Choosing an AMS for your organization can be difficult — there’s a lot of technology jargon involved and quite a few options for you to choose from. To make sure you find the AMS that best fits your organization, we’ve compiled a handy step-by-step guide.

1. Who’s involved? Which staff members will be using the product regularly? These people should be involved in the decision.

2. How long will it take? Define a timeline for evaluating, implementing and launching the new system. Be sure to take any upcoming events, membership drives or renewal periods.

3. What do you need? What, specifically, should the AMS address? Message boards, event registration, dues payment and renewal — consult with the organization’s adminsitrators to determine what your must-have and wish-list items are.

4. What can you afford? The right AMS can save you money in the long-term, and be sure to take into account the new revenue streams — such as sponsorship or job board revenue — a new AMS can provide.

5. Who’s out there? Learn about the different vendors and the products each one offers. Consult with ASAE for a vendor list or buyer’s guide, or just run an online search. Some keywords are “membership management software” or “association management software.”

6. Talk to the vendors. Reach out via phone or e-mail to different providers to discuss your needs and options.

7. See it in action. Most providers provide online demos so you can see the product for yourself. Be sure to include the people in your organization who will be using the software directly.

8. Ask the right questions. Some sample questions for each vendor:
- What is included in the setup?
- What does the implementation process entail, and how long does it take?
- Are product updates included or must you upgrade the software to receive updated features?
- How often is the product updated?
- What technical support and training is included and what are those charges?
- How secure and reliable is the software?
- What additional hardware or software is needed for installation?
- How many admin licenses are included?
- Who hosts the software?
- Who owns the data and website, the client or the vendor?
- What are the vendor’s terms of cancellation?
- If you’re looking at web design as part of the AMS solution, does the vendor use stock templates or is the website custom-designed?
- How does the vendor handle payment processing?

Regardless of whether MemberClicks is the right solution for your organization, we hope you take the time to ask each of these important questions and get the best possible service.