Recruitment and retention are essential in creating and engaging your organization’s membership! As org leaders, it is imperative that you strategize ways to find members and ways to keep them coming back. Check out our tips and strategies below. If you’d like additional support, schedule an advising session to talk with a staff member about ideas and strategies.
Recruitment Strategies
1. Develop your organization’s leadership structure
- Define the leadership roles and agree on expectations and responsibilities for each board member.
- Ensure that everyone is on the same page of the direction and vision of the organization.
- Determine if a position or team will be responsible for recruitment efforts.
2. Set recruitment goals
- Establish a target number of members you want in your organization and a goal for when you want to accomplish this number.
- Every organization will have different target numbers, and that’s okay!
3. Make your values clear
- Create an elevator pitch for your organization and share it with prospective members.
- When recruiting new members, make your organization’s values clear to them.
4. Share your benefits
- Make students aware of the benefits of joining your organization, whether it’s networking, socials, community service, mentorship, professional development, industry connections, etc.
5. Use social media
- Build a social media presence within your organization by publishing appealing posts and engaging content.
- Follow other campus org’s social media accounts and encourage them to follow you back to expand your network on campus.
- Promote your organization on various platforms, including Instagram, Facebook, CampusGroups, TikTok, etc.
6. Think about your target audience
- Focus recruitment efforts on students with majors, interests, etc. that align with your org’s mission.
Retention Strategies
1. Schedule consistent meetings
- Try to keep club meetings at the same day, time, and place each quarter so your members can plan around your meetings.
- Be organized and efficient during meetings and ensure that the space is inclusive and welcoming to all members
2. Create a welcoming environment
- Many people tend to be shy when they first join a club, so make an effort to welcome new members, ask them for their name, and get to know them.
- You can have a board member/committee dedicated to welcoming new members.
3. Icebreakers and team-building activities
- Facilitate icebreakers/team building activities at org events and meetings to keep members engaged.
- Try to connect with members before and after meetings.
4. Hold social activities
- Host events separate from org meetings that serve as opportunities for members to socialize and engage.
- Attempt to organize socials that are accessible to all members.
5. Mentorship/ buddy program/ “family” system
- Help create individualized connections that make members feel more comfortable by implementing systems where returning members can connect with new members
6. Social media highlights
- Maintain communication with members through various platforms.
- Use platform features to post polls, bingo cards, member highlights, event recaps, etc.
- This helps members feel valued and appreciated.
Social Media
- Assign a social media account manager & create schedule for posting
- Utilize the highlights tool on instagram to store updates & info
- Repost events on your page and story; help other orgs by re-posting their events
- Keep a linktree in your bio to hold the most important links for your organization
- Always be alert with your direct messages, and try to respond to any and all messages as soon as possible
- Ideas: Member of the Month Spotlight, Story Templates, Board Member Takeover, etc.)
- Graphic Design Tools: Canva (free account)