First, thanks to Maddie and Alyssa for the comments to the last post.
What a past couple weeks - I'm terribly behind in my blog reading, but I'm doing ok on magazines.
The current issue of Inc. Magazine headlined with a company where the customer quite literally is the company, i.e the customer supplies the product. Sound like an association? It should - but it's not. It's a T-shirt company by the name of Threadless.
Here's the down and dirty on threadless: Customers design t-shirts for money and prizes. The designs are then judged by the customers and the most popular shirts become part of the catalog. Your shirt gets selected - you win the money and prizes you hoped for. The company is incredibly lean with high margins, but more importantly it's never sold a dud - why would it though? If the customer is actively choosing what they want and the company produces it - then instant harmony.
Ever think about doing that at your association - giving the members the choice? And I don't just mean the elite few on the programming committee - I mean the entire membership? Engage all members and let them decide what training and sessions to offer.
How would this look? Here's my suggestion (I'll let you know the feedback i get) - Have potential speakers submit abstracts for an online webseries. Members can then vote on the sessions they want to attend. If an abstract recieves enough votes - than viola - that's the session(s) to be presented. The creme rises to the top.
Post the latest "u-pick" sessions on your members only website to increase site traffic. And if a particular session gets really really high votes, depending on the timeliness of the message - make a spot for it at the annual conference.
It's not news that customers (in our case members) want it their way. So why not involve them (all of them) in the selection process and give it to them?
Thanks for reading,
bob
P.S. I'm hoping to get back in the blogging mode, but life is busy. Mom and baby to be are doing well and I've kept the ship afloat in my new position, now it's time to push it forward.
P.S.S. - I'm actually thinking about posting a design - but that's another story
