Best Association Management Companies for Trade Associations

When you’re in charge of running an association, it might feel like there are not enough hours in the day to get everything done. Between planning events, researching software, and communicating with members, you have a wide range of responsibilities to cover.

To reduce stress, save costs, and ensure they can focus on the parts of their organizations that require unique expertise, many associations turn to association management companies.

Association management companies provide the management, engagement, and organizational services your association needs to run smoothly. To help you assess if hiring an association management company is the right choice, this guide will answer a few common questions about these businesses before exploring our top recommended agencies.

Manage your community and association from one centralized platform. Explore Tradewing.

Association Management Companies Associations FAQ

What is an association management company?

An association management company (AMC) is a business that handles key aspects of running an association, such as event planning, board governance, marketing, and government relations.

Essentially, if you need help managing a specific part of your association, chances are good that there’s an AMC with expertise in that aspect of association management.

What are the benefits of hiring an association management company?

Partnering with an AMC does mean taking on an additional cost. However, many trade and professional associations have weighed this concern and found the benefits are more than worth their initial investment.

For your association, assess your budget, organizational needs, and if you would like any of the following benefits:

  • Increased help. AMCs can take on a wide range of tasks, freeing up your team’s time. An AMC might act as a consultant, outsourced service, or even additional staff depending on your needs and the AMC’s work model.
  • Professional expertise. AMCs can bring skills and knowledge that your association’s team may not have. For example, your association might have great member relations but lack knowledge when it comes to managing your finances or filling out the right forms to maintain legal compliance.
  • Cost-effectiveness. Your trade or professional association might not have the budget to hire additional permanent staff members, but you may be able to afford an AMC’s services. Also, while you should get your AMC up to speed on how your association operates, your AMC should provide experienced professionals, meaning you won’t need to go through the same training and onboarding processes you would with a brand new team member.

When you need help developing new member acquisition strategies, want guidance on developing your educational programming, or are looking to build a new association from the ground up, an AMC can help every step of the way.

What should my association look for in an association management company?

Every AMC has its own work model and specialized range of services. Keep your association’s needs top of mind when evaluating leading candidates. Assess AMCs by looking at their:

  • Accreditations. Accredited associations have been independently reviewed and verified for having professional, reliable, and high-quality services. The primary association accrediting body is the Association Management Company Institute, which assesses associations on their ability to “deliver the highest level of customer service” in a number of areas, such as serving clients, financial management, insurance coverage, and employee training. To ensure your association finds a trusted AMC, our list of top providers exclusively includes AMC Institute-accredited organizations.
  • Expertise and specialization. AMCs provide a range of services, from event planning to technology services to organizational structure development. When evaluating associations, explore their services and case studies to see what kind of work they usually do. Some AMCs are full-service organizations that can help almost any part of your association, whereas others have a few focus areas.
  • Values. This includes both the AMC’s organizational values as well as its work model. Your employees and members will interact with your AMC’s staff on a fairly regular basis, so ensure that your teams can work well together and that your community will be receptive to these external agents.

If you’ve decided working with an AMC is the right choice for your trade or professional association, these criteria can help you find top candidates. To start your search for your AMC partner, let’s get started with our top recommendations.

Looking for dynamic, engaging membership management software? Discover Tradewing.

10+ Best Association Management Companies for Trade and Professional Associations

1. WJ Weiser & Associates, Inc.

WJ Weiser & Associates, Inc. (Weiser) has been a leading association management company for almost 40 years, helping associations of all sizes, ranging from international to locally-based organizations. Weiser is a full-service association management company, and with its team’s years of experience, it has a wide network of connections it can leverage on your association’s behalf.

Services:

  • Full-service association management
  • Custom projects
  • Government relations and advocacy
  • Start-up services
  • Transitional staff and executive services

2. Association and Society Management International, Inc.

Association and Society Management International, Inc. (ASMII) provides management services for trade and professional associations, political action committees, advocacy groups, and nonprofit organizations. ASMII is a full-service AMC, but it’s also ready to provide partial support as needed.

Services:

  • Association management
  • Trade shows and exhibits support
  • Grant proposal writing
  • Certification management
  • Fundraising

3. Partners in Association Management

Partners in Association Management (Partners) is a full-service AMC with a separate dedicated consulting wing known as Partners Strategic Solutions, which provides consulting and training services for nonprofits and businesses. Partners takes a business-minded approach to its consulting with a philosophy that associations should “be run like a business with the expectation of a return on investment, strength of the balance sheet and adherence to the budget as the guiding forces.”

Services:

  • Marketing and communications
  • Technology
  • Conventions
  • Strategic leadership
  • Member care

4. Association Management Solutions

Association Management Solutions (AMS) is a 100% women-owned, boutique, full-service AMC. Additionally, AMS focuses on sustainability, both in terms of associations building sustainable funding plans and in using recycled and low-waste equipment. This means that when working with AMS, you can create a positive impact on your association and the environment.

Services:

  • Operational management
  • Meetings and event planning
  • Public relations and social media
  • Membership services
  • In-house association management software

5. IMN Solutions

IMN Solutions is a full-service AMC that serves trade and professional associations, corporations, faith-based groups, and more. With their strategic insights, they promise to spot hidden opportunities and protect clients from risks they may not have even known they had. They work with associations to tackle the time-consuming and technical work needed to bring their clients’ ideas to life.

Services:

  • Leadership and governance
  • Strategic sourcing and contracting
  • Succession planning
  • Revenue diversification
  • Membership growth and engagement

6. Association Resource Center

The Association Resource Center provides comprehensive association management services to trade and professional associations, as well as membership-based nonprofit organizations. Their approach to association management is tailored to each client and involves assigning a dedicated staff contact who provides ongoing services.

Services:

  • Organizational management
  • Membership services
  • Meetings and events
  • Marketing and communications
  • Operations management

7. Bostrom

Bostrom is a full-service AMC but understands that associations often need just a few select services. As such, they provide a “Build Your Own Customized Support Solution” offering where associations can pick and choose what services they need. This provides customers with a flexible experience designed to meet their exact needs.

Services:

  • Human resources
  • Membership services
  • Financial management
  • Technology
  • Meetings and marketing

8. Strauss

Primarily serving associations in Vancouver, Toronto, and Winnipeg, Strauss declares itself as Canada’s most well-connected AMC. Strauss provides a range of association management services but specializes in event management. Specifically, Strauss helps associations plan signature events that energize members and inspire stakeholders.

Services:

  • Specialized event management
  • Professional development
  • Strategic partnerships
  • Transition plans
  • Sponsorship management

9. Smithbucklin

Smithbucklin aims to create long-term partnerships with its clients, delivering tailored solutions that evolve along with your association’s needs. For instance, their business model provides comprehensive association management services, event support, and specific additional solutions. This means that if you need dedicated help for one part of your association this year and another the next, Smithbucklin is ready to adapt.

Services: 

  • Board development and education
  • Industry partnership development
  • Governance and committee management
  • Visual design and multimedia production
  • Advisory services

10. Raybourn Group International

Raybourn Group International is, as its name implies, an international AMC that serves clients in more than 100 countries. Despite this wide scope, Raybourn takes a personalized approach to each client by becoming a part of their team, sharing their passions, and forging a stake in their success.

Services: 

  • Strategic, long-term planning
  • Public relations
  • Marketing and graphic design
  • Membership management
  • Capital campaign planning

11. Capitol Hill Management Services, Inc.

Capitol Hill Management Services, Inc. (CHMS) is guided by three core principles: integrity, excellence, and commitment. In practice, this means that all CHMS staff strive to conduct themselves in a principled and honest manner while working diligently to provide associations with the highest quality services possible. With its professional staff, CHMS works as an extension of or even as stand-ins for your team.

Services:

  • Executive director services
  • Association headquarters management
  • Board of directors management
  • Committee support
  • Publication support

12. Harrington Company

The Harrington Company provides association management services for associations of all sizes, including international, national, and regional organizations. Harrington prides itself on its transparency and flexibility, down to providing an hourly billing model so associations know exactly what they’re paying for and how their Harrington consultants are spending their time.

Services:

  • Office and administrative assistance
  • Website maintenance and management
  • Board and committee coordination
  • Member recruitment
  • Marketing and public relations

More Association Management Resources

The best association management companies for trade and professional associations have verifiable expertise and experience that they’ll bring to your association. When assessing AMCs, consider your association’s specific needs. Do you need a full-scale service, temporary staff, or help with a specific problem?

Once you know what you need, you can begin your research and create a list of top candidates to reach out to. Introduce your association and ask potential AMCs any lingering questions you have about their services.

While an AMC can do much to improve your operations, they are just one part of your association’s management strategy. For more resources, check out these guides related to association management and technology:

Elevate your association management strategy with Tradewing. Tradewing is a dynamic engagement platform that turns member bases into communities. Request a demo.

 

Top 9 Bettermode Alternatives Worth Trying This Year

76% of internet users participate in some form of online community, and 98% say it gives them a strong sense of belonging. But less than one-third of membership-based organizations invite new members to join an online community.

Popular community management platforms, like Bettermode, can address this often missed opportunity. However, the platform isn’t for every organization.

The good news: Bettermode is far from your only option. We’re here to share reliable Bettermode alternatives for your association’s community-building needs. Our recommendations include:

Platform Key Features Best For
Tradewing Online communities, member management, event management, website builder, email marketing Community Management and Engagement
Circle Custom branding, member directory, group chat rooms, private messaging Learning Communities
Hivebrite Branding, organization, engagement Brand Engagement
Mighty Networks Course management, livestreaming, thousands of embeds, membership management, event management Social Learning
Kajabi Website builder, flexible payment methods, mobile app, analytics, email marketing tools Monetized Communities

Before reviewing these top picks, let’s discuss Bettermode and why your association may need a different solution.


What is Bettermode?

A mockup of Bettermode’s platform

Bettermode, formerly known as Tribe, is a modern community platform designed to help businesses create and manage branded online spaces where customers can interact with one another. The company touts its white-label tool as an all-in-one solution for community engagement, offering features such as:

  • Customizable community spaces: Configure your community site’s look to match your brand.
  • Member profiles and directories: Foster networking with detailed user profiles in a searchable directory.
  • Moderation tools: Facilitate a safe environment for users with content flagging and filtering.
    Private messaging: Encourage one-on-one connections through direct messaging capabilities.
  • Gamification: Incentivize participation with badges, leaderboards, and social networking tools.
  • Embeddable widgets: Embed your community features into your website or mobile app.
  • Community analytics: Monitor user behavior, content performance, and engagement metrics with intuitive reporting tools.
  • Vast integrations: Connect your platform with popular systems such as Hubspot and Salesforce.

From self-service support hubs to exclusive, monetized communities to internal networking and collaboration, Bettermode supports a plethora of community-building needs for its customers.


Why Consider Bettermode Alternatives?

Although Bettermode offers a wide range of features, it also comes with disadvantages. Here’s what verified users on G2 and Capterra had to say about the platform:

  • Limited customization: Bettermode offers customization features for cosmetic elements, like colors and graphics. However, users complain they can’t configure other aspects of their communities and that lower-tiered pricing plans restrict access to key functionalities.
  • Mobile incompatibility: Bettermode’s team promised customers a mobile app in response to their 2019 and 2020 Capterra reviews. However, the vendor still has yet to release a mobile app, and some users have expressed frustration with difficulties loading the platform via mobile browsers.
  • Poor customer support: While users find the setup process easy, they criticize Bettermode’s team for not providing further support. Slow response times and limited troubleshooting leave users feeling “left behind” and “abandoned” after the initial setup.
  • Lacking integrations: Bettermode restricts integrations with popular platforms to its highest-paid plans.
  • Pricing: Although Bettermode offers a free plan, its features are extremely restrictive, providing communities with only 10 members and 1GB of storage. As such, associations interested in Bettermode would likely be required to purchase a higher-tiered plan, which has costs starting upwards of $119/month.

For easy reference, here’s a chart comparing Bettermode’s pros and cons:

What Makes Bettermode Alternatives… Better?

If any of these disadvantages are deal-breakers for your association, it’s time to start shopping for a different solution. Bettermode alternatives can provide the community-building capabilities you need, along with a range of other unique benefits. Some boast impressive customization capabilities, while others bring a long list of integrations.

The bottom line: Every community platform is unique, and your association needs one perfectly suited to its needs.


Tradewing: Best Bettermode Alternative for Community Management and Engagement

Tradewing is a community platform designed specifically for trade and professional associations looking to boost member engagement through vibrant online communities. Its user-friendly interface offers a seamless experience for associations looking to foster a sense of community among members, deliver personalized experiences, and grow their organizations.

Let’s review how Tradewing’s key features stack up against Bettermode:

Online Communities

Tradewing enables associations to create branded online communities where members can access professional resources, networking opportunities, and more. Members can network and share industry-specific knowledge through Tradewing’s tools, such as:

  • Specialized groups to cater to specific member interests
  • Group discussions and direct messaging
  • A searchable member directory and customizable member profiles
  • Filtering and following tools that let users control the content they see

Member Management

While Bettermode offers community-building features, the platform caters to many audiences, prioritizing the needs of brands and businesses over member-based organizations. In contrast, Tradewing’s member management features handle every step of the member journey, from onboarding to renewal. As such, it delivers workflows purpose-built to meet member-centric needs, including:

  • Seamless registration process
  • Custom membership packages
  • Automated membership renewal reminders
  • Flexible payment options and grace periods
  • Member activity monitoring

Not to mention, Tradewing’s member engagement platform integrates seamlessly with other association-specific tools, like your association management software (AMS) and learning management system (LMS), helping track member data that’s critical for engagement.

Event Management

Tradewing’s event management features empower organizations to plan, execute, and promote in-person, virtual, and hybrid events. From ticketing to automated event reminders, Tradewing’s tools offer a user-friendly interface for organizing events.

Here’s an example of Tradewing’s event features in action:

Website Builder

No coding skills? That’s no problem with Tradewing’s user-friendly website builder. Leverage pre-made templates and flexible design tools to create a site branded to your association in minutes.

Email Marketing

With email serving as the top way associations engage tenured members, your organization needs tools dedicated to email marketing. Tradewing’s email marketing tools enable your organization to segment its audience, personalize messages, and automate campaigns. Its standout functionalities include:

  • Performance analytics: Tradewing’s platform provides a holistic view of your email campaign’s effectiveness with built-in analytics tools. Track key engagement metrics to determine which content resonates with your members and adjust your messaging accordingly.
  • Integrations: If your association is already in love with its email marketing platform, that’s no problem! Tradewing integrates with popular platforms like Constant Contact, so you can continue using your preferred solution and sync all your communications, events, and member engagement data with Tradewing’s member engagement tools.
  • Regulatory compliance: Opt-out tools and tracking settings make it easy for your association to guarantee compliance with regulations such as CCPA and GDPR. Your marketing team can rest easy knowing it’s following relevant guidelines, and members will appreciate your consideration of their privacy.

Why Tradewing?

Tradewing is the leading Bettermode alternative, but don’t just take our word for it. Users agree, according to Capterra reviews praising the platform for its:

  • Ease-of-use: Tradewing users find the platform to be “super intuitive” and “easy to use” with “a great layout.” They describe their experience as having “hardly a learning curve.”
  • Customer service: Users say Tradewing’s “exceptional” customer support “can’t be beat,” noting that the company is extremely receptive to users’ feedback and responsive when contacted.
  • Association-aligned features: Users like how Tradewing’s platform focuses on their association’s priorities. For example, one user notes that other providers are “focused mostly on virtual meetings,” while Tradewing’s platform addresses holistic association needs. Another user calls out Tradewing’s relevant integrations, as opposed to a vast library of integration tools that don’t add value to member engagement efforts.

Overall, customers describe Tradewing as “a great platform with AMAZING customer service,” “a product for the future,” and ultimately “the right choice for [their] association.”


Other Leading Bettermode Alternatives

 

Circle: Best For Learning Communities

Circle’s community platform is tailored to creators and brands. The solution stands out for its ability to combine educational content creation with community-building features, fostering learning-driven discussions and immersive experiences.

Key Features:

  • Custom branding
  • Member directory
  • Group chat rooms
  • Private messaging
  • Event spaces and live streams
  • Free trials and upsells to paid memberships

Pricing: Circle offers a Professional plan at $89/month, a Business plan at $199/month, and an Enterprise plan at $360/month. Each plan offers a 14-day free trial. You can also reach out to their team for a customized quote if your association wants its own branded mobile app.

Hivebrite: Best For Brand Engagement

Hivebrite is a leading platform for building private online communities. Designed for alumni networks, educational associations, and other nonprofits, Hivebrite enables users to engage members through activity feeds, gamification tools, events, and other top-notch features.

Key Features:

  • Content creation tools
  • Membership management features
  • Member engagement opportunities
  • Analytics
  • Workflow structure management

Pricing: Reach out to Hivebrite’s team to get a quote.

If you’re looking for similar solutions, check out our rundown of Hivebrite alternatives.

Mighty Networks: Best For Social Learning

Mighty Networks facilitates online courses, memberships, and community experiences through its AI-powered platform. This solution has earned a reputation as a reliable platform for building interactive communities and monetizing educational courses.

Key Features:

  • Subscription-based membership sites
  • Course management
  • Livestreaming and unlimited chats
  • Thousands of embeds
  • Membership management
  • Event management

Pricing: Mighty Networks offers a 14-day free trial. After this period, users must choose between The Courses Plan (starting at $99/month) or a higher-priced plan to access features beyond basic community-building capabilities.

If you need alternatives to Mighty Networks, explore our recommended alternatives.

Kajabi: Best For Monetized Communities

When users leverage Kajabi, they’re not just getting software to launch a community but joining a community themselves. Kajai calls itself the place “where creators build businesses” and boasts a network of creators ready to share their expertise with users. This platform is particularly useful for entrepreneurs, but it can also help organizations looking to monetize memberships and educational content.

Key Features:

  • Website builder
  • Flexible payment processor
  • Mobile app
  • Analytics
  • Email marketing tools

Pricing: Kajabi offers four different pricing plans: The Kickstarter at $71/month, Basic at $119/month, Growth at $159/month, and Pro at $319/month.

Skool: Best For Educational Organizations

Skool is an education-focused community platform where users can either find communities to join or start their own. This platform is purpose-built to manage interactive learning environments where users can foster discussions and connect with like-minded individuals.

Key Features:

  • Gamification
  • Course creation
  • Learner progress tracking
  • Leaderboards and points

Pricing: Skool offers just one pricing plan at $99/month. This plan includes all features and starts with a 14-day free trial.

MemberPress: Best For WordPress Users

MemberPress is a plugin for WordPress users, transforming the way website owners foster community online. This unique take on a community platform enables users to add paywalls, subscription models, and members-only content to encourage membership signups and engagement. Plus, its course creation tools are perfect for associations looking to provide educational content for members.

Key Features:

  • Course-building and selling capabilities
  • Members-only dashboards
  • Community forums
  • Access controls

Pricing: MemberPress’s pricing starts at $359/year for its basic plan. Associations in need of more advanced features can purchase the $599/year Plus plan and or $799/year the Pro plan.

Disco: Best For AI-Powered Tools

Disco is an AI-powered social learning platform known for helping creators scale paid learning experiences. This solution helps organizations launch cohort-based programs, perfect for upskilling opportunities.

Key Features:

  • Community discussions and group collaboration
  • Payment and membership management
  • Event hosting
  • White-label customization

Pricing: Disco’s Organization plan starts at $359/month and is meant for smaller organizations. If you need a more advanced plan, reach out to Disco’s team to get a quote.

Slack: Best For Professional and Team-Based Communities

Slack is well-known as a workplace communication management tool, but it has evolved into a hub of communities for various organizations. Slack is especially useful for professional organizations looking to connect like-minded individuals and empower industry collaboration.

Key Features:

  • Channels for top-based discussions
  • Direct messaging and group chats
  • File sharing
  • Popular app integrations
  • Customizable notifications

Pricing: Slack is a budget-friendly option thanks to its free plan. However, associations in need of more features may upgrade to one of Slack’s paid plans, ranging from $8.75/month to custom enterprise pricing.


Select The Right Platform For Your Association

Bettermode alternatives abound, and the truth is that no single solution is the perfect fit for every organization. Before settling on the right platform for your organization, make a list of must-have features and request demos from top contenders to see how their platforms line up.

As you continue searching for the perfect solution, check out our other resources on powerful community-building and member engagement tools:

The 10 Best Association Websites + Must-Know Design Tips

Your association’s website serves as an online hub where members can learn about your offerings, join your community, and access benefits. As such, members are likely to spend a lot of time on your website, and its design should facilitate a smooth, intuitive experience.

On average, websites last two years and one month before getting redesigned. Usually, these changes are brought on by feeling like the current design is out of date, but it’s also common to refresh a site if performance is poor, content is outdated, or the interface isn’t user-friendly.

If you’re looking to improve engagement, earn new members, or refresh your design, this guide is here to inspire you. We’ll explore top association websites, explain why their designs work, and share how you can emulate their success.

10 Best Association Websites

1. Express Carriers Association

The Express Carriers Association (ECA) caters to shippers, carriers, and vendors, and each of these audiences needs unique benefits from a membership program. ECA understands this and creates intuitive pathways for each audience, allowing visitors to find relevant information with a single click on the homepage.

A screenshot of one of the best association websites, ECA

Takeaway: 

Consider your member audiences. Do you have more than one, and if so, what unique information do they need access to? This also applies to visitors other than members, such as corporate sponsors.

Adjust your menus to cater to various audiences so everyone who lands on your homepage can easily find the information they need. For example, you might create navigation labels that list specific audiences rather than features.

2. American Association of Physics Teachers

The American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT) offers many benefits on its website, including program information, academic publications, event registration, and online community access.

To stay organized, AAPT leverages image CTAs across its entire site. Visitors can hover over image tiles to get detailed explanations of AAPT’s various offerings, then click to visit the corresponding information page. This helps the site stay visually appealing while also creating an intuitive user experience.

A screenshot of one of the best association websites, AAPT

Takeaway: 

You likely have a lot of important information you want to share with your visitors. Avoid cluttering your homepage by creating CTAs that link visitors to separate detailed pages where you can discuss your offerings in depth.

3. IEEE Power Electronics Society

Associations with busy schedules need to decide how they’ll present that information to members. The IEEE Power Electronics Society (IEEE PELS) has a prominent “What’s Happening” section on its homepage, where members can find information about upcoming events, webinars, and news items. Navigating to the event page, members can find a complete calendar of events, webinars, and registration deadlines.

A screenshot of one of the best association websites, IEEE PELS

Takeaway: 

Promoting events should be one of your association’s top priorities, and a comprehensive calendar enables your members to check upcoming events at a glance. Consider adding a subscription feature like IEEE PELS’, where members can import your association’s calendar information straight to their personal Google Calendar, iCalendar, or Outlook platform.

4. Financial Services Professionals

Sponsorships bring in vital revenue, and strategic sponsorships provide genuinely valuable sales opportunities to members. Financial Services Professionals (FSP) makes it easy for sponsors to connect with their association with a clearly labeled “sponsorship” menu item.

From there, sponsors are provided with an overview of FSP’s goals to ensure their strategic objectives are aligned. Scrolling down, sponsors can find detailed sponsorship tiers and examples of top businesses at each sponsorship level.

A screenshot of one of the best association websites, FSP

Takeaway: 

Earning sponsorships can significantly expand your association’s ability to grow and provide quality content. Ensure your website starts these relationships off on the right foot by clearly explaining what your association has to offer and creating a standardized sponsorship tier system.

5. International WAGR Syndrome Association

In addition to recruiting members, your website should also be an educational hub. The International WAGR Syndrome Association (IWSA) aims to help families, physicians, and researchers understand this rare genetic disorder. To achieve this, it presents technical information about WAGR in a professional but accessible manner.

IWSA’s homepage breaks down the WAGR acronym with large, visually appealing, animated buttons. Clicking on these buttons brings visitors to pages with detailed scientific information about the various symptoms of WAGR syndrome, complete with comprehensive visuals, accessible explanations of medical terms, and video resources.

A screenshot of one of the best association websites, IWSA

Takeaway: 

Even if your core audience is likely highly familiar with your subject matter, your educational content should still be accessible by limiting jargon, presenting content in a straightforward manner, and breaking up large blocks of text with headings and images.

6. Online News Association

Many people join trade and professional associations specifically to seek employment opportunities. Organizations like the Online News Association help their members by providing user-friendly job boards.

The Online News Association job board allows users to find jobs based on experience level, job type, and location with a clickable map. To further help job seekers, members can set up job alerts when new opportunities get posted and are invited to upload their resumes so recruiters can connect with individuals matching their companies’ needs.

A screenshot of one of the best association websites, Online News Association

Takeaway: 

Trade and professional associations should consider maintaining a job board for their members. Form partnerships with top employers in your field to provide your members with valuable, relevant opportunities.

7. Brick Development Association

Your website is a recruitment tool, but it should still be useful to members even if you’ve reached near-market capacity. For example, nearly all UK brick manufacturers are already members of the Brick Development Association (BDA).

To keep this membership engaged, the BDA’s website is home to several resources that provide a mix of entertainment (the Brick Bulletin featuring informative breakdowns of notable brick structures) and training resources to help new members get excited about brickwork and understand how to get started in this field.

A screenshot of one of the best association websites, BDA

Takeaway: 

Reaching the maximum number of members your association theoretically available to recruit is cause for celebration, but it also means you’ll need to keep your offerings high-quality to maintain that membership base. Gear your website toward acknowledging your members’ accomplishments, explaining your association’s value, and providing ongoing benefits.

8. International Aerospace Quality Group

Visitors will form a first impression of your association almost immediately upon arriving on your website’s homepage. The International Aerospace Quality Group (IAQG) is aware of this and greets visitors with an animated image carousel of eye-catching, branded images that represent the IAQG’s mission.

A screenshot of one of the best association websites, IAQG

Takeaway: 

For the above-the-fold section of your homepage, consider not just what information you want to present visitors with but what visuals will grab their attention. Feature a bold, uncluttered hero image that represents your mission with a short description of your association. This will grab visitors’ eyes, enable you to create a branded experience, and present your association professionally.

9. American Massage Therapy Association

How to join your association and the benefits of membership should be as clear as possible. The American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) provides a strong example of this with its “Join” page.

AMTA’s three tiers are listed side-by-side with information on each package’s price, length of membership, and benefits. Members can also find detailed information on eligibility criteria for each tier and the necessary steps for maintaining their membership. For example, members enrolled as professionals must continue practicing their profession.

A screenshot of one of the best association websites, AMTA

Takeaway: 

If you offer membership tiers, ensure members can compare them with ease. This reduces confusion over each tier’s offerings and allows individuals to choose the membership package that best fits their needs.

10. Entertainment Software Association

Keeping members up-to-date on the latest trends in your industry is essential, and associations like the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) make this information easy to find.

Scrolling down the ESA’s homepage, visitors can find recent news items and opinion pieces on topics relevant to the ESA’s members. Additionally, the very first menu item on ESA’s navigation is “Policy Priorities,” which explains the ESA’s values and topics it empowers members to help shape.

A screenshot of one of the best association websites, ESA

Takeaway: 

Ensure members understand not just the immediate benefits they can receive from joining your association but also your association’s overall goals. For example, your association may focus on shaping policies in your industry, providing a networking hub for professionals, or offering educational resources. When prospective members understand your association’s purpose, they can better assess whether a membership is right for them.

Association Website Design Tips

Invest in an association-specific website builder.

While some large associations may prefer to work with a custom website developer, those managing small and growing associations can stay on budget and build professional websites with a website builder.

Every website builder vendor provides a unique range of themes and content modules. When building your association’s website, look for a service that caters specifically to associations, like Tradewing.

With Tradewing’s website builder, your association will receive the following:

  • Drag-and-drop editor. Arrange your content how you want it with no coding knowledge required. Simply add content and customize your website interface in just a few clicks.
  • Mobile optimization. Your members are busy people, and many of them will likely check in on your association via their phones. Rest assured that all of your content is accessible, no matter what device your members use thanks to Tradewing’s mobile responsiveness.
  • Public and member-only page options. The key to any association website is determining what content will be available to the general public and what should be locked behind your member portal. Easily designate who can access each page.

Tradewing is intuitive for all users, regardless of their coding abilities or web design know-how. This means any association can get its website up and running in minutes, thanks to Tradewing.

Implement search engine optimization best practices.

Your website is only valuable if prospective members can find it. To improve your association’s reach, try implementing search engine optimization (SEO) strategies. Every search engine uses different factors to determine how valuable content is, and SEO best practices help organizations develop content that search engines are likely to rank highly. Subsequently, if your content ranks well for search queries related to your association, you are likely to earn more members.

To improve your association’s reach, try these SEO best practices:

  • Identify high-value keywords. Determine what search queries prospective members are likely searching for when researching associations. Choose keywords with low competition and reasonable search volume, so your association’s website can easily rank highly for terms with an audience.
  • Incorporate keywords into content strategically. Ultimately, search engines want to rank original, unique, and high-quality content. However, you can also help search engines determine what your content is about by strategically adding keywords to your headers and throughout body text.

  • Improve load times. Pages that load quickly rank well on search engines, have lower bounce, and experience higher conversion rates. Improve your website’s speed by reducing unnecessary Javascript, implementing lazy loading, and reducing image file sizes.

Content created for SEO marketing purposes should also be valuable to your members in general. After all, maintaining a blog or news feed provides members with educational content and insights into industry developments. Continue producing this high-quality content but with an eye toward its keyword rankings and SEO potential.

Prioritize user experience.

Your website’s value is determined both by its content and how that content is displayed. A strong user experience encourages visitors to spend more time on your website, explore your content, and potentially convert.

A few ways you can create a positive user experience include:

  • Intuitive navigation. Visitors should be able to find what they’re looking for on your website with ease. Consider what content you link to in your navigation and create clear labels. For example, for your membership sign-up page, would a label that says “Get Involved” or “Membership” be more intuitive to your members?
  • Accessible content. Your content should be accessible to your entire audience. Add alternative text to images, provide closed captions and scripts for videos, and make language accessible by limiting jargon and providing definitions for technical terms.
  • Audience pathways. If you have multiple audiences, create user pathways for them. For example, you will likely want to create pathways for prospective members and sponsors. These separate audiences should see content labels that clearly address their unique needs so they can navigate to content relevant to them.

Additionally, consider adding an online community page. An online community enables your members to connect with one another online, improving their networking potential and providing your association’s members with more benefits.

Ensure member privacy.

Publicly available content on your website enables you to entice new members. However, certain content should be locked to members only. This not only drives member registrations but also protects your members’ privacy.

For example, many associations make all or parts of their membership directory private. For example, you might display members’ names and profile pictures but not their email addresses and phone numbers.

Provide members with self-service management tools so they can adjust their privacy settings at their own discretion.

Feature all association fundamentals.

Ultimately, your website should include all the features and functionalities your members need. This will vary from association to association, but in general, the fundamental website elements for trade and professional associations include:

  • Registration page. Ensure members can easily find your sign-up page, which should include include a short membership registration form, any membership requirements, and payment information.
  • Member benefits. Provide a clear value proposition about what members can gain from joining your association. If you have multiple membership tiers, ensure members can easily compare them to choose the tier that best suits their needs, interests, and professional level.
  • Member directory. Allow members to connect with one another through a membership directory. However, you may choose to put all or certain elements of this feature behind your membership login to protect members’ privacy.
  • Job board. Trade and professional associations can help job seekers and recruiters in their industry find each other by hosting job boards. Additionally, unlike job postings on general websites like LinkedIn, your members can feel confident all opportunities listed on your website are legitimate offers from reputable employers.
  • Event calendar. Make getting involved easy by maintaining an accessible event calendar. You may also host events on your website, which requires a dedicated hosting page behind your member portal.
  • News feed or blog. Help your members stay in the loop about recent developments in your industry by regularly posting educational content and news reports. Maintaining a blog can also improve your website’s SEO performance by showing search engines that your website is active and filled with new, valuable content.
  • Sponsor information. Start conversations with sponsors by providing details about what they can gain from working with your association and how they can contact your team to start a conversation.

Depending on your association, you might also have prominent pages for your online marketplace, publications, or credentials information. When creating your navigation menu, be conscious of your members’ needs and prioritize pages most relevant to their interests.

More Association Website and Technology Resources

Your website is the face of your organization, and the best association websites bring in new members, facilitate the member experience, and showcase their organization’s brand. Apply the strategies in this guide to elevate your website and grow your association.

Of course, your website is just one part of your association’s technology stack. For more technology resources, check out these guides:

Association Management Software: 20 Top AMS Vendors

Association technology has made leaps and bounds in recent years, and modern organizations need a host of tools to provide valuable offerings, acquire new members, collect dues revenue, and ensure day-to-day operations go off without a hitch.

The centerpiece of any association’s technology stack is its association management software (AMS).

When it comes to choosing an AMS that meets their needs, associations have a wide range of options to choose from, with different vendors specializing in different features, organization sizes, industries, and organization types.

To help your association assess your options, this guide will take a look at the top AMS solutions currently on the market.

What is association management software?

Association management software is a suite of tools associations and member-based organizations use to manage daily operations. When compared to front-facing member engagement and community management tools, AMSs primarily focus on back-end processes.

Additionally, an AMS has some similarities but is ultimately different from a customer relationship management (CRM) system. While both store data about an organization’s constituents, AMSs include features geared toward associations specifically. In contrast, CRMs are used by a wide range of organizations to improve customer relationships. In fact, some associations even use both an AMS and a CRM.

What features should association management software include?

AMSs are a collection of features, and different vendors focus on different tools. However, most popular AMSs contain similar sets of features, which include:

  • Membership portal: A member portal allows members to log in to your association’s website to access member-exclusive content and self-service tools.
  • Membership management: Keep your members organized with tools for recording each member’s data, such as member profiles and a membership directory.
  • Communication: Stay in touch with your members through text messages and emails. Many AMSs provide automated communication tools to reduce your team’s administrative burden.
  • Event managementAssociations that host major in-person events, such as annual conferences, often invest in separate event platforms. However, many AMS solutions provide basic event management and hosting tools to support online and small in-person events.
  • Finances: Set membership fees and collect dues revenue through your AMS. Some tools also enable associations to set grace periods and send renewal reminders.
  • Reporting and analytics: Track every part of your association’s operations, such as your member acquisition, engagement, and retention rates.
  • Community engagement: While not as common as the other features on this list, some associations provide community engagement tools, which allow your members to connect with one another.

Additionally, when assessing an AMS, consider its integration capabilities. If an AMS has numerous ready-made integrations, you can continue updating your platform to fit your needs without requiring custom middleware solutions.

How much does association management software cost?

Association management software solutions vary in price, though most vendors operate on a subscription model. While some platforms have their pricing details available online, others have custom pricing models that require prospective customers to reach out individually for more information.

20 Association Management Software Vendors

Tradewing

Tradewing is unique among AMS solutions due to its focus on community engagement. Tradewing includes both an AMS and a dedicated member engagement platform that enables association communities to meet online, network, and collaborate all year round.

Associations interested in Tradewing can purchase either the AMS and community engagement platform together or just the community engagement tool, which can integrate with a range of popular AMSs. This means if you see another AMS on this list that fits your needs but lacks community engagement features, Tradewing might be the answer.

Audience: Small, medium, and growing trade and professional associations looking for a community engagement tool.

Top Features:

  • Community engagement platform. Tradewing creates a private, social media-like site where your members can post content, comment on each other’s posts, form group chats, and freely network online.
  • Membership managementKeep members organized and reduce churn with Tradewing’s membership profiles, custom membership applications, and custom grace period tools.
  • Event management. Promote and host events with Tradewing’s virtual event management tools built into its community engagement platform.
  • Sponsor engagement. Help sponsors connect with your community by creating dedicated sponsor pages, promoting sponsors on your community engagement platform, and featuring sponsors during events.
  • Email marketing. Take a data-driven approach to email marketing with Tradewing’s member segmenting and targeting tools.

Pricing: Reach out to Tradewing’s team to request a demo and get more pricing information.

Fonteva

For associations looking to grow, Fonteva is an intuitive, scalable AMS built on the Salesforce platform. Fonteva transforms your association’s Salesforce platform into an association and membership management tool.

Association management software Fonteva's homepage

Audience: Trade and professional associations, association management companies, fraternities and sororities, local governments, and customer groups that leverage Salesforce

Top Features:

  • Membership management
  • eCommerce capabilities
  • Event management
  • Salesforce apps compatibility
  • Payment processing

Pricing: Contact Fonteva’s team to get a demo and custom quote.

WildApricot

WildApricot is a cloud-based, all-in-one association management software solution that simplifies member management by automating key administrative tasks. Serving a wide range of organization types, WildApricot is a flexible platform with innovative member data collection tools, allowing your organization to capture and leverage the information you need.

Association management software WildApricot's homepage

Audience: Small and growing associations, nonprofits, chambers of commerce, and clubs

Top Features:

  • Association CRM
  • Membership database
  • Website builder
  • Mobile app
  • Membership dues management features

Pricing: WildApricot’s pricing varies depending on your number of contacts and whether you pay monthly or opt for WildApricot’s 1- or 2-year subscription plans, which respectively provide a 10% and 15% discount.

Protech

Leveraging powerful software from Microsoft like Microsoft Dynamics 365 and Microsoft Power BI, Protech Associates is an association management software system for organizations using Microsoft tools. By seamlessly connecting with Microsoft products, you can eliminate data silos to get a complete view of your members.

Association management software Protech's homepage

Audience: Trade and professional associations that use Microsoft products

Top Features:

  • Member data and analytics
  • Fundraising
  • Event, sponsorship, and exhibit support
  • Marketing and communication
  • Membership management

Pricing: Reach out to the Protech team to request a demo and get a quote.

Novi AMS

Quickbooks is the go-to accounting software platform for a wide range of organizations, including associations. Novi AMS is designed for associations that use Quickbooks, and it comes with a pre-built integration that provides two-way communication between your association and accounting tool.

Association management software Novi AMS's homepage

Audience: Trade and professional associations that use Quickbooks

Top Features:

  • Detail financial reporting
  • Commerce capabilities
  • Membership database
  • Website builder
  • Administrative workflow management

Pricing: Novi AMS’s pricing depends on your association’s size and includes both an annual subscription cost and an initial onboarding fee.

Hivebrite

Hivebrite is a community management platform that lets associations improve their member experience with a centralized online member meeting place. Hivebrite known for offering a unique set of community engagement tools. However, due to its focus on large organizations, it can be overwhelming for many smaller associations, who may prefer more cost-effective, out-of-the-box ready alternatives.

Association management software Hivebrite's homepage

Audience: Enterprise-sized associations, businesses, nonprofits, and educational institutions.

Top Features:

  • Community engagement platform
  • Membership management
  • Content management
  • Customizable branding options
  • Custom workflow creation

Pricing: Contact Hivebrite’s team for a custom quote.

GrowthZone

GrowthZone aims to help associations do more with their limited time by streamlining administrative processes, providing a customizable dashboard, and empowering members with self-service tools. With the ability to manage your internal processes faster, GrowthZone lives up to its name by helping associations scale up as fast as possible.

Association management software GrowthZone's homepage

Audience: Trade and professional associations in a wide range of industries, including but not limited to business, health and safety, engineering and science, chambers of commerce, and education

Top Features:

  • Project management capabilities
  • Form builder
  • Sponsor and advertisement support
  • Mobile app
  • Membership directory

Pricing: GrowthZone subscriptions start at $3,985 annually.

Nimble AMS

Built on Salesforce, Nimble AMS promises to boost associations’ return on investment with automation, analytics, and AI features that improve the member experience. Whether your goal is to increase memberships, eliminate low-value work, or create meaningful member engagement experiences, Nimble AMS can help associations using the Salesforce platform.

Association management software Nimble AMS's homepage

Audience: Associations leveraging Salesforce products, specifically Salesforce Experience Cloud

Top Features:

  • Event and exhibit management
  • Workflow automation
  • Open API
  • AI and predictive analytics
  • Continuous improvement updates

Pricing: Reach out to Nimble AMS’s team to get a custom quote.

Glue Up

Glue Up describes itself as “all-in-one AI association software” and offers associations a wide range of tools in one package, including a CRM, member management features, and more. By combining all of your association’s tools into one system, you can better understand and optimize each member’s engagement.

Association management software Glue Up's homepage

Audience: Associations, chambers of commerce, conference organizers, consultancy firms, corporations, financial services, and nonprofit organizations

Top Features:

  • Speed networking software
  • Webinar management tools
  • Credentialing tools
  • Task management features
  • Chapter management capabilities

Pricing: Glue Up offers subscription plans for as low as $2,500 per year. Reach out to their team to get a custom quote.

iMIS

iMIS bills itself not as association management software but as an engagement management system (EMS). An EMS is an all-in-one tool that combines the top features of association management software, content management systems, and constituent relationship management systems. This means associations can manage their members, backend processes, and content from one centralized tool.

Association management software iMIS's homepage

Audience: Trade and professional associations, unions, regulatory bodies, ministry and faith-based organizations, and nonprofit organizations

Top Features:

  • CRM and data management
  • Website management
  • Community outreach tools
  • Fundraising management
  • Learning management

Pricing: Small associations can get started with iMIS for $7,200/year with a one-time installation fee of $15,000. Large associations interested in iMIS’s enterprise plan should contact the iMIS team for a custom quote.

ClubExpress

Small organizations, especially those primarily operated by volunteers, benefit from fast, out-of-the-box tools like ClubExpress. Built for clubs and hobbyist organizations, ClubExpress can also support small associations by providing member management tools and a website builder.

Association management software ClubExpress's homepage

Audience: Small associations, clubs, chambers of commerce, and homeowners associations

Top Features:

  • Member database
  • Website builder
  • Mobile app
  • eLearning support
  • Discussion forums

Pricing: ClubExpress is more cost-effective the more members you have. Organizations with up to 200 members have a subscription cost of $42 per month, while organizations with between 500 and 1,000 members only pay $30 per month. Organizations with more than 1,000 members should reach out to get a custom quote.

memberplanet

Members-based organizations of all types, including associations, can grow and engage their communities with memberplanet. memberplanet creates a customizable member hub that aims to make association engagement as frictionless as possible for both your members and your staff.

Association management software memberplanet's homepage

Audience: Associations, nonprofits, schools, booster clubs, fraternities, PTAs, faith-based groups, homeowners associations, and educational foundations

Top Features:

  • Membership directory
  • Fundraising support
  • Customizable reports
  • Website support
  • API integrations

Pricing: memberplanet starts at $50/month for its essentials package and offers a $175/month premium plan for expanded features. Enterprise-sized organizations can reach out for custom quotes. Additionally, memberplanet has a number of individually priced upgrades, such as a $100 additional training add-on.

ToucanTech

Specializing in alumni communities, ToucanTech is an association management software solution that provides tools for forming communities, enabling networking, and running fundraisers.

Association management software ToucanTech's homepage

Audience: Associations and alumni groups

Top Features:

  • Website management
  • Event management
  • Job board capabilities
  • Fundraising support
  • Member database

Pricing: Contact ToucanTech’s team to request a demo and get a quote.

Member365

Associations that need a robust, flexible association management software solution can look to Member365. With over 100 pre-built integrations with top association tools, organizations that invest in Member 365 can leverage an AMS that grows alongside their organization.

Association management software Member365's homepage

Audience: Associations and nonprofits

Top Features:

  • Discussion forums
  • Content library
  • Financial management
  • CRM
  • Certification tools

Pricing: Member365’s prices begin at $279/month for its starter package and scale up to its $479/month growth package, which accommodates up to 25,000 contacts. Associations can also purchase premium features and support options for an additional cost, such as a learning management system for $129/month or the ability to chat with support staff at any time for $99/month.

Neon CRM

Neon One is a leading CRM for nonprofits, and it lends its comprehensive supporter management tools to help associations through Neon CRM for Associations. Along with the base Neon CRM, this suite of tools includes a range of features for managing members.

Association management software Neon CRM's homepage

Audience: Neon One serves nonprofits and associations, with the Neon CRM tailored to nonprofits’ needs and the Neon CRM for Associations catering to an association audience

Top Features:

  • Member portal
  • Custom member applications
  • Workflow automation
  • Communication tools
  • Non-dues revenue tracking

Pricing: Neon CRM for Associations comes at multiple price points, starting at $109/month for organizations making under $1 million in revenue. Additionally, Neon has a required data and implementation one-time fee of $349.

StarChapter

Associations with multiple chapters need unique tools that can handle a range of member engagement situations. StarChapter is designed with these associations in mind, providing flexible tools that promise to boost member engagement by 19%.

Association management software StarChapter's homepage

Audience: Associations with multiple chapters

Top Features:

  • Pre-built website templates
  • Event registration
  • Email marketing
  • Board management
  • Member management

Pricing: StarChapter prices vary depending on your number of members, starting at $103/month with a $1,169 setup fee for associations with 150 members or less. Additionally, StarChapter has special price plans for especially small associations of under 50 members, starting at just $53/month with a $599 setup fee.

Join It

If you’re looking for a flexible association management software solution that anyone can use regardless of technical ability, consider Join It. A highly customizable platform, Join It serves a number of audiences, including professional associations who can leverage this AMS to stay in touch with their members.

Association management software Join It's homepage

Audience: Professional associations and clubs, nonprofits, gyms, homeowners associations, alumni groups, churches, co-working spaces, and event organizers

Top Features:

  • Digital membership cards
  • Customizable CRM
  • Robust billing features
  • Membership management
  • Website builder

Pricing: Join It has several subscription packages, starting at $29/month for organizations of 500 members or less.

YourMembership

With over 25 years of experience serving associations, YourMembership is built by a team that understands the ins and outs of association professionals’ daily responsibilities. With a focus on small organizations, YourMembership prioritizes streamlining day-to-day operations so your association can put its focus where it matters most: your members.

Association management software YourMembership's homepage

Audience: Small professional associations, nonprofits, and association management companies

Top Features:

  • Member management
  • Online community support
  • Dashboard
  • Workflow automation
  • eCommerce

Pricing: Request a demo to get a quote.

MemberLeap

The intuitive, cloud-based association management software solution MemberLeap aims to help associations manage and master every part of their online presence. From a scalable AMS solution to custom website design, MemberLeap is happy to help associations of any size.

Association management software MemberLeap's homepage

Audience: Trade and professional associations and nonprofits

Top Features:

  • Custom website development
  • AI assistant
  • Learning management system
  • Email marketing
  • Membership database

Pricing: MemberLeap’s pricing depends on your features package as well as your number of contacts. Additionally, associations interested in custom website development must pay a separate fee for that service.

MemberClicks

MemberClicks is an association management software solution dedicated to helping associations build lifelong member relationships. Get a full view of your members to craft engaging outreach materials, facilitate networking, and drive event revenue.

Association management software Memberclicks' homepage

Audience: Professional and trade associations, chambers of commerce, and association management companies

Top Features:

  • Committee management
  • CRM
  • Email marketing
  • Payment processing
  • Submission review tools

Pricing: For associations serving individual members (as opposed to members that are organizations), MemberClicks costs $4,500/year.

More Association Management Software Resources

Association management software provides your organization with a foundational platform to engage your members, manage operations, and grow your association. When assessing AMS solutions, consider your must-have features, technology budget, and growth goals.

To continue your research into association management software, check out these buyer’s guides:

How To Find The Right Association Event Management Software

 

For associations, events are far more than routine gatherings—they’re critical to driving engagement and building strong communities. From creating networking opportunities to recruiting new members, events play a vital role in any association’s success.

Data underscores this impact. 67% of associations actively use events to attract new members, and organizations with the highest retention rates—80% or more—are significantly more likely to host regular events.

The takeaway is clear: hosting impactful events is a proven strategy for success. Leveraging the right association event management software ensures every detail of these activities contributes to your organization’s growth, efficiency, and member satisfaction. To help you select the right software, we’ll explore the fundamentals of these platforms and even share recommendations. Here’s what we’ll cover:

Your software plays a fundamental role in streamlining your event from start to finish. Don’t invest in a solution until you know it’s the right choice for your trade or professional association! Let’s get started.


What is association event management software?

Event management software is any digital tool that helps plan, organize, and execute events. This software can either be an all-in-one platform or handle one specific aspect of the event management cycle, such as:

  • Registration and Ticketing: Streamlining attendee sign-ups and payment processing
  • On-Site Check-In: Managing attendee arrivals with QR codes, badges, or kiosks
  • Event Marketing: Tools for email campaigns, social media promotion, and attendee outreach
  • Agenda Management: Creating and sharing schedules and speaker lineups
  • Audience Engagement: Facilitating live polls, Q&As, networking, and feedback collection
  • Virtual and Hybrid Events: Hosting live streams, breakout sessions, and interactive virtual environments
  • Sponsor and Vendor Management: Coordinating booth assignments, contracts, payments, and communication with sponsors and vendors
  • Analytics and Reporting: Providing insights on attendance, engagement, and ROI

Some systems integrate with CRMsAMSs, and other association tools, allowing you to sync data across platforms without manual entry. These integrations and features save time, reduce errors, and ensure seamless coordination across all aspects of event planning. By centralizing processes, event management software empowers associations to deliver professional, engaging, and impactful events that meet their goals.

Why do you need association event management software?

Event management solutions tailored to associations provide specialized features you might not get with generic platforms, such as integration into your online community, member data syncing, and variable pricing based on membership tiers.

Here’s how event management software positively impacts different groups involved with your events:

  • Attendees: Association event software simplifies registration, provides personalized schedules, and enhances engagement through tools like live Q&A and networking features.
  • Event Coordinators and Staff: Your software automates repetitive tasks, integrates data across systems, and offers real-time insights, enabling your association’s staff to focus on delivering an impactful event.
  • Vendors/Sponsors: Association event management software streamlines sponsor and vendor coordination, offering tools for managing booth assignments, deadlines, and payments while maximizing their exposure to attendees through branding and lead generation opportunities.
  • Speakers: With event self-service tools, speakers can enjoy an easy process for submitting materials and accessing schedules. Plus, many association event management platforms provide tools for engaging audiences and gathering feedback during and after their sessions.

Software ensures every stage of your event runs seamlessly, from simplifying pre-event tasks like registration to enhancing engagement during the event and gathering valuable insights afterward. By catering to the unique needs of all stakeholders, the right platform will transform your events into powerful tools for connection and growth.

What should you look for in association event software?

Every organization has different needs, making the right association event management software vary. Depending on your exact needs, narrow down your options by looking for these key elements.

1. Registration and ticketing tools

Registration impacts one of the first impressions attendees have of your event, so make sure they have an enjoyable experience. Get association event software that allows you to create registration forms with custom fields so you can capture unique guest information like t-shirt sizes or dietary restrictions.

You should also be able to create tiered pricing. For in-person events, make sure you can set capacity limits on ticket sales, cultivating demand for your event and ensuring your event isn’t too packed. Integration with your member management tools streamlines registration by automatically applying membership details and pricing tiers, eliminating the need for manual data entry or verification.

2. Ability to host different event formats

74% of event attendees prefer events that offer both virtual and in-person participation options, empowering them to choose whichever one suits their preferences. To meet these expectations, choose association event software that supports in-person, virtual, and hybrid event formats. Whether you’re hosting webinars, workshops, or conferences, flexibility is essential for your platform.

3. Sponsor and vendor management

Sponsors and vendors play a crucial role in your association’s events by providing financial support and enhancing the overall attendee experience. For businesses, a key benefit to sponsoring an association is gaining visibility among a receptive audience, so make sure your association event software supports that goal.

Look for platforms with features like dedicated sponsor pages, contract and payment tracking, custom sponsor tiers, booth assignment tools, and analytics to measure ROI for sponsors and vendors.

4. Promotional tools

For people to attend your event, they need to know about it first! Look for association event software with integrated marketing tools. For instance, Tradewing offers automated event reminders. You can also feature event listings in your online community, boosting visibility.

5. Networking tools

Networking is at the heart of most association events. In fact, it’s the leading reason members join associations.

Look for tools that foster connections, such as integrated online communities where people can chat during and after your event. Virtual lounges and breakout rooms are also incredible networking opportunities for online and hybrid events.

6. Affordable pricing

Choose software that offers robust features at an affordable price. The right platform should enhance your events’ impact without eating up all of the revenue they generate.

If your association doesn’t currently use software, opting for an all-in-one solution is typically more efficient than piecing together multiple platforms. However, if you already have tools that cover certain functions, investing in a specialized solution to fill the gaps may be a more cost-effective approach.

Tradewing: Best all-in-one association event management software

Tradewing is designed to streamline every aspect of planning, marketing, and executing association events. It’s tailored to meet associations’ needs, meaning you’ll have out-of-the-box tools for managing registrations, engaging attendees, and fostering ongoing connections through your online community.

Whether you’re hosting virtual, hybrid, or in-person events, Tradewing’s platform simplifies logistics and delivers impactful experiences for members, staff, and sponsors.

Key Features

  • Registration: Streamline attendee sign-ups with custom registration pages, tiered pricing, promotional codes, and capacity limits.
  • Support for various event types: Host in-person, virtual, or hybrid events to meet members’ expectations. Host webinars, live streams, and breakout sessions with tools for attendee engagement, including chat and live polls. For online events, upload pre-recorded videos to Tradewing, or leverage Tradewing’s numerous integrations by using popular streaming tools like Zoom or YouTube.
  • Event marketing: Automate event reminders, and promote events with detailed activity pages within your online community.
  • Sponsor management: Set sponsorship tiers. Then, add sponsors to your community, providing them with customizable profiles to be featured on event pages and live streams. Additionally, sponsors can host exclusive webinars or events, providing them direct engagement opportunities with members and access to relevant analytics for lead tracking.
  • Event reports: Access data on registrations, attendance, engagement, and sponsor ROI to measure your event’s success and identify improvement opportunities.

Plus, integrations with leading CRMs and AMSs will ensure your event data syncs across systems for seamless record-keeping and membership tracking.

IAMIC’s Journey With Tradewing

The Illinois Association of Mutual Insurance Companies (IAMIC) is a trade association composed of farm mutual insurance companies, reinsurance companies, associates, and suppliers in the insurance industry. Its goal is to encourage higher standards of professional conduct in the insurance industry.

The association relies heavily on networking, but faced a handful of challenges before discovering Tradewing, such as:

  • Member familiarity with technology
  • Struggles to engage across various devices and digital channels
  • Obstacles to moving in-person conferences and meetings to the virtual space
  • Ability to sufficiently recognize sponsors

Heading into the pandemic, IAMIC realized they needed to offer a different way to network and host events fast. To combat these challenges, they turned to Tradewing. Our team guided them through the setup and integration process, helping connect our platform with their current tools. We helped shift their conference to the virtual space, replicating the in-person experience.

With Tradewing, IAMIC was able to tap into new opportunities for vendor involvement and sponsor promotion, ensuring these groups received effective recognition. They were able to offer attendees a smooth experience for meetings and events, empowering members of all technical skills to engage and connect through an online community.

Bottom line: Tradewing offers powerful association event software that helps trade and professional associations connect with members online. You can watch IAMIC’s journey in video form below:

 

Discover other customer success stories from Tradewing, and envision how our software can streamline event management and bring your community together.


Other Leading Association Event Software

If you’re still on the hunt for the right platform, there are many solutions that specialize in different aspects of association event management. Let’s explore a variety of options, so you can get a sense of what’s out there.

Eventbrite: Best for Association Event Ticketing

Eventbrite is a comprehensive event management and ticketing platform that enables users to create, promote, and manage events. It offers tools for registration, ticket sales, and attendee management, making it suitable for both small gatherings and large-scale conferences. Its communication tools make it easy to connect with attendees leading up to your association’s event.

A mockup that showcases Eventbrite, leading association event software for ticketing.

Key Features:

  • Customizable, secure event registration pages
  • Email marketing tools, including automated event reminders and updates
  • Event listings on Eventbrite’s site to connect with local audiences
  • Online event planning and integrations with Zoom, Facebook Live, YouTube, and more

Cons:

  • Transaction and service fees can be high for organizers
  • Limited customization options for ticketing and event pages
  • Limited support for highly specialized event types or industries
  • Doesn’t always provide a positive consumer experience

Evite: Best Event Invitation Tool

Evite enables you to send event invitations via email or SMS. Choose from hundreds of templates or upload your own designs. You’ll be able to track RSVPs and leverage built-in communication tools to streamline event planning and marketing. While primarily used by individuals, it can also be used to invite members to your association’s events. One of the platform’s newest features is SignUp Sheets, which allows you to coordinate volunteers, streamlining another aspect of event management.

Key Features:

  • Customizable invitation templates
  • RSVP tracking and management
  • Event reminders and notifications
  • Built-in messaging for guest communication

Cons:

  • Limited advanced features for large-scale or complex events
  • Advertisements on free plans
  • Customization options may feel restrictive for some users
  • Lacks comprehensive integrations with other event management tools

Formsite: Best For Forms and Post-Event Surveys

Formsite is a versatile online form builder that allows users to create custom forms, surveys, and registrations without needing coding skills. It offers a wide range of templates, drag-and-drop form-building tools, and data collection features. Either share a link to your form or embed it into a page on your website for easy sharing.

Key Features:

  • Mobile-responsive forms, hosted either on Formsite or embedded into your site
  • Pre-made templates that can be customized to fit your association
  • Payment collection via credit card, check, and payment gateways like PayPal and Stripe
  • Conditional logic for dynamic form functionality

Cons:

  • User interface may feel outdated or less intuitive
  • No built-in CRM or advanced user management functionalities
  • Pricing tiers restrict access to advanced features
  • Limited storage capacity on lower-tier plans

Smartwaiver: Best Waiver Software for Association Events

Smartwaiver is a digital waiver solution that simplifies the process of collecting signed waivers for events and activities. It allows organizers to create customizable waivers that can be signed online or in person, streamlining participant onboarding and reducing paperwork. With secure storage, integrations, and easy access to signed waivers, it’s particularly useful for associations managing events with liability considerations, such as sports tournaments and conferences with hands-on demonstrations or equipment use.

Smartwaiver is reliable waiver software for association events.

Key Features:

  • Customizable and embeddable digital waivers with branding options
  • Online and in-person signing capabilities
  • Real-time access and search for signed waivers
  • Integration with popular software providers

Cons:

  • Higher pricing tiers required for advanced features
  • Limited customization options for complex waiver scenarios
  • Reliance on stable internet connection for online signing
  • Learning curve for users unfamiliar with digital waiver tools

Choose your association’s next event platform.

Think about your association’s goals, whether they include building a thriving membership, fostering strong connections, and achieving sustainable growth. Events are central to accomplishing all of these and many more association objectives.

Choosing the right software to power your events isn’t just helpful, it’s necessary. Tradewing is your ideal solution for hosting memorable events that boost revenue, engage members, and encourage networking between gatherings. Tap into our reliable association event management software, online community platform, email marketing tools, and more!

As you gear up for your next event, learn more about association management with these free resources:

 

10 Trusted Mighty Networks Alternatives For Your Community

When it comes to building online communities, Mighty Networks has earned a reputation as a reliable platform. Thousands of creators and organizations use it to build their online communities and sell courses.

But is it truly the best fit for you? The answer depends on what you’re looking for. Fortunately, there’s no shortage of Mighty Networks alternatives offering features like better video hosting capabilities, member engagement tools, intuitive user interfaces, and seamless integrations with your current platforms. From course creation to professional networking, this list covers Mighty Networks alternatives for every type of community builder:

Platform Comparable Features
Tradewing Online communities, member management, event management, website builder, email marketing
BuddyBoss Communication tools, course creation via integration, mobile app, monetization tools
Blue Sky eLearn LMS, virtual event hosting, resource library, certification tracking, reporting tools
Discourse Open-source platform, threaded discussions, moderation tools, gamification
Facebook Groups Group privacy options, built-in engagement tools, integration with Facebook tools, auto-invite suggestions
Hivebrite Member directories, event management, networking tools, fundraising tools, resource libraries
LinkedIn Groups Integration with LinkedIn profiles, content sharing, moderation tools
Patreon Membership tiers, content management, community engagement tools, income reporting
Podia Custom storefronts, support for different file types, one-on-one coaching, built-in marketing tools
Thinkific Course builder, student communities, drip content delivery, integrations

We’ll also explore the pros and cons of Mighty Networks, giving you a fair assessment of your options.

As an organization’s community manager or an individual creator, you understand the importance of finding the right platform to foster connections and deliver value to your audience. Mighty Networks is a solid choice, but don’t jump into a new platform without reviewing a variety of options first! Let’s get started.

Is Mighty Networks a good platform?

Yes, Mighty Networks is a good platform for building online communities where members can interact and learn. It’s particularly good= for monetizing courses, and it suits different communities well, whether you’re an individual creator, personal development group, special interest group, online learning community, or membership-based organization.

A mockup of a community built on the Mighty Networks platform

Pros:

  • Online Communities: Build an online community with features like activity feeds, polls, groups, and a member directory.
  • Course Creation: Host and sell content to generate income. You can teach live and post pre-recorded content. You can also add quizzes to test students’ knowledge.
  • Custom Branding: Each “Space” (AKA a specific area within your online community) can have a custom logo, graphics, and colors. With a higher-tier plan, you can also create a branded app.
  • Mobile Apps: The Mighty Networks Pro plan provides native mobile apps for both iOS and Android, making it easy for members to connect on the go.

 

Who is Mighty Networks best for?

This online community platform is ideal for:

  • Coaches, consultants, and creators who want to host vibrant communities and monetize their expertise.
  • Membership site owners who want an all-in-one solution without relying on multiple tools.
  • Businesses or brands seeking a private space to engage their audience outside of social media.

However, it’s not for everyone. Even within those groups, many people still prefer Mighty Networks competitors due to features, pricing, or other factors.

Is there a free version of Mighty Networks?

You can get a 14-day free trial of Mighty Networks’ Community Plan, but after that, the price goes up to $41/month. While some community platforms offer an entirely free version, those are usually limited in functionality and/or may only allow a very limited number of users/members.

When billed annually, you get 2 months free on any plan. With annual billing, Mighty Networks’ regular plans scale up to $360/month. Mighty Pro starts at $2,000/month, giving you branded apps.


 

Reasons To Consider Mighty Networks Alternatives

While a great community platform, Mighty Networks isn’t the best option for everyone. Based on customer reviews from platforms like G2 and Capterra, common complaints include:

  • Limited Video Hosting Functionality: Users complain that you can’t record sessions directly on the platform or set up one-on-one sessions for coaching.
  • Expensive: The platform can be expensive compared to Mighty Networks alternatives, especially if you want advanced features or custom branding.
  • Integration Issues: Users complain that there aren’t many integrations, and when they do use integrations, they encounter issues.
  • No Native Email Marketing: You’ll need integrations or external tools for robust email campaigns. Meanwhile, some Mighty Networks competitors, like Tradewing, feature email marketing.
  • Learning Curve: The platform can be overwhelming for beginners due to the sheer number of features and settings as well as poor navigation menu options.
  • Payment Processing Fees: Mighty Networks charges varying transaction fees on its plans, which can add up if you’re running a paid community.
  • Limited Payment Processing: Users complain about limited payment processing options, especially in countries outside of the U.S.

TL;DR: Here’s a chart comparing Mighty Networks’ pros and cons:

As with any software, we recommend reading reviews on unbiased platforms like G2 and Capterra. This gives you a sense of how well each platform actually works, rather than solely judging based on the positive reviews that vendors feature on their websites.

Now, let’s jump into leading platforms that offer different features and price points that may better fit your needs.


 

Tradewing: The Ultimate Alternative to Mighty Networks

Tradewing is a powerful platform designed to help associations and other membership-based organizations build vibrant online communities. With features tailored for member engagement, event hosting, and communications, Tradewing offers a seamless experience for organizations seeking a robust yet budget-friendly alternative to Mighty Networks.

Its intuitive interface makes it easy to create communities while integrated tools like email marketing and a website builder streamline outreach. You can also integrate with Stripe, Constant Contact, and a variety of association management software solutions.

Whether you’re an association, nonprofit, or professional organization, Tradewing is your best option for boosting community engagement and non-dues revenue.

User-Friendly Online Communities

One of the leading reasons people join associations is for networking opportunities. However, only 28% of associations invite new members to join an online community. Keep your members engaged with a vibrant online community built with Tradewing.

Encourage networking and skill development with features like:

  • Group discussions and direct messaging
  • Filtering and following tools that let users control the content they see
  • A resource library where you can organize documents, videos, guides, and other materials
  • In-platform events and listings to boost registrations
  • A searchable member directory and customizable member profiles
  • Moderation tools and access permissions to maintain a safe community
  • Analytics to  monitor community interests and member engagement
  • Sponsorship management with customizable sponsor pages

Your online community will also be mobile-accessible, enabling members to participate from their favorite devices. Members can engage with others in a familiar social media-like platform where they can share content and interact with their peers.

Member Management

From welcoming new members to encouraging renewals, Tradewing empowers you to create a positive member experience. Offer membership packages that inspire newcomers to join your community and create a custom application process that guides them through the process.

Accept a variety of payment options and offer grace periods, enabling members to pay how and when it makes the most sense for them. Thanks to automated renewal reminders that gently nudge them to make their payments, your members won’t forget to renew.

With real-time reporting and analytics tools, you can see how engaged members are at any point and respond quickly to lapses in engagement.

Robust Event Management

With Tradewing, you can plan, host, and promote events effortlessly. From webinars to in-person meetups, you can organize events directly within the platform, manage registrations, and even live stream events within your online community.

You have the option to open up your events to non-members, helping to increase attendance, drive revenue, and encourage new memberships. Easily adjust prices based on membership tiers and by enabling promotional codes. With custom registration fields, you can collect any relevant data you need from names to dietary restrictions. For in-person events, you can even set capacity limits.

Drag-and-Drop Website Builder

Tradewing’s built-in website builder lets you create a professional and appealing website without any coding skills. Customize and brand your site, and get up and running within minutes.

You can set some pages to public while others are members-only, so every user has access to the content they need. Plus, your site will be mobile-optimized right out of the box, so people can access it anywhere.

Email Marketing

Ongoing emails are the top way associations engage tenured members. Luckily, Tradewing empowers you to stay connected with your community through integrated email marketing tools. Streamline outreach with features such as:

  • Automated Digest Emails: Effortlessly send digest emails to keep members informed about the latest news and events within your association.
  • Audience Segmentation: Target specific member interests and preferences for personalized communications.
  • Performance Analytics: Monitor email engagement through built-in analytics, enabling your team to assess performance.
  • Regulatory Compliance: Maintain respectful member relationships by protecting members from spam and offering opt-out tools.
  • Event Promotion: Leverage automated event reminders to boost attendance at upcoming events.

Additionally, you can use the tools you love by integrating Tradewing and your preferred email marketing platform like Constant Contact. That way, your communications, events, and member engagement data are all synced.

A Tradewing Success Story

Tradewing helps organizations of every size in different industries. The American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT) is one of our happy customers who built an easily accessible online community with Tradewing.

This association’s greatest assets are its members: college and high school physics teachers. They needed a solution to connect anytime to ask questions and collaborate with other educators. Prior to Tradewing, AAPT held two in-person conferences a year, but that wasn’t feasible for every member due to travel costs and PTO needs.

Considering that members also wanted to connect between these meetings, AAPT invested in Tradewing. Today, members can share lesson plans, teaching methods, resources, and more whenever they need to, so they can become better physics teachers.

Watch the full story with AAPT’s director of membership below:

Explore other case studies to envision what Tradewing can do for your organization and its members.


Other Reliable Mighty Networks Competitors

If you’re still on the hunt for the right Mighty Networks alternative, we’ve researched plenty of options. Let’s explore comparable features to Mighty Networks and pricing information for other leading community and eLearning platforms.

BuddyBoss: Best for WordPress-Powered Communities

BuddyBoss is a powerful community-building platform designed for WordPress users. It offers flexibility to create online communities, courses, and membership sites with full control over your data and branding. With integrations for popular plugins, BuddyBoss empowers creators, educators, and businesses to deliver highly tailored experiences. Its deep WordPress integration makes it a standout choice for those who prefer open-source platforms and extensive customization.

Key Features:

  • Built-in features for forums, activity feeds, private messaging, and member profiles
  • Advanced course creation by integrating with LearnDash, the most popular WordPress learning management system (LMS)
  • Mobile app support for delivering your community experience on the go
  • Complete control over branding and data ownership
  • Monetization tools for memberships, courses, and premium content

How It Compares to Mighty Networks:

  • Customization: BuddyBoss offers more customization options through WordPress, while Mighty Networks is a more closed system with limited flexibility.
  • Data Ownership: BuddyBoss gives complete control of your data, whereas Mighty Networks hosts your data on their platform.
  • Learning Management System: BuddyBoss integrates directly with LearnDash, making it superior for educational communities.
  • Pricing: While BuddyBoss requires upfront costs for plugins and hosting, it can be more cost-effective over time compared to Mighty Networks’ subscription plans.

 

Blue Sky eLearn: Best Mighty Networks Alternative for eLearning

Blue Sky eLearn is an LMS specifically designed to support eLearning and virtual events needs for professional organizations and associations. It excels in delivering webinars, virtual events, and continuing education (CE) programs with tools for tracking certifications and managing resources. Blue Sky eLearn stands out for its robust LMS features, making it a perfect choice for organizations focused on education, training, and professional development.

Key Features:

  • Comprehensive LMS with tools for structured learning paths, certifications, and assessments
  • Virtual event hosting integrated into the learning experience
  • Resource library for storing on-demand educational content
  • CE tracking and certification management
  • Reporting tools to track learner progress
  • Integration with third-party tools for added functionality

How It Compares to Mighty Networks:

  • eLearning Focus: Blue Sky eLearn specializes in structured learning and professional development, while Mighty Networks offers a more general-purpose community-building platform.
  • Webinar Integration: Blue Sky eLearn has built-in webinar hosting tools, whereas Mighty Networks requires external integrations for similar functionality.
  • Certification Management: Blue Sky eLearn offers advanced CE tracking and certification management features, which are not a focus in Mighty Networks.
  • Customization: While Blue Sky eLearn is highly specialized, it has less branding and design flexibility compared to Mighty Networks’ Spaces and branded app options.

 

Discourse: Best for Open-Source Forum-Like Communities

Discourse is an open-source discussion platform designed for creating vibrant, forum-based communities. Known for its simplicity and developer-friendly customization, Discourse is perfect for groups that want full control over their community infrastructure. Its intuitive design encourages meaningful discussions, while its open-source nature allows for deep integrations. For anyone seeking a forum-centric alternative to Mighty Networks, Discourse is a top choice and now powers over 20,000 online communities.

Key Features:

  • Open-source platform with full control over data and hosting
  • Clean, modern design optimized for threaded discussions and real-time chat
  • Advanced AI and user moderation tools, including built-in spam protection
  • Plugin architecture for extending functionality with integrations like Slack, WordPress, and GitHub
  • Gamification features, such as badges, to increase engagement

How It Compares to Mighty Networks:

  • Open-Source Flexibility: Discourse grants complete control over hosting and customization, while Mighty Networks is a closed platform.
  • Discussion Focus: Discourse is optimized for forum-style discussions, whereas Mighty Networks provides broader community-building features like courses and memberships.
  • Cost Structure: Discourse can be self-hosted for free, but managed hosting plans are available, making it a more cost-effective option than Mighty Networks’ subscription model.
  • Developer-Friendly: Discourse’s open-source code and plugin architecture make it ideal for developers, while Mighty Networks appeals more to non-technical users.

 

Facebook Groups: Best Casual Social Media Community Platform

With more than 3 billion monthly active users, Facebook is the world’s most popular social media platform and offers unmatched convenience for connecting people around shared interests and causes. Bring your community members together on this platform by creating a Facebook Group. While limited in functionality, it’s a free option for casual online communities.

Whether you’re looking to create a private group for close-knit interactions or a public space for large-scale discussions, Facebook Groups provides a user-friendly environment to foster engagement without the need for extensive setup.

Key Features:

  • Free to use with easy setup in the Facebook ecosystem
  • Options for public, private, or secret group privacy levels
  • Built-in tools like polls, events, and live streaming to engage members
  • Mobile-friendly experience through the Facebook app
  • Auto-invite suggestions based on existing Facebook connections

How It Compares to Mighty Networks:

  • Reach: Facebook Groups is free and easily accessible to anyone with a Facebook account, while Mighty Networks requires a paid subscription for advanced features.
  • Audience Size: Facebook’s massive user base allows for greater discoverability, whereas Mighty Networks requires users to join your specific platform.
  • Ownership and Control: Mighty Networks provides full control over data and community features, whereas Facebook owns and controls all group data.

 

Hivebrite: Best Mighty Networks Alternative for Alumni Communities

Hivebrite is a highly customizable community management platform that serves different membership-based organizations, with a strong emphasis on educational institutions and alumni networks. It offers powerful tools for connecting alumni, organizing events, and enabling professional networking. Its user-friendly interface, coupled with advanced features like member directories and fundraising tools, makes it the ultimate solution for schools looking to build vibrant alumni communities.

Key Features:

  • Member directories that enable alumni to connect with searchable filters like graduation year, industry, or location
  • Event management to plan reunions, fundraisers, and webinars
  • Networking tools like built-in job boards and mentorship programs
  • Fundraising tools to support institutional initiatives
  • Resource libraries to host educational

How It Compares to Mighty Networks:

  • Professional Networking: Hivebrite includes tailored tools like job boards and mentorship programs, which Mighty Networks does not offer.
  • Fundraising Integration: Hivebrite has built-in donation and crowdfunding tools, whereas Mighty Networks focuses more on content monetization.
  • Scalability: Hivebrite is better suited for large-scale alumni networks with advanced needs, while Mighty Networks is ideal for smaller or more casual communities.

If this option sounds appealing, but you’re not sold on it, check out our ultimate list of Hivebrite alternatives.

 

LinkedIn Groups: Best for Professional, Niche Industry Communities

With more than 1 billion active users, LinkedIn Groups is ideal for managing professional communities centered around specific industries or topics. Leveraging LinkedIn’s massive network of professionals, Groups make it easy to connect members, foster discussions, and share industry insights. With its professional focus and integration into the LinkedIn ecosystem, LinkedIn Groups is best for organizations or individuals looking to build industry-focused communities.

Key Features:

  • Professional networking, thanks to direct integration with LinkedIn profiles
  • Discussions and content sharing of articles, updates, and insights directly within groups
  • Easy discoverability since users can search and join groups relevant to their professions or interests
  • Moderation tools, which allow admins to approve members and manage discussions

How It Compares to Mighty Networks:

  • Professional Network Integration: LinkedIn Groups seamlessly integrate with LinkedIn profiles, offering networking opportunities that Mighty Networks can’t match.
  • Ease of Access: Groups on LinkedIn are free to join and easily discoverable by professionals already on the platform, while Mighty Networks requires members to join a standalone community.
  • Customization: Mighty Networks offers more branding and design options since the layout of LinkedIn Groups is limited to LinkedIn’s default interface.
  • Industry Focus: While Mighty Networks caters to broader community-building, LinkedIn Groups are specifically designed for professional and industry-focused discussions.

 

Patreon: Best Mighty Networks Alternative for Digital Creators

Patreon is a leading platform for digital creators looking to monetize their content and build relationships with their audience. It enables creators to earn income while providing exclusive content, rewards, or experiences to members. Its user-friendly design and monetization tools make it the go-to platform for artists, podcasters, writers, influencers, and other creators seeking community engagement.

Key Features:

  • Membership tiers with varying perks
  • Exclusive content to reward loyal supporters
  • Community engagement tools like direct messaging, polls, and comments
  • Transparent income report to monitor financial growth

How It Compares to Mighty Networks:

  • Ease of Use: Patreon’s straightforward setup is ideal for creators starting with monetization, whereas Mighty Networks may feel more complex for small-scale creators.
  • Audience Reach: Patreon provides built-in discoverability for creators through its platform, while Mighty Networks relies on the creator to drive signups.
  • Branding: Mighty Networks offers branded spaces, while Patreon operates within its own ecosystem.

 

Podia: Best Choice for Selling Courses and Digital Products

Podia is designed for creators who want to sell online courses, digital products, and memberships without technical headaches. Its interface makes it easy to set up and manage your storefront and content delivery. With a focus on simplicity and monetization, Podia empowers creators, educators, and entrepreneurs to grow their businesses while maintaining full control over their offerings.

Key Features:

  • Customizable storefronts to showcase courses and products
  • Support for eBooks, templates, audio files, videos, and other file types
  • Ability to sell and schedule one-on-one coaching sessions
  • Built-in marketing, such as email marketing and affiliate program management

How It Compares to Mighty Networks:

  • Customization: Both platforms offer branded storefronts, but Mighty Networks provides more options for community spaces and member interaction.
  • Pricing: Podia has straightforward pricing with no transaction fees, while Mighty Networks charges higher subscription fees and may take a cut of transactions on lower-tier plans.
  • Ease of Use: Podia’s simplicity and beginner-friendly setup are ideal for creators, while Mighty Networks may require more time to configure.

 

Thinkific: Best for Educational Communities and Course Creation

Thinkific is a leading platform for building educational communities, offering powerful tools to create, market, and deliver online courses. Tailored for educators, institutions, and businesses, Thinkific combines robust course creation features with community engagement tools to foster collaborative learning experiences. Its focus on professional-grade course delivery makes it the ideal Mighty Networks alternative for educational communities.

Key Features:

  • A course builder with support for videos, quizzes, and assignments
  • Communities that enable learners to discuss and connect
  • Drip content delivery to release course material gradually
  • Integrations with tools like Zoom and Mailchimp to enhance your educational ecosystem

How It Compares to Mighty Networks:

  • Advanced Course Features: Thinkific offers more robust course creation tools, such as quizzes, assignments, and certificates.
  • Pricing Models: Thinkific provides multiple monetization options for courses, whereas Mighty Networks emphasizes membership fees and community monetization.
  • Focus on Education: Thinkific is specifically designed for educational content delivery, while Mighty Networks provides more generalized community-building features.

Choose your next community platform.

Choosing the right online community platform depends on your unique needs, whether it’s selling courses, fostering professional connections, or creating a secure space for members. While Mighty Networks is a strong contender, there are numerous alternatives offering specialized features that might better align with your goals. From Podia’s seamless course-selling tools to Hivebrite’s alumni-focused capabilities, each platform has something unique to offer.

For a solution that combines powerful community-building features with advanced member management, Tradewing stands out as the ultimate choice. With tools for boosting membership renewals, non-dues revenue, and community engagement, Tradewing empowers you to build thriving, connected communities.

To set your community up for success, check out these educational resources:

6 Excellent Higher Logic Alternatives: Comparing Features

While Higher Logic is a widely recognized leader in the community management space, it isn’t necessarily the perfect fit for every organization. The platform can feel limiting for some—whether due to pricing, customizability, or a lack of specific features like eLearning.

If you’ve found yourself searching for a solution that better aligns with your goals, you’ve come to the right place! Whether you’re seeking different integrations, enhanced education tools, or a budget-friendly solution, there are powerful Higher Logic alternatives that deserve your attention.

We’ll explore Higher Logic’s functionalities and common customer complaints before diving into these leading competitors:

Platform Features Best For
Tradewing Member management, online communities, event management, email marketing, website builder Online Communities
BetterMode Discussions, articles, job boards, gamification, integrations with leading tools Integrations
Blue Sky eLearn Event management, learning management, content monetization, credit tracking, engagement tools, integrations, analytics Education and eLearning
Fonteva Event management, configurable registration, speaker and sponsor management, mobile events apps, other management tools Event-Focused Organizations
MemberClicks Email list segmentation, scheduling and automation, personalization based on profile data, CRM integration, performance reports Email Marketing
Wild Apricot Website builder, member database, payment processing, event management, email marketing, online store Tight Budgets

The right platform for your organization depends on your priorities, budget, and members’ unique preferences. Ready for a fresh perspective on community management? Let’s dive in!

 

What does Higher Logic do?

Higher Logic Thrive is a comprehensive member experience platform designed for associations to enhance member engagement, streamline operations, and drive growth. By integrating online community capabilities, marketing automation, and member management tools, it enables organizations to connect with their members throughout the entire membership lifecycle.

A mockup of the Higher Logic platform

It offers features such as:

  • Online Community and Events: Organizations can set up discussion forums, resource libraries, and event management tools to provide members with ways to interact and share information.
  • Marketing and Communications: Marketing automation tools help deliver personalized communications efficiently, including full campaigns or one-time emails.
  • Member Management: Either leverage AMS integrations to manage member data or use Higher Logic’s built-in member management feature.
  • AI-Driven Tools: Send automated newsletters with dynamic content based on user activity, or make content easy to find within your online community with AI-suggested tags.
  • Mentor and Volunteer Management: Enable members to show their commitment to the industry by mentoring or volunteering. Your organization can coordinate volunteer activities, and you can pair experienced mentors with members looking to advance their skills.

Higher Logic also provides a solution for businesses called Higher Logic Vanilla, which allows them to create branded, customer-centric online communities. This platform helps businesses enhance customer engagement, provide self-service resources, and foster peer-to-peer interactions.


 

Why to Consider Higher Logic Alternatives

While Higher Logic is a reliable community engagement platform, it’s not the ideal solution for every organization. Based on user reviews from platforms like G2 and Capterra, here are some reasons why you might consider going with a Higher Logic competitor:

  • Cost Considerations: For organizations working with tight budgets, there may be platforms that offer more competitive pricing and better align with their financial needs.
  • Integration Challenges: Some users have reported difficulties integrating Higher Logic with their existing systems, which could pose challenges for organizations reliant on seamless data synchronization.
  • Learning Curve: Both staff and members may face a steep learning curve when adopting the platform, which can impact implementation timelines and member satisfaction.
  • Customer Support Concerns: With more than 3,000 customers to serve, Higher Logic’s customer support has received mixed reviews. Some users find it difficult to get timely and effective assistance.
  • Customization Limitations: The platform’s customization options might not meet the needs of organizations seeking highly tailored solutions.
  • API Limitations: Organizations that depend on robust API capabilities might find Higher Logic’s offerings less flexible compared to other platforms.
  • Specific Use Case Needs: Higher Logic’s all-in-one approach may not be ideal for organizations that require a platform designed specifically for a single use case, such as event management or eLearning.

TL;DR: Here’s a chart comparing the pros and cons of Higher Logic:

By considering common customer critiques like these, you can make a more informed decision about whether Higher Logic or an alternative platform is the best choice for your team.

Remember to check third-party online reviews for any platform you’re evaluating rather than only relying on testimonials that vendors feature on their websites.


Tradewing: Best Higher Logic Alternative For Online Communities

Built for professional and trade associations, Tradewing is the ultimate community engagement platform for boosting membership engagement, renewals, and non-dues revenue. It’s equipped with everything you need to create an unparalleled member journey while automating timely manual tasks, so your team can focus on what matters most: delivering value to members and driving your organization’s growth.

Online Community Platform

While two of the top reasons members join associations are networking and access to learning opportunities, only 28% of membership-based organizations invite new members to join an online community. With Tradewing, you can launch your online community within minutes thanks to our customizable templates. Then, leverage community-building tools like:

  • Discussion forums where members can share insights, ask questions, and collaborate on industry topics.
  • Specialized groups to cater to specific member interests, fostering deeper connections and targeted discussions.
  • Resource libraries that support documents, articles, and multimedia content, offering valuable learning opportunities.
  • Moderation tools to maintain a safe environment, including content review and user access controls.
  • Sponsorship management to seamlessly promote sponsors within your community, with tools for sponsors to manage custom profiles.

Your community will also be mobile-friendly, empowering your members to engage from any device, wherever they are. In no time, you’ll build a vibrant, interactive community that members won’t want to leave, leading to more renewals and higher retention rates.

Comprehensive Member Management

Manage members wherever they are in their journey, whether they just joined or are about to renew their memberships. With Tradewing’s advanced member management tools, you can:

  • Onboard members with a streamlined application process.
  • Create and promote compelling membership packages.
  • Offer flexible payment options to suit members’ preferences.
  • Automate renewal reminders with optional grace periods.
  • Monitor member activity to nurture stronger engagement.

Advanced analytics enable your team to better meet member needs and spot problems before they impact renewals. Stay in the loop with engagement reports and dashboards, so you know what factors are impacting individuals’ engagement.

Event Management

Plan and execute in-person, virtual, and hybrid events that drive engagement. Our event management tools support registration and ticketing, allowing you to manage payments, track attendance, and open up events to non-members. Vary pricing based on membership type, enable promo codes, and automatically notify members of upcoming events, so you can incentivize participation.

You can also set capacity limits, ensuring a smooth event experience that maximizes resources. Integrated live streaming features make it easy to host virtual events directly within your online community, enabling members to participate without traveling to another platform.

Drag-and-Drop Website Builder

Your organization’s website is an important asset. With 63% of supporters preferring to give online, an optimized website is crucial for connecting with members and driving revenue. Tradewing’s website builder makes it easy to create a professional and effective online presence tailored to your organization’s needs.

Build a stunning website within minutes using our drag-and-drop editor. Your site will be mobile-optimized right out of the box, so members can easily access your site from their preferred devices. Take complete control over who can view your content with public and members-only pages.

Targeted Email Marketing

Stay connected with your members with tailored emails. Personalized emails have 82% higher open rate than generic emails on average. Tradewing helps you deliver segmented campaigns catered to members’ specific interests and preferences. From effective welcome emails to automated event notifications, members will receive the communications that are most relevant to them.

Tradewing’s email marketing tools also integrate with popular email marketing platforms, enabling seamless tracking of engagement metrics. Plus, our compliance features protect your members from spam and offer opt-out tools, so you can maintain respectful member relationships.


Other Leading Higher Logic Competitors

If you want to compare other platforms to find the right fit, there are several other options that might be a better match. These Higher Logic alternatives provide a range of tools to align with different priorities.

BetterMode: Best Higher Logic Alternative for Integrations

Formerly known as Tribe, BetterMode is a highly customizable and modular community platform designed for businesses and individual creators. It enables administrators to build tailored experiences using flexible widgets and robust APIs, making it an excellent alternative for those seeking more customization options than Higher Logic’s standard offerings.

BetterMode seamlessly integrates with HubSpot, Zapier, Slack, Google Analytics, and other popular platforms, allowing organizations to connect their community with other essential systems—similar to Higher Logic, but with added flexibility.

Key Features:

  • Pre-made templates for discussions, articles, events, and job boards
  • A design studio to build unique layouts without coding
  • Gamification tools like badges and leaderboards to boost engagement
  • Integrations with leading software via BetterMode’s app store and API support

Pricing: BetterMode has a free plan with limited functionality for individuals exploring web app creation. However, small organizations will need the Pro Plan ($49/month), while large brands should use the paid plan ($99/month).

Blue Sky eLearn: Top Competitor for Education

Blue Sky eLearn delivers world-class eLearning experiences and virtual events via its learning management system (LMS). While Higher Logic excels in creating community-driven platforms, Blue Sky eLearn provides tools to engage users through on-demand learning, webinars, and educational content delivery. These features make this Higher Logic alternative ideal for organizations focused on learning and professional development, rather than broader community-building needs.

Key Features:

  • Event management for webinars, live streaming, and hybrid events
  • Learning management that supports course development, live events, and progress tracking
  • Content monetization to sell courses and events
  • Credit tracking and certificates
  • Engagement tools like polls, Q&As, and chat
  • Integrations with popular AMSs and CRMs
  • Analytics to track learning outcomes

Pricing: Request a demo to learn more about this platform and its pricing options.

Fonteva: Best Alternative for Event-Focused Organizations

Fonteva is a Salesforce-native solution designed to handle complex event management workflows. It offers a suite of integrated applications, which are named Membership, Events, Payments, Communities, and eCommerce.

Where Fonteva really shines is with its event management capabilities. It’s a perfect alternative to Higher Logic for event-heavy organizations that use Salesforce and want a tight CRM integration to streamline data management. Fonteva also supports customizable workflows, broader member management, robust reporting, and eCommerce capabilities, making it a versatile choice for organizations with unique event requirements.

Key Features:

  • Support for in-person, virtual, and hybrid events
  • Configurable registration
  • Speaker and sponsor management
  • A mobile events app branded to your organization
  • Other solutions for member management, community management, and more

Pricing: Reach out to the Fonteva team for the latest pricing.

MemberClicks: Top Higher Logic Competitor for Email Marketing

As part of the Personify suite, MemberClicks provides comprehensive membership management solutions tailored to associations, chambers, and nonprofits. Its platforms, MC Professional and MC Trade, streamline administrative tasks while enhancing member engagement.

As a top alternative to Higher Logic for email marketing, MemberClicks offers integrated tools for creating personalized email campaigns that improve communication and retention. Additional features include CRM functionality, dues management, event management, website content systems, and add-ons like online learning tools and mobile apps. This combination is a versatile choice for organizations seeking a holistic solution.

Key Features:

  • Email list segmentation
  • Scheduling and automation capabilities
  • Email personalization based on member profile data fields like names and renewal amounts
  • CRM integration to automatically archive communication history in member profiles
  • Email marketing performance reports

Pricing: MC Professional starts at $4,500 annually for individual member organizations. MC Trade starts at $3,500 annually for trade organizations and chambers. Specific pricing is based on organization size and functionality needs.

Wild Apricot: Best Higher Logic Alternative for Tight Budgets

Wild Apricot is a cloud-based membership management software designed for small associations, nonprofits, and clubs. It offers an integrated suite of tools for managing memberships, events, websites, and payments at a competitive price point compared to Higher Logic. While Higher Logic focuses on community engagement and marketing automation for larger organizations, Wild Apricot caters to smaller organizations seeking an all-in-one solution for membership and event management.

Key Features:

  • Drag-and-drop website builder with mobile-friendly themes
  • A cloud-based member database
  • Online payment processing, invoicing, and receipts
  • Event management, including custom registration forms and event listings
  • An email marketing system
  • A built-in online store to sell products

Pricing: Prices start at $60/month for organizations with 100 contacts or fewer and scale up to $900/month for organizations with 50,000 or more contacts. Pre-pay for a year and get a 10% discount, or pre-pay for two years and get a 15% discount.


Start Building Your Community

Higher Logic is an all-in-one solution, but it’s not the best fit for every organization. Depending on your unique needs, other platforms may offer more suitable features, better pricing, or enhanced flexibility. Whether you’re focused on event management, community building, or streamlined integrations, the Higher Logic alternatives we’ve covered provide strong options to explore.

For those seeking stronger member engagement through events and branded online communities, Tradewing is the optimal choice. With intuitive event management and resource hosting capabilities, Tradewing helps organizations create vibrant and active member communities that boost renewal rates.

As you narrow down your options, explore these resources to learn more about effective member management:

7 Leading Hivebrite Alternatives To Power Your Organization

Hivebrite might be a big name in the community platform space, but is it the right fit for you? Building a thriving community is no easy feat, and the platform you choose can either make or break your efforts. As a community manager or other association leader, your responsibilities are vast: from fostering engagement and continuously strategizing for retention to ensuring a positive user experience and measuring the impact of your efforts. Balancing these duties requires tools that make your job easier—not harder.

While Hivebrite is a popular choice, it’s not your only option. Whether you’re seeking different features, better pricing, or greater flexibility, plenty of Hivebrite alternatives are available. The key is finding a platform that lets you focus on what matters most: growing and sustaining a vibrant community.

To guide your efforts, we’ll break down the strengths and weaknesses of Hivebrite and its competitors. Here are the platforms we’ll cover:

Platform Key Features Best Alternative For
Tradewing Member management, online communities, event management, website builder, email marketing Member Engagement and Online Communities
Discourse Channels for real-time chat, AI integration, customizable user interfaces, moderation tools, open-source discussion Open-Source Discussion
Kajabi Online course creation, community spaces, email marketing, podcast creation, analytics dashboard Content Monetization
MemberPress Online courses, coaching services, membership sites, transaction and invoicing WordPress Users
Mighty Networks Customizable branding, content hosting, flexible course delivery, member subscriptions, event hosting Content Creators
Slack Real-time messaging and channels, file sharing, advanced search, customizable notifications Real-Time Messaging
TidyHQ Contact management, task tracking, financial management, event registration, customizable branding Clubs and Small Organizations

Ready to identify the ideal platform to foster connections without compromising on your needs or budget?


 

What is Hivebrite used for?

Hivebrite is a community engagement platform that’s packed with powerful features for building a branded private online community. It’s particularly popular among alumni associations, educational institutions, nonprofits, NGOs, and membership organizations. Hivebrite’s all-in-one solution combines member management, branded communities, event organization, networking tools, and analytics to build interactive communities.

A mockup of Hivebrite's networking capabilities

Key Features of Hivebrite

  • Branded Online Community: Create a platform that reflects your brand with logos, colors, and fonts. You can also create a mobile app that mirrors the web experience.
  • Engagement Tools: Engage members with discussion forums, activity feeds, newsletters, and gamification. They can also search for other members to connect with based on interests, skills, and location.
  • Content Management: Build a digital hub for publishing articles, announcements, and updates.
  • Membership Management: Access tools to manage member profiles, subscriptions, and access permissions.
  • Event Management: Organize and promote your events with tools like ticketing and registration and in-platform virtual events.
  • Monetization Options: Access built-in tools for fundraising, collecting donations, securing sponsorships, and managing paid memberships.
  • Integration and API Access: Access integrations with popular tools like CRM systems, payment gateways, and email marketing platforms.

 

Reasons To Look At Hivebrite Alternatives

While Hivebrite is a compelling option, it’s not the best community management solution for every organization. Depending on your specific needs, there are several reasons you might explore Hivebrite competitors, such as:

  • Scalability for Smaller Organizations: If your organization is not enterprise-level or is just starting out, you may need a platform that grows with you without incurring high upfront costs. Some alternatives offer more scalable pricing and functionality tailored for smaller or mid-sized communities.
  • Budget-Friendly Options: On a similar note, Hivebrite’s pricing might exceed your organization’s budget. Many alternatives deliver comparable features at a more accessible price point.
  • Targeted Solutions: Hivebrite excels as an all-in-one platform, but not all organizations need a comprehensive solution. If your focus is on a particular use case—such as managing events, professional networking, or providing educational resources—a specialized platform might better address your needs.
  • Concerns About Support and Missing Features: Feedback from some users points to challenges with technical support, as well as gaps in certain desired features like external reports and mentoring capabilities. If responsive support and specific functionalities are critical for your community’s success, it’s worth exploring alternatives with strong reputations in these areas.

TL;DR: Here’s a chart with the pros and cons of Hivebrite:

While Hivebrite remains a popular choice, these considerations highlight the importance of exploring other platforms to ensure you find a solution that perfectly aligns with your unique needs and goals. Let’s explore leading Hivebrite competitors, so you can set your community up for long-term success.


 

Tradewing: Best Hivebrite Alternative For Member Engagement

Tradewing is a modern community platform designed specifically for associations and professional organizations. It focuses on fostering member engagement through intuitive event management, content sharing, and an interactive online community for networking. With features like targeted email marketing and robust analytics, Tradewing helps organizations streamline communication and deliver personalized experiences to their members.

Its user-friendly design and versatility make it a strong Hivebrite alternative for associations looking to strengthen connections and drive member value.

Advanced Member Management

From onboarding members to securing renewals, Tradewing empowers you to create an unparalleled member experience. Create a seamless application process and offer compelling membership packages.

Automated renewal management cuts down on manual outreach by gentling nudging members to make their payments. Flexible payment options empower members to pay however fits their financial needs. You can also set custom grace periods, so members won’t lapse in their benefits if they’re a few days late on their payment.

Online Communities

When asked why they joined an association, members said their top reasons were networking, continuing education, and accessing specialized information (The 2024 Membership Marketing Benchmarking Report). In other words, networking and learning opportunities are primary motivations for joining an association.

Tradewing empowers you to meet those needs by creating an interactive online community. Your private branded community will give members access to professional resources, live discussions, networking opportunities, tailored groups, and more. The platform is mobile-friendly, empowering members to connect from wherever they are. They can also tap into filtering and following tools to control the content and conversations they see.

From an administrative perspective, you can monitor member engagement and maintain a safe community with powerful moderation tools.

Easy-To-Use Website Builder

Launch a stunning, branded website within minutes. Our website builder offers pre-made templates to build your site, and the drag-and-drop tools make it easy to get your website up and running with no coding necessary.

Customize your site to reflect your organization’s unique identity with flexible design options and branding tools. Have complete control over who accesses your site with public and members-only pages, ensuring that both members and visitors see the right information.

Robust Event Management

Events are a great way to encourage networking and engage members, so Tradewing helps you host in-person, online, and hybrid events. Tap into powerful event management features like:

  • Flexible Event Formats: Host a variety of event types, including in-person meetups, virtual webinars, and hybrid conferences. Tradewing ensures a smooth experience for attendees by integrating tools for live streaming, on-site coordination, and hybrid engagement to maximize participation.
  • Registration and Ticketing: Use customizable registration fields to collect event-specific data, such as dietary restrictions or t-shirt sizes. You can also set capacity limits, set up promo codes, and vary pricing based on membership type.
  • Automated Notifications: Send automated digest emails to inform users of upcoming events, so you can boost attendance.
  • Expanded Reach: Open events to non-members to boost attendance, revenue, and potential new memberships.

Keep attendees engaged after your event, too. You can provide access to recordings and ongoing discussions, fostering ongoing community interaction.

Powerful Email Marketing

Emails generate approximately 28% of all online fundraising revenue, so make the channel a central part of your marketing with our user-friendly email tools. Tradewing offers essential communication features, such as:

  • Audience Segmentation: Utilize list segmentation to target specific member interests and preferences, ensuring relevant and personalized communications.
  • Automated Digest Emails: Effortlessly create and send automated digest emails to keep members informed about the latest news and events within your association.
  • Performance Analytics: Monitor and measure the success of your email campaigns with built-in performance reporting, helping you understand what content resonates with your audience.
  • Regulatory Compliance: Ensure compliance with regulations such as CCPA and GDPR through opt-out tools and tracking settings. That way, you’ll maintain respectful and meaningful member relationships.

These tools seamlessly connect with popular email marketing marketing platforms, so you can maximize your communication. Don’t just take our word for it, though. Check out how real associations leverage Tradewing.


Other Hivebrite Alternatives To Power Your Organization

Let’s look at other Hivebrite competitors who offer unique features, competitive pricing, and tailored tools to meet the specific needs of different communities.

Discourse: Best Open-Source Discussion Platform

Discourse powers more than 20,000 online communities. It’s a completely open-source discussion platform designed to create engaging online forums and communities. Known for its customizable features and active developer community, it’s an excellent choice for organizations seeking a flexible, self-hosted solution. With features like threaded conversations, moderation tools, and integrations with popular tools, Discourse is ideal for fostering transparent discussions.

Key Features:

  • Channels for real-time chat
  • AI integration to enhance usability and moderation
  • Customizable user interfaces
  • Moderation tools
  • Open-source for maximum customization

Good Hivebrite Alternative For: Organizations or communities looking for a lightweight, customizable solution

Kajabi: Top Hivebrite Competitor for Content Monetization

Kajabi is ideal for creators who prioritize building courses, selling digital products, and integrating those into a community space. It’s tailored for entrepreneurs, educators, and influencers looking to monetize knowledge or expertise alongside fostering community engagement. This is a strong alternative to Hivebrite for organizations or individuals focused on monetizing digital courses and products while building an engaged community.

Key Features:

  • Online course creation and hosting
  • Community spaces
  • Email marketing and automation
  • Podcast creation tools and integrations with hosting platforms
  • Analytics dashboard

Good Hivebrite Alternative For: Course creators and educators who want an integrated solution

MemberPress: Top Hivebrite Competitor for WordPress Users

MemberPress is a membership plugin for WordPress designed to monetize your membership site with ease. Sell online courses and accept both credit cards and digital wallets. You can also control who can access your content, ensuring a secure member experience.

Key Features:

  • Online courses with flexible content options
  • Coaching services with tools like scheduling, client management, and content delivery
  • Subscription-based membership sites
  • Transaction and invoicing with integrated payment solutions

Good Hivebrite Alternative For: WordPress users creating membership-based websites

Mighty Networks: Best for Content Creators

Mighty Networks is a community platform that empowers creators and brands to build and monetize their communities across all devices. It offers flexible, no-code tools like customizable Spaces for courses, events, and social interactions, along with integrated livestreaming and event hosting features. The platform supports monetization through subscription models, one-time payments, and bundled offerings, enabling hosts to generate revenue while fostering community engagement.

Some organizations find the platform’s features and payment options limited or the interface unintuitive. Consider these alternatives to Mighty Networks if you want a similar platform with comparable features and simpler navigability.

Key Features:

  • Customizable branding
  • Content hosting for video, audio, and documents
  • Flexible course delivery with drip schedules and timed/sequential content releases
  • Member subscriptions and monetization options
  • Event hosting and live streaming

Good Hivebrite Alternative For: Creators, educators, and organizations prioritizing online courses and memberships

Slack: Best Hivebrite Alternative For Real-Time Messaging

Slack is an effective platform for fostering community engagement, providing a space where members can connect and share ideas in real-time. Organized channels allow for focused discussions on specific topics, while direct messaging enables one-on-one interactions. Its extensive integrations with tools like Zoom, Google Drive, and event management platforms make it easy to host virtual events, share resources, and streamline communication. Slack’s intuitive design and features like custom emojis, polls, and notifications make it a dynamic choice for building active communities.

Key Features:

  • Real-time messaging and channels
  • File sharing and integrations
  • Advanced search functionality
  • Mobile app with customizable notifications

Good Hivebrite Alternative For: Smaller, chat-focused communities and teams

TidyHQ: Best Alternative Alternative For Clubs

TidyHQ is an all-in-one membership management platform designed to streamline administrative tasks for organizations of all sizes. It offers tools for managing memberships, events, meetings, and finances, enabling efficient communication and coordination among team members. With features like online ticketing, individual inboxes, and a simple website builder, TidyHQ helps organizations enhance member engagement and grow their communities.

Key Features:

  • Member and contact management
  • Task tracking and meeting management
  • Financial management, including invoicing
  • Event registration and payments
  • Customizable branding

Good Hivebrite Alternative For: Small organizations and local clubs looking for a lightweight community management tool


Choose Your New Community Platform

Hivebrite has set the standard for community platforms, but it’s not a one-size-fits-all solution. If there’s an alternative that better suits your needs, go with that one! By choosing the right Hivebrite competitor, you’ll fuel organizational growth and develop a tight-knit community that collaborates and stays loyal to your association.

If community engagement is your goal, Tradewing is an effective choice for fostering meaningful connections and streamlining member engagement. With features like integrated event management and branded online communities, it empowers associations to create vibrant, thriving membership bases while driving long-term value for members.

As you continue your search for the right platform, check out these educational resources:

The Ultimate Community Management Platform Buyer’s Guide

Association management software has evolved in the past few years, and today, trade and professional organizations need dedicated community management platforms in order to adequately engage their members. But what exactly is a community management platform, and does your association need one?

To help trade and professional associations understand this technology, the role it plays in member engagement, and what to look for in prospective platforms, we’ve put together this complete buyer’s guide. In it, we’ll cover:

 

Every association’s community is unique, which means the right tool for one association may not be quite right for another. To address as many common concerns as possible, we’ll break down core platform elements and why they matter. But first, let’s explain exactly what a community management platform is.


What is a Community Management Platform?

community management platform is software for associations that lets them create online spaces for their members to interact. These platforms create social media-like interfaces where members can post content, message one another, attend virtual events, and more depending on the specific platform’s features.

Why Should Associations Invest in a Community Management Platform?

Associations can use social media sites like Facebook and LinkedIn to host their communities. However, doing so is inadvisable for several reasons, including:

  • Member attention. Popular social media platforms have a lot of users, which means associations that host their communities on these sites are constantly competing for members’ attention. In contrast, a dedicated community engagement platform focuses attention on your association and keeps members on your website.
  • Privacy. Hosting your community on most social media sites is free. However, doing so comes at a hidden cost: your members’ privacy. Social media sites like Facebook generate revenue by selling users’ data to advertisers, and your members may not appreciate having their conversations mined for marketing purposes.
  • Professionalism. Community management software gives your association a branded space to professionally present your association. In contrast, social media limits your branding and customization abilities. Plus, many people might view Facebook Groups as overly casual or amateurish.

 

Social media is best used for marketing your member community and driving interest toward your community management platform. For example, you might post a blog article for free on Facebook and explain that it is part one of a series of posts exploring the topic. To get more valuable content, prospective members would need to sign up and log into your membership portal.

Community Management Platform Features

Community management platforms are created for a range of audiences, and as such, there are also a range of features to be aware of. For trade and professional associations, we recommend looking for platforms with the following tools:

1. Community Platform

The actual community engagement space itself is usually called the “community platform.” This tool acts as a social media-like interface where your members can post content and interact with one another.

 

When assessing this feature, look for:

  • User-friendliness. A community platform is user-facing and should be as intuitive for your members as possible. This includes not just posting content but also the processes for joining and navigating your platform.
  • Moderation controls. While your community platform is for your members, it still represents your association and is up to your team to moderate it. Look for tools that have moderation features, such as the ability to review and take down content, remove users, and pin announcement posts to the top of members’ feeds.
  • Content hosting capabilities. What type of content can members share? Ensure your platform supports long-form text, images, and video. There may be limitations on what a post can support, such as character and photo limits and max video file sizes.

 

While every association might have different priorities for their community management software, the community platform component is the defining feature of these tools. As such, finding one that fits your needs should be one of your top considerations.

2. Video Conferencing

Virtual events are for your association’s community, so it makes sense to host these online events in the same place where your community already gathers online.

Some community management software vendors have a major focus on virtual event software, while others provide video conferencing as a bonus feature. When assessing platforms, consider:

  • How many virtual events your association hosts. If your association only hosts a handful of virtual events throughout the year, it may be more cost-effective to invest in a platform with a range of tools, including video conferencing, than a dedicated virtual event management system.
  • Video conferencing must-have features. When your association hosts virtual events, what features do you need? For most associations, baseline event tools include screen sharing, breakout rooms, and live chat. Some video conferencing tools have additional useful features, like polls, pinned questions, and other ways to make online events interactive.
  • Cost of separate virtual event management software. While some vendors may have more sophisticated products than others, most community management platforms come with built-in video conferencing software. As such, determine if it’s worthwhile to invest in a separate event management system or purchase a community management platform with adequate video conferencing.

 

Additionally, consider how the video component of your community management software works in conjunction with the rest of your platform. Is it easy for members to access your virtual events from your community platform? Can you easily promote virtual events on the community platform? Are these desirable features for your association, or is video conferencing not even a concern?

3. Member Directory

Community management platforms provide your association and fellow members access to your member directory. This allows members to search for and reach out to one another, while your association’s team can use this information to manage your members.

When it comes to member directory features, be on the lookout for:

  • Number of contacts. How many members can you add to your directory? Many small-scale community management platforms place a cap on this, but some vendors that cater to growing organizations, like Tradewing, offer unlimited contacts.
  • Messaging features. How can members contact one another? Your member directory should include both direct messaging options and the ability to form group chats.
  • Search tools. Let members easily search your database by searching names, job positions, business names, or other identifying attributes.

 

Remember that a member directory differs from a member database. Your directory is a front-facing tool your members can use to aid their networking, whereas a member database is a backend tool with extensive data only for your association’s team.

4. Privacy Tools

Just because a member has joined your association does not mean they want to share every little detail about themselves with the rest of your community. Protect members’ privacy by allowing them to control who can view specific information on their profiles.

For example, here’s what a member would see when editing their profile within Tradewing:

As you can see, members can decide who can view specific profile attributes, whether that’s the general public, logged-in users, all members, or just the user themselves. For example, a member might make their name and place of employment visible to everyone, their email address visible to members, and their home address only visible to themselves.

This protects your members from unwanted communication, including harassment and spam. Ensure your community management software offers similar privacy features and also maintains strong security standards to protect against cyberattacks.

5.  Customization

Your community platform is an extension of your website and should include your association’s branding. As such, all community management platforms your association considers should have at least some customization features.

However, be aware that “customization” means different things to different community platform vendors. Some software might offer out-of-the-box tools that allow you to customize your branding, messaging templates, and website setup. In contrast, others might require working with a developer to finetune the platform to your specifications.

The former may be preferable for large associations with multiple chapters. These organizations require custom workflows and high levels of customization, even if that requires increased cost and administrative time.

In contrast, small and medium-sized associations may value some customization, such as customized messaging templates and branding. However, excessive customization abilities can lead to unnecessary stress.

When assessing community management platforms, be aware what size associations the software is geared toward and what is meant by “customizable.” 

6. Messaging Alerts

Keep members in the loop and encourage them to come back to your community platform with messaging alerts. These can take the form of emails, text messages, or push notifications depending on your preferences and software’s capabilities.

Look for community management software with automation features to power this strategy. These can be used to remind members about upcoming events, alert them to community announcement posts, share when someone has messaged them, or check in if it’s been a while since they last logged onto your platform.

7. Integrations

Ensure your community management platform integrates with association management software (AMS) and any other tools in your tech stack. Doing so ensures data collected by your community management platform, like member engagement rates, is smoothly transferred to your member database and other relevant software.

If you choose solutions without ready-built integrations, you may need to work with a technology consultant to create a custom middleware solution. These can be costly and take time to develop. As such, prioritize vendors that offer a pre-existing integration with your current software when possible.

Community Management Platform Purchasing Considerations

When reviewing community management software, create a short list of top candidates by assessing each provider based on:

Association Capacity

Associations vary widely in size, budget, and purpose. Additionally, community management software appeals to a range of organizations outside of associations, including businesses and casual social groups.

As such, finding the right software for your association requires assessing your association’s:

  • Must-have features. What is your association looking for in a community management platform? For instance, you might be in desperate need of a social platform but already have event management tools you like, so event conferencing features are nice to have but not a priority. While tools built with other audiences in mind may serve your needs, it’s usually best for trade and professional associations to stick to association-oriented software.
  • Size. Some community management platforms are built to accommodate larger member bases than others. While a solution for enterprise-sized associations may seem like the go-to option, be aware that these platforms are often unwieldy and costly for small and growing associations that would be better served by a smaller-scale, out-of-the-box solution.
  • Budget. How much is your association able to spend on technology? Most community management platforms operate on a subscription model, and many have multi-year contracts that lock your organization into a set payment plan, regardless of whether you use their software or not.

 

While associations should aim to grow and evolve, it’s almost never worth it to invest in an expensive tool like Hivebrite or a general platform like Mighty Networks that does more than your association needs. Rather, assess your association to understand where your needs currently are and gear your technology to your association as it currently is, not where you hope it will be in 10 years.

Remember, if you need to upgrade to a new system in a few years, you always can and you’ll likely have a higher budget when you do!

Technology Needs

Association technology is extensive and varied, and your community management platform should fit into your existing technology stack. Outside of community management software, associations might also invest in a combination of these tools:

  • Association management software (AMS)
  • Customer management software (CRM)
  • Learning management system (LMS)
  • Content management system (CMS)
  • Email marketing platform
  • Event management tools

 

Depending on your specific vendors, some of these tools may contain overlapping features. For example, many AMSs include CRM functionality. Additionally, many AMSs provide some community management software features, though often in a limited capacity.

Assess whether your current technology supports your needs and what a new tool can provide. Then, research integrations to ensure your new software can be easily added to the rest of your software ecosystem.

Last, consider your team’s own technical prowess. If your association lacks an IT team, understand that means you will need to rely on your vendors for training and technical support. Additionally, if you purchase software that requires customization, a middleware application, or further development, you will likely need to work with a technology consultant, which takes time and adds an extra expense to your technology budget.

Vendor Reviews

Third-party review websites are useful resources that allow your association to accomplish two essential things:

  1. Discover new vendors. It’s easy to gravitate toward large platforms with name recognition. However, these may not always be the best choice for your association. Search review sites to broaden your range of candidates and discover smaller providers that fit your needs.
  2. Assess prospective platforms. After completing your shortlist of prospective vendors, check what past users have to say about their experience using the platform. Consider both the positives and negatives and how impactful those would be for your association.

 

Additionally, on vendors’ sites, look for case studies or customer testimonials. While these sources are biased, they provide a window into what each vendor feels they specialize in. For instance, if a vendor’s case studies primarily focus on their virtual event capabilities, you can assume that is one of their strengths.

Top Community Management Platform: Tradewing

The top community management software for trade and professional associations is our very own platform, Tradewing. Tradewing is a convenient, out-of-the-box platform for growing associations looking to manage their communities online. With Tradewing, your association can:

  • Connect with members anytime, anywhere. Tradewing is mobile accessible and excels in keeping association communities connected all year long. Post online content, schedule events, and invite members to interact with each other on your community platform to keep engagement high.
  • Focus members’ attention. Rather than sending members away from your association’s website to engage with your community, Tradewing keeps them on one centralized platform. This pushes members to engage with your content by limiting distractions.
  • Spotlight sponsors. Earn non-dues revenue by securing sponsorships and promoting their content on your community platform. With a sponsorship sidebar, sponsors’ content is always visible but not intrusive.
  • Plan, promote, and host events. With Tradewing’s conferencing software, members can easily toggle between your community platform and event site. Announce events on your community feed, send attendance reminders, and host your virtual events all on the same platform.
  • Maintain members’ privacy. Tradewing allows associations to create thorough member profiles with as many custom fields as they want. Once members complete their profiles, they can choose what information they want visible. This preserves members’ privacy as they engage with your community.
  • Create designated members-only areas. With Tradewing’s website builder, you can set up not only your community but also your entire website. Determine what pages will be visible to the public and which are members-only to lock your valuable content behind your member portal.
  • Monitor engagement analytics. Monitor engagement over time and drill down into specific members’ engagement metrics to see who is an active part of your community and who might be at risk of lapsing.

 

Even with all of these features, Tradewing’s biggest strength is its convenience. Compared to platforms that require extensive customization and developer assistance, Tradewing can beset up fast and operate with minimal administrative burden on your team.

More Community Management Resources

Community management software arms associations with the tools they need to communicate with, engage, and retain their members. When assessing top vendors, look for platforms that prioritize the member experience, like Tradewing, and make community management easy with ready-to-go features, an intuitive interface, and easy automation features.

To continue learning about community management, check out these free resources:

Member Engagement: 10 Creative Ideas to Excite Your Community

From events to online courses, your association provides a variety of content and activities for your members. However, these offerings only have an impact if your members actually engage with them. Even for associations with high participation rates, engagement can drop significantly in between major events.

To help your trade or professional association consistently engage its community, this guide will explore ideas and strategies to energize your members.

But first, let’s define exactly what member engagement means and why it matters.

What is Member Engagement?

Member engagement includes all the ways members interact with your association. When members attend events, comment on your blog posts, or message one another, they’re engaging with your association. Associations with high levels of member engagement tend to be dynamic, financially healthy, and positioned to expand their offerings.

Member management and member engagement are closely related concepts, and strong member management often helps facilitate positive engagement. The main difference is that member management focuses on organizing members by collecting data, managing dues payments, and planning activity logistics. With this foundation, your association can host engaging events, create engaging content, and encourage members to engage with one another.

Member Engagement Benefits

Members who sign up but don’t engage with your association may contribute to your dues revenue, but these individuals likely won’t stay members for long. By creating valuable content and promoting it to members, you can increase engagement and reap several benefits, including:

  • Higher Retention. Members who know what your association offers and are excited about it are more likely to stay members long-term. Conversely, low engagement is often a key sign a member is about to lapse.
  • Increased Revenue. The more activities your members participate in, the more they’ll spend. This might involve upgrading to a higher membership tier, buying event tickets, or purchasing your association’s products or services.
  • Better Recruitment. Professionals want to join associations that have lively networks, so they can expand their professional contacts. If your association has an active base of highly engaged members, new members are more likely to want to join to participate in your community.

Essentially, member engagement measures your association’s health. If you have high member engagement, your community is likely loyal, valuable, and eager for your next offerings.

10 Member Engagement Strategies

1. Maintain an online community.

Many associations host just a handful of events every year, and these organizations tend to see flagging engagement during the months between in-person meetups. Increase your memberships’ value and maintain engagement throughout the entire year by building an online community.

On your association’s website, provide access to an online platform just for your members behind your member login. To create this platform, invest in community engagement software for associations. These tools allow trade and professional associations to create personalized social media sites just for their members.

For example, here’s what Tradewing’s very own community engagement platform looks like:

Platforms like Tradewing arm associations with several features for fostering lively online communities, such as:

  • Member feed. Your association’s staff and members can post content, comment on others’ posts, and scroll through a chronological timeline of the latest content. If there’s anything you need your members to see, your association’s team can create an announcement post and pin it to the top of all members’ timelines.
  • Groups. Members can reach out to one another and form groups where they can chat, plan events, and share. Tradewing’s platform allows users to create posts and schedule events that are visible only to their fellow group members. This means once members form connections, they can continue the conversation and arrange meet-ups right on your association’s platform.
  • Event hosting. Expand your association’s offerings by hosting virtual events on your community engagement platform. Many community engagement platforms like Tradewing come with basic event management software, allowing you to announce, promote, and host events all in one centralized hub.

Popular rivals like Higher Logic and Hivebrite offer similar features but often cater to broader audiences or come with higher pricing, making Tradewing a more focused and cost-effective option for associations and professional groups. Alternatively, some associations use publicly available social media sites like Facebook to host their communities. However, there are several downsides to this compared to a specialized community engagement tool, such as:

  • Limited moderation. Platforms like Facebook offer group organizers some moderation tools, but these are severely limited compared to a platform your association controls. This applies not just to moderating discussions but also to protecting members’ privacy, fighting spam, and maintaining your association’s branding.
  • Decentralization. By sending members to a third-party platform, you’re encouraging them to navigate away from your website and its content. This divides members’ focus and makes community engagement hard to measure. Not to mention, on social media sites like Facebook, your association will have to constantly fight for attention against all of the other posts in your members’ feeds.
  • Lack of professionalism. For professional and trade associations, using free social media platforms to manage your community can seem unprofessional. By investing in an online platform branded to your association, you’ll also invest in your association’s image and reputation.

There’s definitely still a place for social media in your association’s engagement strategy. Instead of hosting your online community on social media, you can use these sites to post enticing content that draws members to your website and private online community.

2. Create an onboarding process.

Joining an association can be overwhelming, and new members will appreciate a helping hand. Ensure these members have a positive first impression by creating a new member welcome series.

For many associations, this will take the form of an email series. For example, your messaging series might consist of:

  • An introductory email thanking new members for joining your association and providing a brief overview of your offerings
  • An email recommending offerings for members to explore, such as a mix of popular and new content
  • Encouragement to complete any new member tasks, such as publishing their profiles, finishing questionnaires, or signing up for community alerts
  • A personal invitation to your next event and instructions for how to RSVP to events in general
  • A survey asking about their new membership experience and if they have any lingering questions

Outside of emails, there are a range of other ways to onboard new members. For instance, you might create a welcome video, host new member welcome events, and announce new members to your community. Some associations even mail out new member kits containing mugs, pens, a welcome letter, and other branded merchandise.

3. Encourage user-generated content.

Your association should regularly create content—whether it’s blog posts, training courses, virtual events, or something else—to maintain engagement. However, even with a dedicated content creation team, you’ll likely be unable to produce a continuous stream of posts to keep members engaged throughout the year.

Fortunately, you don’t have to. Consider how social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook very rarely have posts for the actual site maintainers. Instead, users are invited to create posts of their own. Your association can do the same! By encouraging user-generated content, your members can create content to engage one another.

User-generated content can take many forms, including:

  • Images
  • Graphic design
  • Videos
  • Reviews
  • Written opinion pieces
  • Research reports
  • Discussion-sparking questions

To boost user-generated content, maintain an online community where members can easily share their creations and receive feedback from other members. You might also jumpstart the process by hosting competitions, posting discussion questions, or spotlighting model user-generated content.

4. Facilitate networking.

Many members join trade and professional associations to expand their networks. However, some members may need help figuring out where to start when it comes to reaching out. Additionally, associations have to balance encouraging member connections while protecting members’ privacy, which might make some members difficult to contact.

You can help members get around these obstacles and streamline the networking process by leveraging:

  • Suggested connections. Some associations set up programs where members can complete a short survey and have connections suggested to them or even have meet-ups arranged by your association. This process intends to pair up like-minded individuals and can be especially useful for new members entering your association with zero pre-existing connections.
  • Welcome events. If multiple new members join at once, host a welcome event or take time at your next event to introduce your new members to the rest of your community. This provides new members with a face-to-face opportunity to mingle.
  • Members-only spaces. In your online community, give members the opportunity to post publicly and engage with others in a low-stress environment. For example, you might invite discussion in the comments below a recent blog post. This gives members a natural opportunity to find others with shared interests and start conversations.

To help all members continually network, maintain an online membership directory where members can search for one another and send messages. Enable members to decide what information they want visible on their profiles, such as their contact information, job position, alma mater, professional interests, and personal hobbies.

5. Leverage gamification tools.

Gamification is the inclusion of game design elements in non-game contexts. For example, an association might create a reward system where members can earn points for posting content, attending activities, and logging into their online member portal every day.

Gamification incentivizes member participation in your association, pushing them to make additional comments, posts, and content to hit the next level, rise on the leaderboard, or earn a badge. A few gamification features you can add to your association’s online community include:

  • Badges. Acknowledge the actions your members take to engage with your association by awarding them badges, ribbons, trophies, stars, or any other virtual marker of success. These can be displayed on member profiles or next to their usernames when posting or commenting in your online community.
  • Leaderboards. Instill a sense of friendly competition by creating a leaderboard of all of your members. This allows members to see how they are performing in the “game” of engaging with your association compared to others and see their names rise up the ranks.
  • Rewards. While some gamification systems have no payoff other than the innate satisfaction of winning a game, you can attach tangible prizes to your gamification strategy. For example, you might show your appreciation for your community’s top posters by sending them a box of branded merchandise or offering a discount when it’s time to renew their memberships.

These elements boost engagement by adding an extra reward to participating in your community. Members have a record of their engagement, helping them quantify their participation and fostering a desire to continue adding to it.

6. Provide a late payment grace period.

The membership renewal process is a key moment for maximizing member retention, but it can also be used to boost engagement. In your association’s membership renewal letters, emphasize your various membership benefits, upcoming activities, and anything else valuable they can engage with if they continue their membership.

Additionally, offer members a grace period for missed payments before cutting off access to benefits. This gives members one final chance to see what they’ll be missing, which can encourage them to commit to another month or year of membership.

7. Contribute to a good cause.

Many businesses host corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs to boost their reputation and engage customers and employees. Associations can similarly engage their members and staff by scheduling activities related to giving back.

For example, your association might host an annual volunteer day related to your cause. To partner with a local nonprofit to organize a team volunteer activity for your members, follow these steps:

  • Survey members. Reach out to your members to learn what causes they want your association to support. Consider suggesting specific organizations in your local area or letting members share what types of nonprofit missions they prefer supporting. The cause you ultimately decide to go with might be related to your association’s regular offerings or simply something the majority of your members believe in.
  • Reach out to nonprofits. Contact nonprofits ahead of time rather than just showing up with a group of members to volunteer. This allows them to plan volunteer activities that accommodate a large number of people.
  • Work out logistics. Prior to your volunteer day, get a head count of the members committed to participating. Additionally, share other logistic details like you would with any other event, such as meet-up time, if food is provided, what attire participants should wear, and so on.

While volunteering might not be directly related to your association’s main benefits, it can still give members more than just a personal sense of fulfillment. After all, team volunteer activities are the perfect opportunity to network and build a sense of camaraderie. In fact, 35% of individuals volunteer specifically to socialize, and your members can do the same amongst themselves.

8. Stay up to date with industry trends.

Nearly a third of members at professional and trade associations say access to specialized and up-to-date industry knowledge is one of their reasons for purchasing a membership. As such, you should ensure you provide your members with relevant, valuable offerings that will aid them in their careers.

You can refresh your knowledge and develop expert content by:

  • Following industry blogs and news sites. Subscribe to journals, news sites, and industry blogs related to your association. Regularly reading up on the challenges, discoveries, and developments in your members’ fields will help you create offerings that speak to their interests, concerns, and questions.
  • Attending conferences. Participate in discussions in your industry by attending relevant conferences. This gives you and your association’s team opportunities to connect with other industry leaders, attend expert-led workshops, and hear on-the-ground stories from professionals.
  • Working with experts. Consider bringing in a variety of professionals to present at events, submit blog posts, and develop educational courses. This helps your association present different viewpoints and provide additional value to your members. Plus, advancing your association’s network of professionals benefits both your members and your organization as a whole.

When your association has cutting-edge content and activities, share them with members. Highlight these offerings through community announcements. This can also be useful content to promote on social media to attract new members.

9. Survey members.

If you’re not sure what type of content will engage your members, ask them. Create surveys that ask members about their experience with your association. You might ask them questions like:

  • In the past six months, what type of content have you engaged with from the following options?
  • What types of content have you found the most useful for you professionally?
  • How do you usually find out about current community offerings?
  • What types of member benefits would improve your experience?
  • On average, how often do you engage with community content?

Ask a mix of multiple-choice and short-answer questions. This allows you to quantify members’ responses while also giving them space to elaborate on their experiences.

10. Revamp your email strategy.

Many associations dedicate their resources to communicating with prospective or new members. However, your ongoing communications with existing members should be just as captivating.

Reinvigorate your email campaigns with eye-catching visuals and enticing subject lines. Break out of the traditional email format with interactive elements, like eCards, image carousels, or videos.

Additionally, determine a cadence for sending creative emails. For example, design holiday eCards to send on Valentine’s Day and Christmas. Or, plan an email series around the anniversary of your association’s founding that includes images and videos of founding members and background information on the organization.

More Member Engagement Resources

Associations with highly engaged members set themselves up for growth, earn more through their offerings, and cultivate a positive reputation in their industry. For professional and trade associations looking to improve their membership rates, start experimenting with engagement strategies and invest in the software you need to connect with your community.

For more member engagement resources, explore these guides: