A member’s onboarding experience is a true reflection of how the remainder of their membership term will turn out — so it’s essential to make it a good one. In a post-pandemic era of reinvention and ‘remoteness,’ organizations must revamp their onboarding to remain in the race.

The standards and priorities of prospective members have shifted, with an emphasis on fostering strong rapport and making the most use of their time. Research has shown that the first year of membership is the most critical, and a robust onboarding experience can increase retention and productivity.

Without a strong onboarding process, your members won’t be fully acquainted or even aware of the benefits and resources available. As a result, a disconnect will occur, and when the renewal period rolls around, they won’t feel inclined to continue their membership. 

Why Is Onboarding Important?

• Makes a positive first impression
• Boosts member engagement 
• Decreases attrition 
• Builds trust and strong relationships
• Exemplifies the organization’s culture
• Bolsters member excitement

Engagement is the key to connecting with your members. When launching a new member-based organization, you want to ensure that you have lifelong clients who feel valued and inspired. Whether you’re tweaking your current onboarding process or redesigning a new one, we’ll share our favorite tips for welcoming new members to your team and keeping the growth momentum going.

4 Steps to Improve Your Onboarding Experience 

Open Doors For Communication 

Opening a line of communication as soon as members have signed up for your organization is a critical first step as they’re likely to have many questions. Whether via email, text message, phone call, or handwritten letter, any form of initial welcoming is essential. Something so simple can create a positive impact and a significant step forward for any new member of a club. 

Deliver the Ultimate Welcome Kit

What better way to say “welcome to the party” than with a welcome kit loaded with branded gear and goodies? Club merch, especially when personalized, is excellent not only for advertising your organization and boosting sales, but it’s an exciting addition to any onboarding process. 

A welcome package is where all your informational literature should be, a calendar of upcoming meetings and events, social media contacts, and a membership certificate. It should also include a contact form for new members' questions or concerns. 

Welcome Members with an Incredible Member Orientation Event

A physical welcome event is a great way to introduce new members to the organization. For larger facilities with multiple amenities and services, orientations are the best time to give tours and acquaint members with the space and resources offered. Virtual events can impact remote organizations similarly and provide new members with a face to everyone’s username. 

Veteran members who have been a part of the community for a long time can speak on their experience and success within the organization. Real-life success stories are meaningful and can boost engagement and inspiration with new members. 

In addition to orienting everyone to the organization, consider a mentorship program where you can assign long-term members to newer members. They can serve as friendly faces in the club and a go-to for any questions or needs. 

Maximize Your Technology’s Potential

Whether social media or membership management software, organizations should maximize the potential of all available technology. Social media platforms are one of the most readily used applications and can augment the onboarding experience. For example, you can create spotlights to introduce new members and feature them on the feed. 

Membership management software is an excellent tool to help simplify the onboarding process and membership transition for both the user and host. It functions as a sign-up form to automate the member database, processes fees, gives members access to members-only areas of the website, and sends automatic emails and notifications. 

Wrapping Up

Know your membership, understand your members' goals, and ensure that your onboarding program meets their needs. The process is essential to your community’s growth; therefore, it should be well-designed and executed to ensure members have a seamless transition into the organization.