MEMBERSHIP GROWTH AND RETENTION
Every Club should be continually focussed on membership growth and retention, regardless of its current membership levels. The nature of our membership means that members will leave Clubs, either through relocation, lifestyle needs and attrition. A constant focus on membership is important to ensure that there is a continual stream of retirees joining your Club. Retaining members is just as important as sourcing new ones, providing members with a wide range of activities that suit the members lifestyle, level of activity and financial situation will ensure they stay engaged and active within the Club.
PSPL provides Clubs with a range of tools and suggestions to assist Clubs develop a membership growth and retention plan. These are included below. We can also help your Club develop this plan, simply contact a member of our Membership Team and they will be happy to assist.
Let others know about your Club
Creating awareness is key, your Club needs to promote itself to its local community. There are so many ways lift your Club’s profile, some of these include
- Circulate promotional flyers at chemists, newsagencies, and doctor’s surgeries. We can provide both generic or personalised flyers – these are available through the online shop or by calling our Team;
- Use either the generic or personalised flyers in a letter box drop – current members can distribute the flyers in the regular walking group. If your Club does not have a regular walking group, this would be a great reason to start one;
- Obtain an area at the local shopping centre to showcase your Club. Dress the table with Probus posters, flyers and balloons which are all available through the online shop or by calling our Team;
- Contact your local community radio station for free play of Probus jingle and have a monthly segment called what’s happening in Probus. The Probus jingle can be downloaded for free here;
- Contact local community TV stations for free airplay of the Probus community service commercial. The Probus commercial can be downloaded for free here;
- Place Probus posters on community noticeboards in shopping centres, libraries, the local Council as well as the Club’s meeting venue. PSPL can provide personalised posters with your Club’s information or alternatively you can click the following links to download and personalise and print the poster at your convenience details. A4 Poster - click here | A3 Poster - click here
- Contact your local council and ask them to include your Probus Club in the community activities section of their website and newsletters
- Have an open day where members are encouraged to bring a friend to see Probus in action.
- Increase your Club’s profile by having a website or Facebook page. PSPL can provide a complimentary website for your Club which is easy to update, or PSPL can update it for you. For more information about complimentary websites, click here.
- Publicise your Club at every opportunity – have a publicity officer that focusses on showcasing your Club’s activities and events. Includes photos of members participating in activities.
Involve Members in your Membership Program
Involve members in sourcing new ones – start a member get member program – make it fun, have prizes for the member who brings the highest number of prospective members to your Club.
Although Probus welcomes members of all ages, we are all getting older, younger retirees will reduce your Club’s average age and in turn increase your Club’s longevity. Ask members to invite a potential member who are younger than they are. Similarly create activities that are suitable for all ages and activity levels.
How attractive is your Club to new members?
Do your members participate in activities and come to all the meetings, how attractive is your Club to new members? Ask yourself, if you were not a member of your Club today, would you join?
Clubs that have high participation or engagement from their members will thrive. More importantly their members will tell others how much fun they are having in their Probus Club. Understand what your members want from your Club, consider a survey or a suggestion box asking members what activities they would like, some of the suggestions may surprise. PSPL provide a Club Health Check that includes a range of questions that can assist Clubs in identifying opportunities to improve their overall membership appeal.
Make meetings exciting, the formal part of the meeting should not take very long, play a different game at each meeting or have a theme, wear a certain colour, wear a hat or even sit in a different chair and report on an interesting fact about the person next to you. Remember that Probus is all about FUN.
Use PSPL promotional material and resources
PSPL provide a wide range of promotional material for Clubs at no additional cost. In addition, we provide each of the below items are provided annually in the Club’s Presidents Kit – many Clubs have found these very helpful and we encourage all Clubs to review them regularly.
Our Grow your Club Booklet contains a range of helpful tips on how to promote Clubs.
Click here to down the booklet.
Our Club Health Check that includes a range of questions that can assist Clubs in identifying opportunities to improve their overall membership appeal.
