Ideas to Increase Your Club's Membership

If you're a member of a struggling club with less than 12 members, you probably believe that increasing membership in your club is difficult, if not nearly impossible.

Conversely, a club that is member-strong with 25 or more will likely agree that acquiring new members is a pretty simple process. In fact, many clubs in this category spend very little time promoting their club and new members just seem to keep coming!

So, what is the difference?

The answer actually has very little to do with luck, but everything to do with the visitor.
Here are several proven tips to help you increase your membership:

• Before launching any new member campaign, improve the quality of your meetings. Getting visitors is easy! Impressing guests enough so that they come back...now that's the challenge!

• Separate duties between the VP of Membership and VP of Public Relations. Consider the idea the the VP of PR "gets the visitors in the door" and the VP Membership converts them from being guests to members.

• Have a member create and maintain a small and simple web site for your club. It has been estimated that up to 80% of all club visitors find a club to visit through the Internet. There are many free web-hosting sites available!

• Be sure to notify Toastmasters International AND District 23 of your new website address, so it can be added to their sites.

• Register a domain name for your club and point it to your web site. (Ask the D23 Webmaster if you have any questions about this process.)

• Put your web site address on everything promotional that you do.

• Provide a member's name (typically the VP Public Relations), e-mail and phone number on your web site and encourage visitors to contact him or her with any questions.

• Ask your Sergeant-at-Arms to arrive 30 minutes before each meeting. Guests typically show up 15 to 20 minutes early. If no one is there, they might think the meeting was canceled.

• Ask your Sergeant-at-Arms (and other members!) to always be on the lookout for visitors and that they should always be prepared to drop everything to greet the guest.

• Ask your Sergeant-at-Arms to "partner" the guest with a member who will introduce the visitor to the group at the beginning of the meeting and be able to answer questions throughout the meeting as they arise.

• Educate the club members on how important it is that everyone shake hands with the guest before the meeting. This makes the visitor feel welcome and comfortable.

• Always offer participation in Table Topics as an "option" to guests. And, never ask a guest to participate in Table Topics until all eligible members have participated in case there is not enough time for the "paying" members to exercise their skills.

• Consider not allowing guests to join until after they've attended 3 consecutive meetings. That way, they'll know if Toastmasters will fit into their work schedule.

• Ask for the guest to provide a short comment toward the end of the meeting about what they thought about the meeting. This will give you a good indication whether they are a potential member. Sometimes they'll convince themselves to join right in the middle of their comments! Just make sure to tell the guest at the beginning of the meeting that these comments will be requested at the end so the guest is not caught off-guard.

• If your club has 12 or fewer members... ask your District Governor for a Club Coach!

What many people do not realize is that even the large clubs can run into trouble with membership. Usually, a dip in membership is the result of poor leadership in the club and a decline in meeting quality. Make sure you have a good product before trying to get others to buy into it and you'll be at membership capacity in no time!

Looking for more resources? Visit the District 23 Downloads page for other ideas! ...and visit our Links page... and our new Marketing Flyer Library for some great flyers to use in promoting your club!

Great Ideas for Finding New Members

These ideas for finding new members are not in any particular order. Take a moment to think about each one, and choose those that you think will work for your club, adapting them as you wish. We hope that they will help your club grow and become strong!

Have table at trade shows Hold a Speechathon with as many speakers as possible Think like a child - How would you get someone to play with you? “Put in words” appeal to writers’ clubs Toastmaster minute on radio Interaction with story tellers’ organizations “Do it for you” poster contest at schools Bring your boss When someone notices your progress, tell them why and invite them Hold meetings at senior centers Have new member kits Hand out flyers and brochures Have a host for each guest Hand out invitation cards Members constantly promoting and raving about Toastmasters Meet at a good location Explain the structure of Toastmasters Make prospective members feel important Have enjoyable programs Make some meetings social events Have a Club web page Use email Put posters in stores Ask corporations and employers to sponsor or subsidize membership Have a reward program for those who bring in new members Create more fun Have a variety of snacks Invite the media Use word of mouth Network with coworkers, friends, and family Follow-up on guests (send thank-you note with a reminder about the next meeting) Have educational meetings Have friendly meetings Lead by example Have incentives for those who join Members give talks at other organizations Provide guests with free meals Corporate Clubs provide brochure for new employee packets Display the trophies Club sponsor a deserving, needy individual Lure passers-by with free food Advertise with a blimp at sports events (or hand out flyers) Have a marching band spell out your club’s name If you’re the boss, encourage your employees join Ask the District for help Provide child care Hold join meetings with non-Toastmasters groups Share your Toastmasters experience with others ASK your guests to join Get a three-meeting commitment (visit at least 3 meetings) Advertise in church bulletin When asked about your speaking skills, tell them about Toastmasters Tell everyone about the benefits of Toastmasters Have informative meetings Teach public speaking at voc-tech, community college, continuing education Wear your Toastmasters pin

Bumper stickers Smile Invite guests to your place of business to get better acquainted with them Attract a wide age spectrum Give testimonials Elect a dedicated VP Membership Hold smooth meetings Get experienced Toastmasters to join as dual members Repeatedly invite prospective members Practice selling Toastmasters at Club meetings Make it look easy Promote humor in speeches Make meetings more interactive Send thank you notes to guests Ask someone (everyone) Bring a guest Advertise in newspapers. Advertise on public access TV Sample or demonstration meetings Letters or personal contact with local businesses Contact with Chamber of Commerce Bookmarks inserted in library books Public meetings at malls, outdoors, etc Speech Craft Booth at malls, fairs, festivals etc. Pamphlets in doctors’ offices, hospitals, cafeterias, libraries, etc. Host an Open House Contact past members Hold membership drives and contests Warm greeting Guest information packet Guest introductions Encourage, but don’t force, Table Topic participation Ask for comments Clearly marked room Club business cards Distribute extra magazines in waiting rooms, etc Hold high-profile meetings Advertise at local colleges Have a guest speaker Have a special guest day Have a program for non-members Participate in community events Write letters to community groups Be active in Chamber of Commerce, Rotary, Kiwanis, etc. Publicize Club successes, elections, contests, in local newspapers Have a Club newsletter Have a club brochure Hold a public debate Never cancel a meeting Members should be prepared Have a planned agenda Encourage interclub visits (and banner raids!) Form/join a Speakers’ Bureau Mention Toastmasters at meetings of other organizations during announcements Send newsletter to guests Visitor Day – each member sends out 10 invitations Talk up Toastmasters to those who express problems with public speaking Make it FUN Hold public workshops