4 Inexpensive Welcome Gifts for New Members

Association Marketing, Growing Your Membership

If you’re an active MPR listener like me, you’ve probably noticed they’ve just started their annual fall member drive. Unlike other organizations that require membership to access special features and receive benefits, MPR is essentially free to all listeners. To raise money for their programming, they run member drives three times a year. “Member Drives account for about 20% of overall membership revenue,” (MPR).

Are your swag offerings stuck in the stone age?

To encourage listeners to donate, MPR offers some serious swag for every contributor. Check out their famous tote bags, mugs, socks, national park passes and more. Just last week, they even launched a wine club as a membership perk.

While some membership organizations like MPR continue to revolutionize the member gifting experience, others are stuck in traditional techniques like discounts on dues for new members. Discounts are nice but it doesn’t provide nearly the same experience (and rapport building) as say, a box of specially curated wine.Member gifts don’t need to be extravagant but they do need to be creative. If your budget only allows small gifts, get creative! Think outside the box.

4 Inexpensive Welcome Gifts for New Members

To help wow your new members and keep them coming back year after year, we’ve compiled a list of 4 unique, inexpensive gifts.

Send them a handwritten note

Snail mail always makes people feel special. Even a handwritten thank you card goes a long way. Surprise new members with a thoughtful card and 2 free tickets to your annual conference. If possible, have your CEO or President write the note – members know these managers are busy people, so when they take time to make a member feel welcome, it’s sure to be noted.

Practicality and functionality

While it may not give the “wow” factor, a practical gift over a non-functional, “fun” item is more likely to be used. And if you display your logo or tagline on that item, it’ll be a small reminder to members every time it’s used.

Wearable Items

We know what you’re thinking – spend money on a t-shirt that’ll end up wadded up in the back of a member’s closet? So a t-shirt may not be the best option. But wearables could be so much more. See how the United States Personal Chef Association utilizes coat patches to welcome new members.

To stand out… [USPCA] gives members a few wearables—coat patches and vehicle window clings—that make them easily identifiable. Not only is it easy and convenient to send, but something like a pin, decal, patch, or button can also serve as a point of pride to the newly minted member.

Find a Sponsor

If gifts are truly outside of your budget, opt for a sponsor. Partner with a local organization that identifies with your mission. Feature their name on your website or add their logo to welcome swag.  It’s free advertising for them and saves you a large chunk of cash.

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