Every once in awhile, I stumble upon some new technology or software and think, “That is so PERFECT for associations!” I’ve got two to highlight today: TextMarks and Phonebooth.

It’s no secret that people’s use of mobile phones is constantly increasing, and important messages can be passed via text messaging (or SMS). Mass donations can even be accepted via text message, as we saw during the aftermath of the earthquake in Haiti.

TextMarks is a service that makes it easy to set up marketing campaigns through text messages. An administrator chooses a word (or even acronym) to be your “textmark.” Members then can subscribe by texting that word to 41411. Once members subscribe to your service, they’ll receive any updates you choose to send out via text message.

TextMarks works with tons of providers in the U.S. (check out the list) and doesn’t charge users any extra for receiving a text message (standard rates do apply). If you want to use the service for free, your messages to subscribers will contain ads. Ad-free plans start out at $9.95 per month, which is a fairly cheap way to get your messages out en masse.

With all the talk about mobile in the association community and the need for associations to embrace different marketing platforms, TextMarks could be a great option if you’re interested in starting a mobile campaign. Your association could send reminders about event registrations or volunteer opportunities, or any short announcements. (I’d definitely recommend not abusing the service though – no one needs spam sent to their cell phone!)

The second service also deals with communication: your phone system. If you’re a smaller organization and are in need of a phone system that won’t break the bank, take a look at PhoneBooth, an alternative to Google Voice.

There is both a free and a paid service, and the free one is pretty comprehensive. You get a local number with up to five extensions, call forwarding to multiple sources, voicemail with transcription and the ability to get users connect with you from the Web – all for free! (Two-hundred in-bound minutes are included, and each additional minute is 6 cents.)

If you need more options, such as the ability to handle conference calls, Phonebooth OnDemand is $20 per month and unlimited local and long-distance calls on the Phonebooth.com nationwide network and support for HP VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) and IP phones.

One downside to Phonebooth Free is that masking services aren’t available, so your outbound calls will still appear on Caller IDs as the number you’re actually calling from, rather than your Phonebooth number. But, if you need an easy to route calls and don’t need too many extensions, Phonebooth could be a really great option.

Does your association use text messages in its marketing plan? What kind of phone system do you use? Would you ever consider using an Internet service, such as Google Voice or Phonebooth?

Image credits: One, Two

When you survey members to gauge their satisfaction with their memberships, do you ask them to rate programs and services in terms of “usefulness” and “criticalness?”

Rather than striving stay relevant in this fast-paced society, aim higher. Be indispensable.

There’s a reason there’s an association for everything. Each one is designed to meet the needs of a special audience. Those of us at MemberClicks are reminded of this every day, as we serve many small-staff organizations specifically tailored toward their members’ unique needs.

It’s vital for association staffers to remember that there is no such thing as a typical member, so stop trying to cater your organization’s programs to fit an “average perception.” Don’t be average. Be extraordinary.

Even though members’ expectations can vary depending on their situations, it’s still possible to incite passion and commitment among them.

Does your mission statement reflect what makes your members special?

Does your communication drive the entire association?

Do the staff’s actions  create value “both within the marketplace and within an organization?”

Do you have a grander vision for your association?

Offer programs and services intrinsic to your members’ wellbeing. And don’t be afraid to get rid of programs that are highly rated as “useless.”

Just because your association has a high renewal rate doesn’t mean nothing should change within the organization. Make every effort to form a genuine sense and commitment toward indispensability.

Everyone in your organization should know how to best present the mission and energize members, volunteers and board members.

Once your team has a clear vision of the association’s mission, they will be able to more effectively demonstrate how and why the organization is irreplaceable in its members’ lives, which should be the all-encompassing goal.

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I came across this video late last week and made a mental note to share it with you guys here. Every once in awhile, a designer or blogger puts together a video with stats on the state of the Internet, and this is the latest one. There’s some incredible info here!

JESS3 / The State of The Internet from Jesse Thomas on Vimeo.

Still think the Internet isn’t revolutionizing the way we communicate? Your members need your organization’s voice online!

Every time I visit New York, I try to walk, walk, walk everywhere. It’s my preferred way to navigate through the city. Sometimes, though, it’s necessary to take mass transit Now, I’m pretty familiar with the city, so rather than spending $8 on a cab ride whenever I wanted to travel, I just took the subway.

To a first-time subway-user, this map can be extremely confusing. New York is a unique city because it’s divided into five different boroughs, each with several unique neighborhoods. The subway is by far the most effective way to get around, but I’ve seen countless tourists staring at this map, bewildered.

However, it can be deciphered and understood, and people (tourists and locals alike) can travel between different neighborhoods and boroughs.

Imagine each neighborhood in Manhattan is a silo or department in your association. (I hope there aren’t that many, but bear with me.) Is there a clear road map for members, staffers and board members to help them navigate through it? How transparent is your association’s all-consuming “policy?” And how long does it take for people to digest and understand?

Sure, the Metro Transit Authority isn’t perfect (I used to accidentally end up on the wrong train occasionally, and some lines are mysteriously closed on the weekends), but it’s transparent and easy to understand. If your association’s map or policy is this intricate, is there a way to simplify it for those who may not be familiar?

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I was catching up on some video posts last weekend and this morning, and thought I’d compile them in one post here for our readers.

January was Governance Month at ASAE and The Center, as well as its Acronym blog, and they posted a few video interviews with association CEOs about having those “crucial conversations” with your board.

Mike Grubb, CEO of the Southern Gas Association, talks about building a stronger relationship with his board.

John Saunders, executive director of the National Forum for Black Public Administrators, chats with ASAE about confronting a board member about an ethical issue — a topic we all know can be tricky!

Finally, Tonya Howe Johnson discusses how best to introduce a difficult concept to your board. Key takeaway here: Make sure to position it as a professional idea, not one you have a personal interest in.

Communication is such a crucial factor in your relations with the board — don’t underestimate the power of an honest conversation.

All videos courtesy of ASAE and The Center’s YouTube channel; I’m just sharing the love! Feel free to share any videos (association-related or not) in the comments!