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Chapter Idea Exchange Call: Recruitment & Retention Robin Kite, Director, Chapter Services Mike McGough, VP, Marketing & Membership Dave Meisner, Manager, Membership Dev. & Web Content February 14, 2008 4:00 – 5:00 p.m. E.T. Dial-in number: 1.800.605.5167 – Pass code - 341953 Membership Marketing • Who members are, what they want • Marketing basics, implementation – – – – Direct mail E-mail Offers Lists • Retention • Developing a chapter plan 2 Years of IR Experience Corporate Background 5 and Under = 39% Corporate 6-9 Years = 26.5% 10+ Years = 34% Finance: 49% Corporate Corp/Comm: 34% Mktg/Sales: 16% Years of IR Experience Background Counselor Counselor 5 and Under = 8.5% Finance: 26% 6-9 Years = 16.9% Corp/Comm: 57% 10+ Years = 74.5% Mktg/Sales: 17% Corporate = 74% of membership Counselors = 14% Service Provider = 9% 3 NIRI Member Tenure Years in NIRI Corporate Counselor Service Prov. Less than 1 year 10% 6% 10% 1 – 2 years 26% 14% 30% 3 – 5 years 27% 21% 27% 6 – 9 years 23% 24% 21% 10 + years 14% 35% 12% 4 NIRI Member Survey 2007 • Resources members value in NIRI: – – – – News and information on the IR field Networking with IR Officers Standards of practice/regulatory guidelines Education and professional development 5 Important Issues to Members (2007) • • • • • • • • • • • SEC actions and investigations Regulation FD Greater sophistication in finance and communication Establishing, maintaining, valuing the IR function w/senior mgmt, boards, & the Street Earnings guidance Hedge Funds Targeting/stock surveillance/shareholder ID Change in 13F filing rules Changes in market structure Investor trust Executive compensation 6 Background/Research • Review your chapter surveys, research, and background information – Why members join, what do they value: • • • • Education? Networking? Prestige? Current IR information? – Who they are: • Special areas of need – Industry-specific IR information – Area issues – Other needs 7 Membership Marketing Basics • • • Develop a unique selling proposition for your chapter and NIRI – The premier organization for IR professionals in (your city) – The best networking, education, IR information Come up with your own personal story about how NIRI has enhanced your career – Personal viewpoints are compelling What’s In It For Me (WIIFM) – remember to target the three “hot buttons” that contributes to a member’s investment of time – Professional development – Contributing to the greater good – Sense of belonging 8 Implementation • Use multiple channels of communication – E-mail, direct mail, phone, in-person • Avoid faxing to prospects, anti-fax laws – faxing to current members is fine • Personalize all messages with names – “Dear Jane Sample” or “Dear Ms. Sample” – Not “Dear Prospect” or “Dear Professional” etc. • Use one to one marketing, a personal invitation to join with sender’s name and contact information 9 Direct mail • Aim for the look and feel of professional business correspondence – Chapter letterhead and envelopes – No envelope teasers or messages • Avoid a “junk mail” look – Keep letter copy brief, one page (one side) • Personalized to target audience, such as CFO’s or Communications professionals – Use a P.S. at the end – people do read these, if nothing else – Consistent fonts and type size • Use limited bolding or underlining for emphasis 10 E-mail Recruitment • Tuesday is best, then Thursday and Wednesday – Avoid the weekend and late at night (spam filters are on high alert) • Messages: keep brief, reduce scrolling • Double check links, phone #’s for correctness • To get around spam filters, avoid: – All caps in words – Multiple exclamation points – Frequent use of the word “free” 11 Offers • Give the prospective member something extra – Free chapter meeting or event • Free lunch meeting certificate – Publications – Percent-off coupon for seminars – Use a deadline for the offer to create a sense of urgency • “reply by…” 12 Recruitment Lists • Lists from NIRI National – Hoovers database and other prospect lists: request from Dave Meisner at NIRI, [email protected] • Chapter prospect database – If you don’t have one, develop a list • Lapsed member lists available from NIRI – Robin includes these in your monthly report packages each month • Google, Hoovers IR alerts or listings – Set up alerts to go to your e-mail based on key words • Scan Business publications (local and national) • Be sure to eliminate members from lists 13 Retention • Retention programs – Engage new members • • • • Welcome phone call Letter and e-mail with upcoming events New member orientation meeting Ask them to host an event, find a speaker, lead a meeting – Outreach to lapsing members • Lists available from NIRI – Phone calls or e-mail about upcoming events 14 Developing a Chapter Recruitment Plan • Organize a team – – Include a variety of members Distribute work load and responsibilities • Develop a plan – Written plan for recruitment and retention • Set goals • Outreach – Direct mail, e-mail, phone, in-person 15 Recruitment Ideas • Invite prospects to regular events, not just a nonmember reception – Hot IR topic will be compelling • Create programs that interest senior management – Prospects can bring ideas back to “C-Suite” – CEO, CFO, or COO 16 Recruitment Ideas (cont’d) • Staff the registration table with board members, showcase your leaders • Match members with prospects from the same industry or exchange • Place meeting notices in local publications – Calendar of business meetings • Major daily and local business pubs • Make placements on-line • Match veteran members from visible companies with non-member prospects 17 Chapter successes • More Ideas – Additional tips can be found in the Chapter Officers’ Only Section at http://www.niri.org/mem_service_area/officers/index.cfm • Questions • Thoughts 18