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10 Essential Membership Questions: How Many Can You Answer?
These 10 questions get to the heart of what makes a membership organization thrive. Each one deserves a clear, intentional answer.
Membership Strategy
May 7, 2025
Steven Kryger
Imagine we’re having coffee and I ask you these questions about your membership organisation.
How many could you answer with detail and conviction?
➡️ How do you acquire new members?
➡️ How do you onboard new members?
➡️ How do you cultivate community?
➡️ How do you personalise the member experience?
➡️ How do you collect feedback from members?
➡️ How do you reward member loyalty?
➡️ How do you win back lapsed members?
➡️ How do you recognise volunteer contributions?
➡️ How do you measure success?
➡️ How do you use data to inform all of the above?
When I pose these questions to leaders of member-based organisations, I’m not trying to put them on the spot. My goal is to spark reflection on foundational elements of success that are often taken for granted.
Too often, I hear responses like:
“We know we need to do more here.”
“That’s a gap for us.”
Or simply, “We don’t.”
This isn’t uncommon. My research proves it: when I joined all 17 NRL clubs, not one acknowledged me as a new member. When I contacted 50 Australian associations with a simple member query, one in three didn’t even respond.
What false assumptions are you making?
These 10 questions get to the heart of what makes a membership organization thrive. Each one deserves a clear, intentional answer.
Ignoring them risks losing members, missing growth opportunities, or stalling progress. Sooner or later, these gaps will catch up.
Take Control of Your Strategy
The first step to strengthening your membership strategy is understanding where you stand. By revisiting these fundamentals, you can uncover opportunities to engage members, build loyalty, and drive growth.
Self-Assessment Worksheet 📋
Download a free PDF worksheet to evaluate your organisation’s performance against these 10 questions. Share it with your team, compare scores, and start a conversation.
Firm Foundations Workshop 📆
Invite me for a 3-hour interactive workshop with your team. We’ll dive deep into these 10 questions, uncover opportunities, and build a roadmap to strengthen your membership strategy.
Imagine we’re having coffee and I ask you these questions about your membership organisation.
How many could you answer with detail and conviction?
➡️ How do you acquire new members?
➡️ How do you onboard new members?
➡️ How do you cultivate community?
➡️ How do you personalise the member experience?
➡️ How do you collect feedback from members?
➡️ How do you reward member loyalty?
➡️ How do you win back lapsed members?
➡️ How do you recognise volunteer contributions?
➡️ How do you measure success?
➡️ How do you use data to inform all of the above?
When I pose these questions to leaders of member-based organisations, I’m not trying to put them on the spot. My goal is to spark reflection on foundational elements of success that are often taken for granted.
Too often, I hear responses like:
“We know we need to do more here.”
“That’s a gap for us.”
Or simply, “We don’t.”
This isn’t uncommon. My research proves it: when I joined all 17 NRL clubs, not one acknowledged me as a new member. When I contacted 50 Australian associations with a simple member query, one in three didn’t even respond.
What false assumptions are you making?
These 10 questions get to the heart of what makes a membership organization thrive. Each one deserves a clear, intentional answer.
Ignoring them risks losing members, missing growth opportunities, or stalling progress. Sooner or later, these gaps will catch up.
Take Control of Your Strategy
The first step to strengthening your membership strategy is understanding where you stand. By revisiting these fundamentals, you can uncover opportunities to engage members, build loyalty, and drive growth.
Self-Assessment Worksheet 📋
Download a free PDF worksheet to evaluate your organisation’s performance against these 10 questions. Share it with your team, compare scores, and start a conversation.
Firm Foundations Workshop 📆
Invite me for a 3-hour interactive workshop with your team. We’ll dive deep into these 10 questions, uncover opportunities, and build a roadmap to strengthen your membership strategy.
Imagine we’re having coffee and I ask you these questions about your membership organisation.
How many could you answer with detail and conviction?
➡️ How do you acquire new members?
➡️ How do you onboard new members?
➡️ How do you cultivate community?
➡️ How do you personalise the member experience?
➡️ How do you collect feedback from members?
➡️ How do you reward member loyalty?
➡️ How do you win back lapsed members?
➡️ How do you recognise volunteer contributions?
➡️ How do you measure success?
➡️ How do you use data to inform all of the above?
When I pose these questions to leaders of member-based organisations, I’m not trying to put them on the spot. My goal is to spark reflection on foundational elements of success that are often taken for granted.
Too often, I hear responses like:
“We know we need to do more here.”
“That’s a gap for us.”
Or simply, “We don’t.”
This isn’t uncommon. My research proves it: when I joined all 17 NRL clubs, not one acknowledged me as a new member. When I contacted 50 Australian associations with a simple member query, one in three didn’t even respond.
What false assumptions are you making?
These 10 questions get to the heart of what makes a membership organization thrive. Each one deserves a clear, intentional answer.
Ignoring them risks losing members, missing growth opportunities, or stalling progress. Sooner or later, these gaps will catch up.
Take Control of Your Strategy
The first step to strengthening your membership strategy is understanding where you stand. By revisiting these fundamentals, you can uncover opportunities to engage members, build loyalty, and drive growth.
Self-Assessment Worksheet 📋
Download a free PDF worksheet to evaluate your organisation’s performance against these 10 questions. Share it with your team, compare scores, and start a conversation.
Firm Foundations Workshop 📆
Invite me for a 3-hour interactive workshop with your team. We’ll dive deep into these 10 questions, uncover opportunities, and build a roadmap to strengthen your membership strategy.
Recruit and retain more members.
8 Powerful Tools Every Membership
Organisation Should Use
Low-cost, high impact tools you haven't heard of.
You'll also get weekly insights for growing membership.
Recruit and retain more members.
8 Powerful Tools Every Membership
Organisation Should Use
Low-cost, high impact tools you haven't heard of.
You'll also get weekly insights for growing membership.
Recruit and retain more members.
8 Powerful Tools Every Membership
Organisation Should Use
Low-cost, high impact tools you haven't heard of.
You'll also get weekly insights for growing membership.