How an Association Event App Can Strengthen Your Community

Associations are facing a challenge: retaining their members and gaining new ones. Conferences and meetings are great ways to bring people together. But the lack of meaningful engagement and interaction between these events leads to a decrease in membership growth and unsuccessful retention. So, the question is: how can organisations increase the value of being an association member? The answer: association membership needs to unlock an active and engaged community.

Why Building a Community Between Events Matters

One thing that the pandemic taught us is that people thrive in environments that encourage interaction, collaboration and exchange. Ultimately, that is what an association aims for as well. However, it is not enough anymore to confine this sense of community to just a couple days of a certain event. For people to feel like they are part of something bigger, for them to feel inspired and stimulated — there need to be continuous opportunities for connection and engagement. But how can an association achieve this when members are often scattered all over, with busy schedules and constant stimulation?

An Association Event App as a Central Hub for Your Members

Enter the event app. An association event app does much more than just support a conference or meeting. It becomes the primary platform where members can interact, engage, and connect with one another all year long. It also becomes the key tool for direct communication with your audience. Here are some of the ways you can use it to build your association community.

• Pre-Event Engagement: The event app allows members to be introduced to your association before the actual event. They can join discussion groups, connect with other members, and learn more about the event’s content ahead of time. This pre-event engagement helps create a sense of anticipation and belonging.
• Survey Opportunities: a survey is one of the many ways to ensure your members are heard and that their interests are known to you. Survey them on their wants, needs and interests, and then deliver content based on that.
• Incentivize Interaction: Using features like gamification, your event app can encourage more participation. Members can be rewarded for engaging in chats, networking, or completing tasks within the app. This system creates fun incentives for making connections, sharing knowledge, and staying active within the association community.
• Direct Communication: An event app allows your association to stay in direct contact with its members. It becomes a channel, especially through push notifications, to share important updates, resources and information that are relevant to your community, keeping them informed and involved.
• A Space for Continuous Learning: With features such as our interactive meeting rooms, knowledge sharing becomes easier. Members can discuss research, ask questions, and explore ideas beyond the constraints of the event schedule. Thus, they form deeper connections and enrich their professional development.

An Engaged Community is a Growing Community

When your association uses an event app as a central hub for engagement, the value of membership becomes clearer. Members are not just attending events; they are part of an active, engaged community all year round. This continuous connection is exactly what many associations are missing today, and it’s what will drive growth and strengthen their overall mission.

By creating a space where members can collaborate, network, and access valuable resources between events, associations provide a tangible reason for professionals to join and stay involved. In a world where meaningful connections are more important than ever, an event app can be the key to building and maintaining a strong association community.