it costs five times as much to acquire a new member than to retain a current one. Additionally, over a five year period, the average total value of a renewed member was worth 35% more than that of the average total value of a newly acquired member. The numbers are clear: reducing membership turnover is well worth the investment.
Here are five ways to help reduce membership turnover at your organization!
How Data Can Help You Create a Vibrant & Sustainable Membership Program
The world is abuzz about “big data” and “data-driven” strategy. As defined by IBM, “Big data analytics is the use of advanced analytic techniques against very large, diverse data sets.” In the commercial sector big data has applications in everything from product development, customer experience, operational efficiency, to innovation. According to Intel, “big data analytics is a technology-enabled strategy for gaining richer, deeper, and more accurate insights into customers, partners, and the business.”