Understanding Member Types in Association Management
Trade associations are entities that represent the interests of a specific industry or sector. They provide advocacy, education, networking, and research services to their members, who are usually businesses or corporations.
Professional societies are organizations that represent the interests of a specific profession or discipline. They provide certification, accreditation, training, and career development services to their members, who are usually individuals or professionals.
Broadly speaking, there are 3 types of member types in Associations namely, individual membership, trade (companies) membership and hybrid (mix of the 2)
Trade associations and professional societies are two types of membership organizations that serve different purposes and audiences. In this blog post, I will compare and contrast their main features and benefits, and explain how our own Association Management System (AMS), Graviti, can help both types of organizations achieve their goals.
Trade associations are organizations that represent the interests of a specific industry or sector. They provide advocacy, education, networking, and research services to their members, who are usually businesses or corporations. Trade associations aim to promote the common interests of their industry and influence public policy and regulations that affect their members.
Professional societies are organizations that represent the interests of a specific profession or discipline. They provide certification, accreditation, training, and career development services to their members, who are usually individuals or professionals. Professional societies aim to advance the standards and practices of their profession and foster the professional growth and recognition of their members.
Both trade associations and professional societies face similar challenges in managing their membership data, communications, events, finances, and operations. That's why they need a reliable and robust AMS that can handle all their needs and streamline their workflows.
One of the main differences between trade associations and professional societies is the scope and nature of their membership. Trade associations typically have a broader and more diverse membership base, as they may include businesses of various sizes, sectors, and locations within a specific industry. Professional societies, on the other hand, tend to have a narrower and more homogeneous membership base, as they focus on individuals who share a common profession, specialty, or credential. For example, a trade association may represent all the manufacturers of medical devices in a country, while a professional society may represent only the certified biomedical engineers who design and test those devices.
Another difference between trade associations and professional societies is the level and type of engagement they offer to their members. Trade associations usually have a higher level of engagement, as they involve their members in collective decision-making, lobbying, and representation on industry issues. Professional societies, by contrast, usually have a lower level of engagement, as they focus more on providing information, education, and certification to their members. For instance, a trade association may organize an annual conference where members can vote on policy resolutions, meet with government officials, and network with peers. A professional society may organize a webinar series where members can learn about the latest trends, best practices, and standards in their field.
A third difference between trade associations and professional societies is the degree and mode of competition they face in the market. Trade associations often face more competition from other trade associations or alternative sources of information and representation for their members. Professional societies usually face less competition from other professional societies or alternative sources of education and credentialing for their members. However, both types of organizations need to adapt to the changing needs and expectations of their members and stakeholders in order to remain relevant and valuable. For example, a trade association may need to compete with online platforms that offer cheaper or faster access to industry data, insights, or contacts. A professional society may need to compete with online courses that offer cheaper or more convenient access to professional development or certification.
One way that both trade associations and professional societies can enhance their value proposition and competitive edge is by using an effective and efficient association management system (AMS) that meets their specific needs and goals. An AMS is a software solution that helps organizations manage their membership data, communications, events, finances, education, certification, and other core functions. An AMS can help organizations save time and money, improve member satisfaction and retention, increase revenue and growth opportunities, and achieve their mission and vision.
One of the best AMS solutions available in the market today is Graviti, a cloud-based platform that offers a comprehensive suite of features and integrations for any type of membership organization. Graviti is designed to be secure, easy to use, and intuitive for both staff and members. Graviti also integrates with over a dozen other systems that exist in the market today such as QuickBooks, Sage Business Cloud Accounting (SBCA), payment gateways (Stripe, paysfast, PayGenius, Paypal, etc), Learner Management Systems (LMS), messaging platforms (Chattr), etc.
Graviti's security features ensure that your organization's data is protected from unauthorized access or loss. Graviti uses encryption technology to secure your data in transit and at rest. Graviti also complies with industry standards such as PCI DSS for payment processing and GDPR for data privacy. Graviti also allows you to customize your security settings such as user roles, permissions, passwords policies etc.
Graviti's ease of use features make it simple for you to set up and manage your organization's operations without any technical skills or support. Graviti has a user-friendly interface that guides you through every step of the process from creating your account to launching your website. Graviti also has a drag-and-drop builder that lets you create beautiful web pages without any coding. Graviti also has a built-in help center that provides you with tutorials videos articles FAQs etc.
Graviti's intuitive features make it easy for your members to interact with your organization online anytime anywhere from any device. Graviti has a responsive design that adapts to any screen size or resolution. Graviti also has a smart search function that helps your members find what they are looking for quickly and easily. Graviti also has a personalized dashboard that shows your members their profile activity history notifications etc.
Graviti's integration features allow you to connect your organization's data with other systems that you use or need without any hassle or duplication. Graviti has an open API that enables you to integrate with any third-party system that supports API integration such as QuickBooks SBCA Stripe LMS Chattr etc. Graviti also has a Zapier integration that allows you to connect with over 2000 other apps that do not support API integration such as Gmail Mailchimp Slack etc.
Graviti is an AMS that we have developed to help both trade associations and professional societies run their organizations more efficiently and effectively. Graviti is a cloud-based platform that offers the following features and benefits:
- System security: Graviti uses the latest encryption and authentication technologies to ensure the security and privacy of your data. You can control who has access to your data and what they can do with it. You can also backup and restore your data anytime.
- Ease of use: Graviti has a user-friendly interface that is easy to navigate and customize. You can create and manage your membership records, events, invoices, reports, and more with just a few clicks. You can also integrate Graviti with your website and social media platforms to increase your online presence and engagement.
- Intuitive user experience: Graviti has a smart design that adapts to your needs and preferences. You can configure your dashboard, menus, forms, fields, and notifications to suit your workflow and style. You can also access Graviti from any device, anywhere, anytime.
- System integration: Graviti integrates with over a dozen other systems that you may already use or need for your organization. These include QuickBooks, Sage Business Cloud, payment gateways, learner management systems, and Chattr, a messaging platform that I have also created. Chattr allows you to communicate with your members and staff via text, voice, or video calls. You can also send automated messages, surveys, reminders, and alerts to your contacts.
Graviti is the AMS that you need for your trade association or professional society. It will help you save time, money, and resources while enhancing your member satisfaction and retention.
If you are looking for an AMS solution that can help you manage your trade association or professional society effectively and efficiently, look no further than Graviti. Graviti is the ultimate AMS solution that offers security, ease of use, intuitiveness, and integrations for any type of membership organization
To learn more about Graviti or request a demo, please contact me at [email protected]