From personalized Netflix recommendations to suggested Spotify playlists, users have come to expect a certain amount of customization when it comes to services and subscriptions. Association audiences are no exception.

Organizations spend a great deal of time making assumptions about their members' interests. And there are a number of tools out there to support the collection of behavioral data so that associations can get better and better at getting to know their members.

But sometimes, it's not enough just to build off algorithms that indicate a person's interests. Sometimes the simple solution is to ask. 

That's the intention of the modernized Email Preference Center (EPC). To give your members control of the remote.

Thanks to the hit Netflix series, “Tidying Up,” people across the world have been “Marie-Kondo-ing” their homes and offices in order to start fresh. For those not privy to the show, here’s the gist: Marie Kondo, the show’s host, encourages participants to evaluate each item in their home (or, more specifically, in their closet) and identify whether it “sparks joy" in their life.

Anything not "sparking joy" is ceremoniously discarded or donated. Those having gone through the process are afforded a cleaner, more streamlined space that inspires productivity and healthier living.

Your data is no different. And here's why.

As more and more associations work to become data-driven organizations, they keep running into the same problem: integration. Associations have the data. The problem is getting all of that data into one place.

Data integration is tricky in most circumstances. It can be really tough for associations, as the majority of commercial tools don’t work with Association Management Systems (AMS). And integration isn’t just an IT problem either. Without the right data pipelines in place, you can’t run data-driven marketing campaigns or execute member-focused strategies.

That’s why we here at HighRoad Solutions have been working tirelessly to help associations unify their data. Our go-to tool has been the Plus Connector, a neat piece of software that enables fast communication between an AMS and another data source.

We’ve all been there. With deadlines to meet, emails to send, and content to push out, it’s easy to feel like we’re treading water. We all have good intentions at the beginning of the year to define our overall strategy, only to find ourselves mid-year buried under our communications calendar.

From newsletters to event announcements to membership status reminders, email is a critical piece of your overall strategy. You’ve invested time and resources into selecting the right tools for your organization and you’re paying attention to your email engagement metrics, but are you leveraging the full functionality of those tools and reports to push the needle on your numbers?

If not, we get it. That's why our team of digital experts has created a holistic, hands-on learning experience to help you elevate your email program with industry best practices. Introducing HighRoad Email Edge.

Your solution to making a difference amongst the clutter. 

2020 has been like the tornado in The Wizard of Oz, ripping us all up from our familiar lives and depositing us in a strange new world.

Your members are depending on you now more than ever. They need you to offer support, networking opportunities, and programming tailored to their evolving needs. They also need to know that you’re out there, providing a strong voice for the industry and striving for a prosperous future.

But it’s also a tough time for associations. Membership growth was already a challenge even before COVID-19. How do you get young professionals to invest in their careers when the future seems so hazy?