Working with “Outside” Partners

Transcript:
Hi guys, it’s Jackie Bessette from The Moery Company!
It wasn’t that long ago that I sat on the association side of things and this meant that I really understood the feeling of, “How can we have an outside group come in and help us with our programs, whether it’s strategic planning, memberships, or sponsorships? They don’t work with our members, with our industry, or under our mission day in and day out.”
When you’re the ones doing those jobs, you’re the ones who know the industry the best! So, it feels strange to use outsiders, they don’t feel like a good match. But, after I’ve come to work on the sales and consulting side of things, what I’ve come to understand is that when we decide to partner together there’s a period of time where you all guide us through the association. We’re looking at the mission, we’re looking at your events calendar. We’re looking at standard activities and what that looks like both for you all and the members and potential member experience. We’re talking about the members. We’re talking about the industry. We’re learning the profiles of potential members, potential sponsors, or current sponsors. Often, we’re spending a lot of time talking about what a deal looks like, how we would get there, and how we can work with you all to take steps in that direction. After that part of exercise is done, we’re all really clear on how our support, and working with you all, ultimately supports the mission of the association. What we all want to accomplish, right?
So, suddenly, when we go out to do those sales efforts or the sponsorship program updates, we’re helping you all get closer to the goals and the mission of the association because we spent so much time learning and defining it. Take a look at a sponsorship program, for instance. If we worked with you to elevate that, we’re helping to identify opportunities that are important for sponsors to attract new options and new companies and new engagement while also helping you all to get sponsors that support and enhance an event. Suddenly, we have this great partnership that’s covering more expenses for the association allowing you all to make a better event experience. Which isn’t that the best support for the mission?
If you’d like to learn more, or ask some questions about how we might be able to partner well with you, email me at Jackie@MoeryCompany.com, I’d love to hear from you and I’d love to talk about this more.
Thanks so much and I’m looking forward to hearing from you!