Associations: 2 tools to make your life easier!
It's often in your own time that you get involved in an association. It's all about motivation. So it's important to keep it that way. If too many boring aspects pile up, beware! The aim is to inspire people to get involved, so that the project can go further and the community can grow. So how do you go about it? Here's how. You can also read all our articles on the challenges of collaboration.
CONTENTS
Bringing your association to life with the right new technologies
Unite the members of your association in project mode
An association is a group of people united around a common interest or passion. You need to bring this group to life. We need to encourage exchanges, create news, encourage initiatives and organise special events. Of course, you can join by text message, email or Facebook. But as soon as the project or the community takes off, that's quickly limited. We want to be able to exchange information and documents, so that everyone knows where we are and what we can do. In short, it's pure project management!
A dedicated interface to bring the whole association together in one place
Associations under the 1901 law are different from companies in that they are not-for-profit. However, their project mode means that they operate in much the same way. What are known as Corporate Social Networks (CSNs) also lend themselves well to associations. The principle is that members of a group can easily exchange information. An association, for example, could use it to make useful information available: forthcoming dates, minutes, posters, etc. Members have access to it, and can react, comment or share content in turn. The information circulates better in the form of more dynamic exchanges.
Structuring exchanges to facilitate the running of the association
Jamespot, specialist CSR software, is ideal for associations. Exchanges can take place bilaterally via the internal messaging system, or collectively by launching a thematic discussion. Collaborative monitoring can easily be initiated and followed by everyone. Content can be tagged with keywords, so that it is easy to find when a query is made. The group gradually builds up its resources, so that the day you welcome a new member, he or she is quickly integrated, thanks to immediate access to the history and all the useful documents of the association. The CSR can also be opened up to extended members: partners or influencers, to expand the community.
CSRs can be used as both a forum for exchange and a dedicated space. True 2.0 platforms, they encourage and coordinate the actions of association members.
Your association is more attractive and easier to manage
Your association needs to be visible on the internet
To publicise your project and attract people to your events, your association needs visibility. Setting up a website can be a daunting prospect: it can be expensive if you have it done yourself, and time-consuming if you start from scratch. Settling for a "cobbled-together" site or a catch-all blog leaves a lot to be desired. So how do you go about it? With the memboGo software, you can create your own website... worthy of the name.
A site with two purposes: image and management
It's good to have a site for your image. But why settle for a showcase when you could also use it for operational purposes? Membership renewals, for example. In September, there's a 500 metre long queue outside your offices? All these people would no doubt be delighted to join online: a few clicks for them and less stress for you. All you need is a website with a membership form and online payment. Nowadays, this is affordable, so your association might as well take advantage of it. On memboGo, you can also activate the system to receive donations or organise events online.
An easy-to-use site so that everyone can take care of it
It's risky for just one person in the association to know how to manage the site. Let's say that person leaves, or can't be contacted, and you're stuck. With turnkey solutions such as MemboGo, the tool is sufficiently user-friendly for anyone to be able to use it. There's no need for prior training, and getting to grips with it is intuitive and instantaneous. Members of the association can take it in turns to update the site as and when they see fit. This way, the association can be sure that its site is up to date and regularly updated.
A site equipped with a management section to simplify your life
Now that the site allows you to take a number of steps online, you might as well use it as a tool to keep track of them. Take memberships, for example: you need to keep track of payments member by member, as well as the various deadlines, renewals, and so on. That's what the site's back office is for. It centralises all your members' details and tracks the associated formalities. As the site's administrative interface, the solution also serves as your management software, so you can manage your association's accounts simply and using the same tool.
Your association relies on the involvement of its members. With a dedicated platform like Jamespot, you can stimulate interaction. Invited to participate, your members become pro-active. If, on top of that, administrative and accounting tasks are easier to manage thanks to memboGo, the association can concentrate on what it offers. And everyone will find what they're looking for.
Article translated from French