Members Only Content

In the last 5 years, I am finding myself changing my philosophy on hiding content behind a member's only login on an association website. At first, I thought hide as much as you can to truly show value to a member. If you aren't a member, look at all this stuff you are missing!

But now, at a different association at a different time, I find that my thoughts have shifted. I am not to the point where I think everything should be open and free to everyone. However, I really think you have to take a serious look at what you are putting behind the curtain.

Is it really the members only web content that is leading folks to join and stay members? Because if it is, you have much bigger problems. (But you also have many big opportunities if folks are that tied to your content)

I am guessing like most associations, you want to engage your members, get them to participate more and take advantage of the benefits you offer...and by doing that, they find the value they need in being a member. Therefore, I am of the ilk that we should open up more of the web content to help drive that learning and engagement and capitalize on the value creation there.

The Great Debate - Measurement

i am hoping to start a healthy debate with this one. I am reading a book and this sentence jumped out at me:

You simply can't improve what you don't measure.

I am not sure I agree, but I can't put my finger on any arguments against it. What do you think? Can you improve something that you don't measure?

Another Life Change

It has been an entire month since my last post, and some things have happened. The biggest is that I will be changing jobs come Dec. 7. I will no longer be the Executive Director of the Arlington Soccer Association. I will now be the Foundation Manager and Director of Industry Relations for the Specialized Carriers and Rigging Association.

I am excited about this new change. It was a tough decision to make, as I have enjoyed my time at ASA and would like to see the fruits of my labor. But at this point in time, it was a move I had to make for family reasons.

Anyway, I hope this will mean I will get back to blogging a bit more on association issues, especially trade association issues. I look forward to seeing and talking to everyone through blogs, twitter and association events!

Interesting Piece about Free

I read an interesting article on Free in October's Fast Company. What do you think?

http://www.fastcompany.com/magazine/139/tech-edge-the-high-cost-of-free.htmlt

The main comparison the author gives is that Windows is trouncing Linux as a PC/Laptop OS. I don't think that is a fair comparison. Most people use Windows because it is what they learned on, primarily because it came on the computer they bought. Linux, used a lot for servers, is preferred by many IT folks.

When it comes to Free, the main model is to use it to help sell something else: service, upgrades, another product entirely. Charging something gives you credibility, but will it give you enough sales to sustain the business?

The Xer Meme - I Have Been Tagged

The social media maven of the association world, Maddie Grant, tagged me in her Xer meme.

Here is what Maddie asks:

So go on, tell me, my fellow Xers – Have YOU sold out? Have YOU gone mainstream? Or are we still the guerrilla army, changing the world (only without telling anyone)?

I don't necessarily think I, or we as Xers, have necessarily changed. I think the world around us has changed a lot in the last few years. It was a lot easier to be guerrilla on blogs, twitter and facebook then. We were just talking to ourselves and challenging the status quo. Now, my members and board members read my blog, follow my tweets, and friend me on facebook. We as Xers like to be subversive, but know to be responsible enough not to get fired.

Life is changing for us too. I am expecting a 2nd kid. Good Lord. When did that happen? I can't wax philosophical at happy hour and share great ideas about how to change the world. I need to be at home changing diapers and making dinner.

I still feel guerrilla. I don't feel mainstream. I may be an ED, but it is for an association I can shape. I call it the 40 year old start-up. My crazy ideas still hit me with the same regularity. They are just about different things as youth soccer is different than professional AV. Corporate memberships are different than families signing up their kids.

The world I am trying to change has shifted. I wouldn't call it selling out. Look up "Selling Out" on Wikipedia (cause that is what us Xers do) and it says: "Selling out" refers to the compromising of one's integrity, morality and principles in exchange for money, 'success' (however defined) or other personal gain. I haven't gotten any money or personal gain. Success is subjective. I don't feel I have compromised anything either. Things have just changed, as they always do with time.

I like to think of us Xers as being like fine wine - Better with age.

I am supposed to tag folks. I am not sure all these people blog, but oh well. I am an Xer and we don't like rules.

KiKi L'Italien
Scott Sherrin
Dave Sabol
Lynn Morton
David Gammel