publications & resources
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  1. Radically Relational: The Social Conference
    The traditions of meetings and conferences are losing their value. Today's conferences must be social, connecting attendees in ways they can do nowhere else. March 1, 2010
  2. Management Tips From the Managed
    Consider these five ideas to break out of a rut and become the best manager you can be. January 29, 2010
  3. Five Ways Associations Can Use Online Games
    Bring buzz and "stickiness" to member retention, public outreach, and conference marketing with online games. January 29, 2010
  4. 10 Tips to Pick Your Best Social Networking Platform
    Not sure which social media platform is right for your association? These 10 tips will help. January 29, 2010
  5. Powerful Service, One Customer at a Time
    Would you take a member's call at home at 5 a.m.? One dedicated association staffer has. January 29, 2010
  6. When the Welcome Party's Over
    You've read the employee handbook, reviewed your predecessor's files, and reached out to key staff and volunteers. But as a new employee, you can still be tripped up by an invisible barrier: the unwritten rules that are unique to each association. In this month's Associations Now case study, a new membership director tries to recover from an early mistake. January 29, 2010
  7. Stop Turnover Before It Happens
    Your best employees might have one eye on the door, and once the recovery begins in earnest, they'll have plenty of new opportunities to choose from. Experts share advice on the steps you can take now to keep them. (And if your retention efforts fail, they also have tips on how to fill the void that great employees leave behind when they go.) January 29, 2010
  8. Membership Lessons From For Profits
    Membership is no longer just for associations and nonprofits. More and more for profits have jumped on the bandwagon, realizing that by allowing customers to become members, they are fostering a sense of belonging and improving customer loyalty. Now it's time for associations to learn from these for-profit membership models. January 29, 2010
  9. Build Multimedia Into Your Publication’s Strategy
    The web-savvy staffers of ABA Journal spent a year improving their multimedia skills for its Legal Rebels project. Editing podcasts, posting video, and hosting Twitter chats didn't just make for a more dynamic publication. The magazine also came away with a stronger bottom line and a closer relationship with its readers. January 29, 2010
  10. Visions for the Future of Associations
    Think ahead to 2030 and imagine what the association world could look like. Three association thinkers did just that, and they share their dreams of what could be. Will associations be decentralized, open sourced, or solving the world's problems? One thing's for certain: We're the ones who will decide. (Titled "Future Visions" in print version.) January 4, 2010
  11. A Checklist for Social Media Legal Notices and Policies
    Be prepared for legal concerns related to social media with this checklist. November 30, 2009
  12. Social Media and the Law
    The rise of social networking raises a number of legal issues for associations. Here are 10 you should consider. November 30, 2009
  13. What Your Body Language Tells Meeting Attendees
    Body language expert Linda Talley offers advice for association executives attending meetings and conferences: how to greet first-time attendees, how not to hold your arms when listening to an attendee complaint, and more. October 29, 2009
  14. True Tales of Association Social Media Managers
    Only a few years ago, there was no such thing as an "association social media manager." But now the first full-time social media and community specialists are starting to take their places at associations across the country. Three of the first share their experiences from their first six months on the job. October 29, 2009
  15. Master Your Emotions to Maximize Your Success
    To achieve success personally and professionally, be in touch with your emotions and feelings, as well as those of others. October 5, 2009
  16. Cultivate Future Leaders
    Component relations professionals do a pretty good job targeting students and growing student chapters but often overlook the young professional members. Your components are a great place to cultivate the future of associations through young professional development. October 1, 2009
  17. Associations in a New World
    The changing face of the global community offers opportunities for U.S. associations and their members, according to Newsweek International's Fareed Zakaria. Is your association ready to lead the way? (Titled "Time to Find a Fresh Market?" in print version.) September 30, 2009
  18. Social Networking for Association Professional Development
    PD professionals shared their ideas for using social networking in association professional development activities during the July Professional Development Virtual Lunch Date. See a sampling of their ideas here on starting to use social networking, maintaining the personal/professional line, and how to use social networking in association professional development programming. September 16, 2009
  19. Top Career Tips
    August 31, 2009
  20. Reaching Young Professionals Where They Are
    August 27, 2009
  21. How to Keep Young Professionals Actively Engaged
    How to take young professional members from their first meeting to being active volunteers. (Titled "A Long-Lasting Welcome" in print version.) August 26, 2009
  22. Create a YouTube Channel for Your Association
    If your organization regularly captures video of speakers, sessions, and demos, consider cataloging those videos by creating your own YouTube channel. This primer offers step-by-step instructions for creating your own channel and posting your videos to make them easily accessible to members and others. August 25, 2009
  23. How Well Do You Know Your Young Professionals?
    While associations need to be sensitive to the demands of young professional members, remember that it’s not just about the technology. IT professionals should ensure that the association website and social media tools meet the specific needs of younger members and that the basic association product and service offerings are attractive to this new population. August 25, 2009
  24. Build a Rock Star Chapter
    Get your game on! In this case study, component leaders compete to fulfill their chapters’ annual requirements and earn the title of a rock star chapter. What does it take to build this kind of system? Find out how to create your own star chapters. August 3, 2009
  25. 10 Tips for Less Dysfunction in Email Relationships
    Email is a pain, but it doesn't have to be so bad. Make your electronic relationships more meaningful by following simple rules of digital etiquette. July 29, 2009
  26. Is It Really Antitrust?
    How do you know when it's time to blow the whistle? An association staff member wonders in this month's Associations Now case study. (Titled "Boiling Point" in the print edition.) July 29, 2009