Member Engagement During Social Distancing

We are in unprecedented times. In the face of COVID-19, much of the world has come to a standstill. To maintain the health of our colleagues, friends, families, and loved ones we are forced to practice social distancing. It is, in fact, our duty. For many organizations, this has brought incredible disruption to operations not just for you but for your members as well.

This doesn't have to be a complete disruption — this can be an opportunity for your organization to take a more digital turn. We've put together some ideas about how to keep a connection with your members and how to grow your organization's digital footprint during these times.

Webinars

Live or recorded, webinars are a phenomenal way to engage with your members. They create a more personal connection with your members while also educating them. Webinars can also be a creative way to replace events your members are missing out on due to social distancing measures.

While webinars may sound intimidating, they're pretty easy. All you need is a theme, a platform, and you.

(Here's a comprehensive list of webinar platforms)

If you make it they will come. People love webinars, and with the ability to gather sponsors webinars can be a new source of revenue for your organization.

Advocacy

COVID-19 and social distancing has profoundly affected every industry and has shaken our economy. Whether you are an organization that advocates for an industry or a nonprofit that seeks to protect at-risk populations now is not the time to be silent. Whether you choose to advocate at the state or federal level, you can help protect the interests of your community digitally.

Grassroots advocacy software, like Muster, gives your members a way to communicate with legislators to ensure that your organization is being heard. Maybe you had a lobby day that got canceled due to social distancing? Do your members need economic help during the outbreak? Engage your members with their elected officials digitally. Let them use their voice to help secure their future over the next few months.

Click here to learn more about Muster Advocacy Software.

Donations

Depending on what donation platform you are using you likely have a myriad of tools at your disposal. If you had an event that was cancelled due to COVID-19 try to create a unique digital experience for those who were going to attend and use it as a way to fundraise. Utilize peer-to-peer fundraising to reach people outside your normal donor network. Now is the time to get creative when it comes to donations, don't be afraid to think outside the box and try something new.

Message Boards/Community Software

Message boards are a great way for your organization to share information and to have open conversations with members day-to-day. They also provide interactions between members enhancing that sense of community that you've worked so hard to build.

Blogging

We all know the importance of blogging. You can share insights daily, create conversations, and keep your members coming back to your website. Blogs are a great way to keep people engaged and active while educating them. Not every blog you write has to be 2000 words, short and sweet content can work wonders at keeping your members engaged.

Social Media

I'm putting social media last because while it's great for quickly sharing important information with your members, it's also now more than ever, overwhelmed with updates. Keep your social media active, but don't rely on it for the engagement factor. Share important news about your organization, but don't overwhelm people.

Conclusion

COVID-19 and social distancing have affected every organization. Take this as an opportunity to grow digitally. Continue to engage your members as best as you can, don't be afraid to try new things, and look for ways to generate revenue or donations that you may have lost from events or sponsorships. By doing this you're not only ensuring the health of your organization now but in the future as well.