Digital Excellence Report 2026/27: Building Belonging – The Role of Online Member Communities

Online member communities continue to grow in importance, with clear evidence of their impact on engagement, value and retention. This session focuses on how membership bodies are using online communities, why paid-for platforms are increasingly preferred, and how communities fit within the wider digital ecosystem.

This webcast will highlight relevant insights from the Digital Excellence 2026/27 Survey Report, drawing on data and commentary from over 400 sector professionals.

The session will focus specifically on adoption trends, perceived benefits and emerging approaches to online member communities.

The full report will be available from 24 February at: https://memberwise.org.uk/dx/

Learning objectives

• Understand adoption trends in online member communities
• Explore the tangible benefits communities deliver to members
• Learn why free platforms are declining in favour
• Identify where communities add the most strategic value

Speaker: Richard Gott, Founder & Chair, MemberWise Network