From Member Directory to Member Ecosystem: The Future of Association Connectivity
Most associations have a member directory. That being said, few have a mechanism to create a true member network.
For decades, the directory has been treated as a core member benefit: a searchable list of names, titles, and organizations. It was useful when access itself was scarce and certainly an upgrade to a stack of business cards. However, today access to information about members is abundant. What members struggle with is relevance, connection, and momentum.
The gap between those two realities is where associations have an opportunity to evolve from maintaining contact lists to enabling living ecosystems.
Please select this link to read the complete article from ASAE's Center for Association Leadership.