- Host a “bring a friend” meeting
Encourage members to bring someone. This could even be a recurring event so that new members are continually bringing new friends.
- Reach out to former members
Some people might be ready to come back.
- Encourage members to share your newsletter (printed or e-newsletter)
Especially if they are featured in it!
- Invite members’ families to events
Siblings, cousins and parents are all potential members (parents as volunteers).
- Help current members develop an “elevator speech” about their membership
Why are they members? What is the biggest benefit of being a Girl Guide (GG), Girl Scout (GS) (member)? Can they explain the purpose of the movement and GG / GS group?
- Ask your members for recruitment ideas
They may have an idea you have not thought of before or know about opportunities within their own social networks.
- Offer business cards with contact and info how to join to your members
It is an easy way for them to point people to your organization or group and share more easily with their networks. The cards have a line for the referral source, so the member can get a credit (discount in a GG / GS shop or other benefit) for referring someone new.
- Offer an alternate meeting time to attract people with different schedules
Is your meeting time leaving out a whole group of people, like those with afternoon school schedule, jobs, weekends leavers or early bedtimes? Switch up your offerings to attract more people. Try a meeting on an unlikely day and time and see what happens.
- Volunteer as a GG / GS group
You will get to do good as well as meeting other volunteers in your space.
- Coach members on creating a welcoming experience
Getting potential new members to attend meetings is only half the battle! Remind current members to greet newcomers and avoid GG / GS or group’s special jargon when there are visitors (potential new members).
- Ask members to list their membership in their professional bios
It gets your MO’s name in front of more people, builds your organization’s prestige, and reminds members to talk about it.
- Create an invitation email template your members can use
Make it easy for members and volunteers to send invitations by doing most of the work for them. You could also create paper-based pamphlets or member application forms, or template texts that current members can copy-and-paste into emails or social media (Instagram, Facebook) messages that they send to friends.
- Give members a button or pin and encourage them to wear it
Make sure it is stylish so members will be more likely to wear it, and people will ask what it is about.
- Conduct exit interviews with departing members and volunteers
When you know why people are leaving, you can better start figuring out ways to keep them.
- Create perks for members who recruit new members
Little perks and freebies can really motivate people. Think about gift certificates, a shout-out at your next meeting or a mention in a social media post or newsletter.
- Create a promotional video
Members can share it with their contacts, and you can share it on social media.
- Thank your members regularly
There are a few different ways you can do that. Here are just a few:
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- Create a video thank-you message from the leader of your MO or a local group, and publish it on your website, your social media profiles, and your email newsletter.
- Each year, make a list of all the events, services, and educational opportunities that were made possible by your membership fees. Publish the list on a separate page on your site, and link to it on a regular basis in your online content and email campaigns.
- Host a yearly event to say “thank you” to your members. Consider a member brunch, picnic, pool party, or other fun gathering. It can also be done online.
- Write handwritten thank-you notes to your members. In our digital age, a personalized note is even more meaningful and memorable.
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- Assign especially engaged members a “recruitment role” You can also hold special recruitment meetings to give these members tools and encourage them to recruit new members — or give them a few minutes in every meeting to announce their results and ask for help.
Among your target members, what kind of individuals would make great recruiters because of their personal/professional networks? You can grow your membership exponentially if you can find a way to enlist these members.
- Film member stories and testimonials
Publish them to your website and social media so you can give prospective members a visual reminder of just how engaged your current members are.
- Personally, follow up with every prospect
When somebody signs up for local group’s event, either at that event or afterwards, follow up with each one of them personally and ask them if they want to join… Probably about 95% want to join after that.
- Launch a direct mail campaign
If you can acquire a mailing list, or if you reach out to lapsed members, you might see success! There are mailing platforms you can use for free!
- Launch a telephone outreach campaign
Create a goal to reach out to all the prospective members in your contact database. First, simply list all the prospects and contact them one by one over the phone.
By the end of the year, we are confident you will reach several members through this initiative. People like to be recognized, seen and heard, and would respond more positively if addressed personally and directly.