Even if I don’t always incorporate the tips or applications into my life, I enjoy learning about how others keep themselves focused. You can never have too many ideas! I figured I would share some great apps with our readers!

1. F.lux: Designed to change the lighting on your computer screen according to the time of day. Your computer screen will look warm at night and bluer during the day. The big perk for me is that it could possibly help you sleep better. We all know we should power down an hour or two before we hit the sack, but how many of us are guilty of using our laptops, tablets or smartphones in bed? (Yep, I’m raising my hand too.)

2. Dropbox: I already use Dropbox and I can vouch for how great it is. I prefer to work on my personal MacBook, so to keep my work files from taking up space on my hard drive, I can just store them in my Dropbox folder and access them from anywhere. This came in handy when my MacBook had to be shipped off for a few weeks to get the display fixed. All of my work files were easily accessed from my loaner laptop.

3. Lastpass: I will definitely be downloading this one asap. Obviously it’s extremely important to have unique passwords with numbers and special characters, but it can be so difficult to remember each and every one of them! Lastpass is a password management system that can be accessed from any computer as long as you provide one ultra-secure and hard-to-crack password. It will remember every other password, credit card info, etc. So useful!

4. KeyText: If you’re constantly typing the same phrases, addresses, boilerplates, what-have-you, KeyText is for you. Just enter a few keystrokes and the corresponding common phrase will be automatically inserted into whatever you’re typing. This is Windows-only, but TextExpander is a similar Mac app.

What are some of your favorite apps to help you stay productive?

Happy Friday! What’s everyone doing for the Super Bowl? Will you be watching the commercials, the game or both – or neither? I’m excited for a football-themed road race Sunday morning, brunch with friends and then cheering on my team in the game that night! Even if you’re not a football enthusiast, I hope your weekend will be spent happily, with friends and family.

Before you start loading up on queso and buffalo chicken dip this weekend (or is that just me?), don’t miss five of our fave association blog posts from this week. Share your own favorites in the comments!

1. Aaron Wolowiec writes about a topic near and dear to my heart: millennials. The oldest baby boomers turn 65 this year, and  Aaron asks if millennials are willing to step up and lead associations. Yes, this younger (and large!) generation wants to make a difference in the world, but Aaron asks if they are interested in the “generalist lifestyle,” or if they want to become experts in one particular field instead.

2. Is your association’s member recruitment strategy effective? Erik D. Schonher shares a great list of how you can structure a well-designed membership recruitment strategy. Our favorite? Keep in mind that an initial investment today, even if it incurs a loss in present day dollars, if done correctly can acquire essential knowledge to refine future acquisitions and set the stage for long-term organizational growth.

3. Google’s attempt at a Facebook and/or Twitter replacement can no longer be ignored by association professionals – no matter how small your association. Deirdre Reid provides info on Google’s new algorithm and how not being on Google+ can negatively affect where you appear in search results. Is your small staff on Google+?

4. If you’re into technology for associations and not reading Wes Trochlil’s blog, you should absolutely add it to your reading list. His post this week on parallel processing included great, practical info. Wes says he always advises his clients to not engage in parallel processing, and explains why here.

5. David M. Patt advises association professionals that, while social media isn’t a silver bullet, it’s still a great tool. Social media adds to the marketing mix, it doesn’t replace everything in it, David writes. Wise words to remember when so many sources are proclaiming that social media is the be-all, end-all of marketing.

Your organization’s data can be extremely powerful if you know how to properly harness it. Be sure you’re only keeping track of fields and guidelines you actually need. Not only create, but also executive data integrity reports. Formal trainingis absolutely necessary to be sure your organization knows how to properly use its database.

For training purposes, create a test environment. Many association management software companies will do this if they offer implementation and training. Additionally, integrating your AMS with your e-mail client (such as Outlook) can be extremely beneficial and save you a lot of time. Create one “source of truth” for your organization by eliminating shadow systems and redundant databases. Having to sort through duplicate information will only lead to frustration, and if you’re a small staff association professional, you need your AMS to save you time, not create more headaches.

Many organizations find it useful to track all volunteer activity — even non-financial and non-volunteer activity and interactions. You can use your “Notes” field to track all of your interactions with individuals, whether on a formal volunteer basis or not.

Be sure to properly utilize the tags feature. If you tag everything by topic, you should have little to no trouble finding data at a later date. By setting realistic benchmarks for data accuracy (such as performing an integrity report at regular intervals), you will ensure that your database continues to be as powerful as possible. It truly can be the backbone of your organization, if you’ll let it.

One major thing that stuck with Elyse was “Pursue success, not perception.” A database can be deceptively organized and almost tidy-looking, but if you can’t find information easily, or if you’re not tracking the right things, it can be a huge mess and a lot to sort through. And as a small staff association professional, you need your database to save you time, money and frustration.

Good afternoon and happy Thursday! In anticipation of the weekend, we’d like to share a few new presentations and slideshows courtesy of Slideshare. Let us know what you think!

One of the greatest things about using an Association Management System (AMS) is the built-in support system. Most vendors offer training webinars, videos, documentation and even on-site visits to help you become more familiar with their technology. Your organization’s staff  should make it a priority to be as knowledgeable about your chosen Web solution as possible. Devote a specific amount of time to initial training, and down the road, you may not need as much support.

We think it’s vital to choose a Web solution that includes as much support and training as possible. We’ve got free webinars, an IDEAS forum, training videos and on-site training options to help your organization make the most of your membership management software.

No matter which AMS is right for your association, though, take into account the amount of included support when making your selection. It’s true that many AMS vendors have “best practices” for associations (such as recurring events or a career center) already build into the product, but it can be tricky to sort out exactly which ones are best suited for your organization. A dedicated support staff can help you during the early stages, and it’s wise to take advantage of the help.

A great Web presence can make your members more engaged and your organization more competitive. And the right technology choice can help you save time and money in the long run, allow you to put the focus back where it belongs — on your members.