Member engagement is as important as getting as running a business. Keeping members engaged in today’s age of short attention spans can be challenging, particularly in light of the flood of information and the frequent criticism on social media.
To face this challenge smartly, travel subscriptions or loyalty programs can focus on cultivating real connections and providing constant value to their members.
Travel benefits, points-based rewards, or community-driven events can also help maintain customer bonds. Ultimately, the secret to sticking out and maintaining members’ commitment among the noise is to create great experiences that speak to them personally. Let’s explore some member engagement ideas below:
Member Engagement Ideas That Build Member Loyalty
1. Curate Positive Content
Members are continuously bombarded with information from different sources, most of which is negative. Nearly 40% of social media users report that they feel depressed after content consumption.
Travel serves as a way for members to escape these realities or get a few days or weeks of respite to recharge; the same applies to content related to travel. Curate positive content for your members, such as travel trips and information on undiscovered destinations like the Tessa Travel Tales offered to all members of Custom Travel Solutions’ clients.
Another member engagement strategy involves success stories. Success stories play another important role in making the members believe in what you are offering. This could include success stories of the members who completed a fitness challenge or traveled their targeted miles using your program.
Staying in touch with members and keeping them updated will keep them interested. Make your members feel valued about themselves by regularly sharing good news and acknowledging accomplishments. Keeping them up to date on the positive side may improve morale and create a stronger, more encouraging atmosphere for all parties.
2. Personalize Content
Personalization has become a mantra for business growth and is this way for all the right reasons. One of the most useful member engagement ideas is to develop experiences specifically targeting your members’ needs.
Customizing member experiences strengthens relationships with current clients while also helping in customer retention. By making every connection seem meaningful and essential, personalization raises the possibility of sustained involvement and fruitful word-of-mouth recommendations.
For example, by employing data analytics or utilizing platforms like Custom Travel Solutions that already provide this feature, you can better understand your members’ preferences.
You can generate creative ideas for your members and provide them with bundles of services compiled together according to their choices, or you can offer them the option to pick and make a package of their own. This increases the content’s relevance and demonstrates to them that you are aware of their top priorities.
Once you start offering these personalized packages and other offers to your customers, they’ll be cemented to your offered programs without much effort later on because this gives them a sense of exclusivity.
3. Create Exclusive Experiences
Networking is an important part of today’s growing mindsets, and people love to come together with people who share their interests. Arranging webinars and events exclusively for members is a pro-member engagement tip for travel clubs and other organizations.
Organizing webinars or events for members is a great way to foster a sense of belonging. Members may interact with like-minded people at these special events, exchange stories, and forge closer bonds within the organization.
These kinds of activities, whether virtually or in person, increase members’ commitment and loyalty by making them feel valued and a part of something unique.
Studies suggest that networking increases business connections and reputation, provides inspiration, boosts self-confidence, and eventually results in lasting relationships for members with their program providers.
4. Engage Through Multiple Channels
In a world of multiple communication channels, where people are busy scrolling through different platforms, organizations must be visible to their members to avoid losing their attention.
Regular communication by making engaging posts on all social media platforms and simultaneously interacting with them via emails and mobile applications by implementing an omnichannel approach is a great member engagement strategy that companies must hold onto.
Interactive content, such as surveys, real-time Q&A sessions, tests, etc., should be utilized to promote active participation. Companies can do this by inducing curiosity in members and keeping them hooked on the travel programs. Offering teaser-style content that hints at upcoming travel deals, special experiences, or new destinations can spark excitement and anticipation.
5. Leverage User-Generated Content
User-generated content helps members feel involved and makes your program approachable and more human.
With the help of user-centric content, companies can urge their members to use social media, testimonials, or other channels to share their experiences and stories. This enhances member relationships and provides authentic and relatable means of content for other people to trust your program.
This includes your members posting any special offers on their social media or any rewards they achieved. In return, you can highlight these messages and stories in your testimonials and tag your members.
This approach can give members a sense of worth and visibility. This strategy contributes to developing a lively, interested community where participants actively shape the discourse.
6. Focus on Emotional Connections
Storytelling can never be irrelevant when eliciting emotions from your members. By creatively telling stories, you can connect with your members by portraying their beliefs. Members who see corresponding tales feel a sense of connection, which can result in a great engagement strategy for organizations.
Being understood is a privilege these days, and to put this sense of being understood into your members is one of the strongest ways to keep them hooked with your brand as your loyal members.
Although members might have different preferences and issues, a little bit of customization in tackling this area would also help build these emotional bonds. Establishing alignment between your company and causes they care about sheds light on your shared values with them and opens ways towards lasting loyalty.
Fun fact: Did you know that storytelling can make people more empathetic? When we listen to character-driven stories, our brains release oxytocin, a chemical associated with feelings of love and empathy.
7. Provide Exceptional Customer Service
User-centric approaches in any field make outstanding customer service. You must establish a timely and competent support crew to retain your members’ loyalty. Problems arise naturally, and they can not be stopped but a more practical way to not let this affect your members is to make them feel more dependable and satisfied with your organization by solving their problems quickly and effectively.
AI has mostly replaced customer service agents, which is effective in some cases but not in every case. Working on these contacts with a human touch will always make your members feel even better. A casual customer query can be turned into a meaningful relationship by giving replies customized for the given member and making them feel heard and respected. Members are more likely to remain devoted and involved when they get this kind of care, which makes them feel valued.
8. Utilize Gamification
Gamification always stays the same. Implementing incentive systems that acknowledge and praise members for their engagement and participation can drive insane results in raising member loyalty and engagement. People pursue fun and leisure, and when integrated with a reward system like points or offers, it encourages members to compete with one another and continue to participate.
Fun Fact: Did you know gamification dates back to the early 20th century? Retail stores introduced rewards programs to strengthen customer loyalty, and industrial managers encouraged factory workers to see themselves as competitors.
By creating opportunities for friendly competition, companies may encourage others to get active and spark interest in the community. These gamified elements improve the consumer experience and strengthen their relationship with your business, ultimately leading to more loyalty.
9. Maintain Transparency
Nothing can ever beat the power of maintaining transparency. Being open and honest about your choices and actions helps you gain the trust of those you work with. Studies suggest that maintaining transparency increases your credibility. Make sure to keep your members informed, provide authentic insights, and justify any changes or decisions you intend to make.
Opening the feedback window with an open heart is another great strategy. By encouraging your members to provide feedback and acting upon their recommendations, you may let them know that you value their opinions when members see that their concerns are being addressed and carefully considered, their engagement and loyalty become stronger, ultimately resulting in a more exciting and healthy relationship.
10. Adapt to Technological Changes
Technology is developing without stopping daily, and companies need to keep running along to keep up with the pace. The newest tech developments demand companies to keep up with the latest technology. For example, platforms like Custom Travel Solutions keep an eagle eye on these technical advancements and jump on every necessary development into their travel solution.
Organizations can either build their own travel solutions for their members, which are likely difficult to maintain, or they can integrate with such solutions without any headaches.
Technologies like AI and machine learning may greatly increase members’ engagement and customization. By utilizing these technologies, businesses may assess vast amounts of data, predict customer preferences, and deliver personalized experiences that increase relationships and loyalty. Using these technologies may improve customer satisfaction and make your company stand out.
Implementing these tactics can help you develop a devoted member base that feels appreciated, involved, and in charge of their digital consumption.
Book a Demo with Custom Travel Solutions, or take some time to review our live demo.
