How a Membership App Supports Your Association’s Education Programs

Your association’s education programs are exactly what members need, but are they finding them? Here’s a solution: a mobile app that puts professional development opportunities into your members’ hands. A year-round membership app helps members become lifelong learners who see your association as essential to their career journey.

How a Membership App Increases Participation in Education Programs

Help members find information, networking, and professional development in one convenient mobile destination—their membership app.

📲 Capture member attention where they already are—on their phones

Members can tailor their newsfeed preferences, making it easy to showcase relevant courses and webinars:

• Articles related to the content of the course you’re pushing
• Success stories featuring the program’s impact on course alumni—encourage members to submit these stories in return for a promo credit

Display your own banner ads promoting upcoming education programs.

Use push notifications to alert members about:

• New programs that match their interests
• Enrollment deadlines for those programs
• Expiring discounts
• Certification renewal reminders

Schedule these notifications based on app usage habits. If members open the app at lunch or during commuting hours, take advantage of their attention by pushing out notifications then.

👩‍🎓 Make education program discovery effortless

Integrate the membership app with your learning management system (LMS) and encourage members to use the resource library’s search tool to find relevant programs. Copy Amazon’s playbook: offer course previews and sample materials in the resource library, just like Amazon’s first chapter previews.

With association management software (AMS) integration, you can deliver targeted program recommendations for different member segments based on their career stage, interests, and business size.

📚 Support learners throughout their journey

Use push notifications to welcome new learners. Link them to a special section on your website or in your LMS with success tips for online learners.

Build course-specific communities (discussion forums) where learners ask questions, exchange ideas, and complete assignments. Leave access open for course alumni and encourage them to help and connect with fellow members.

Deliver course materials via the app’s resource library. Use push notifications for assignment reminders.

Encourage learners to use the app directory and individual or group messaging features for conversations with each other and with instructors. Create group chats for cohort-based learning programs and study groups.

👥 Build peer communities that last

A membership app transforms isolated learners into connected professionals who support each other's growth. It helps them network with fellow learners and alums, exchange knowledge, and build relationships.

Use group segmentation to link learners in similar programs who would benefit from connecting with each other. Set up group segmentation and messaging for cohort program and credentialing study group participants.

📈 Maintain momentum after an education program ends

Take advantage of group segmentation to suggest next steps after program completion. Send these personalized recommendations via app messaging.

Showcase members' credentials in the member directory. When you integrate the app with your AMS, the credential designation will automatically show up in the app directory.

Send members instructions for displaying their new digital badge on LinkedIn and elsewhere.

Use group segmentation to create program alumni groups so learners can stay connected. Provide tips on why and how to keep in touch with fellow program ‘graduates.’

Share content in the news feed that reinforces how continuous learning makes a positive impact on a career or business. Share success stories that highlight the value of lifelong learning in members’ lives.

Use forums to let program alums share how they've applied their learning. Even if you start the conversation, you might have to nudge alums to contribute their stories.

🗓️ Keep certification holders engaged year-round

When a member completes a certification program, they feel accomplished for a few weeks, but then many of them disappear until the renewal deadline looms. A membership app helps reengage members who’ve gone dark after certification and prevents them from scrambling at renewal time.

Use push notifications to send reminder messages to certificants’ phones at specific intervals:

• 30 days post-certification with suggested next steps
• Quarterly progress checks
• Gentle reminders at appropriate intervals

In their newsfeed, feature relevant credit-bearing programs based on their certification type and interests.

Maintain a collection in the resource library of self-paced, credit-bearing content.

Host monthly learning challenges and discussions in your forums on trending topics.

Encourage members to set up a personal professional development plan, so they’re not cramming at the last minute. Store professional development planning templates in the resource library where members can map out next steps and track credits earned and needed.

Schedule automated messages asking, “How's your professional development plan going?” along with links to credit opportunities.

💸 Generate new revenue from education partnerships

Invite corporate members to sponsor education programs. They can help fund, design, and promote programs in which they have expertise.

Arrange for corporate partners to fund scholarships for recent graduates and early-career professionals who want to earn introductory microcredentials.

Offer splash screen promotions and banner ads to corporate partners.

Let industry partners sponsor educational resources (lead magnets) in the library, such as research reports, white papers, how-to guides, and checklists

📊 Use membership app analytics to improve education programs

Find out which communications drive the most registrations for each member segment. Measure program interest by tracking the banner ads generating the most user clicks.

Use app surveys or polls to collect real-time feedback on program satisfaction. Optimize communication timing and refine messaging by monitoring which push notifications drive the most app usage.

Assess topic interest by analyzing how members use their newsfeed customization. Track which materials in the resource library get accessed most.

📊 Break down silos and unite teams for maximum impact

Your association’s membership and education teams both want to see the app attract the attention and participation of members. Collaborate on marketing messages and coordinate communications so you’re not inundating members.

A membership app delivers education to the place members already spend time: on their phones. With Clowder's year-round engagement platform, every push notification, resource upload, or community interaction reinforces the value of continuous learning and keeps your association top-of-mind as your member’s trusted education partner.

Get more tips for using your membership app to connect with members in our Ultimate Guide to Mobile Engagement.