Member Engagement & Retention

Online communities are an integral part of any cohesive membership organisation. An active community expands reach to prospects, invokes a sense of belonging in existing members, and can even make USPs all the more compelling. In a recent podcast, discussion of the 90-9-1 rule highlighted a major challenge of online communities. The majority of [...]

The thought of visiting the local Blockbuster store with your membership card in hand, brings a warming sense of nostalgia for an 80s child like me.  But what’s the story behind the demise of this iconic membership business? In its prime in 2004, Blockbuster boasted 9,000 stores worldwide, with revenues of $6 billion and [...]

The landscape of membership is changing. Retention is tough, and attracting new members is even tougher. Simply offering benefits no longer guarantees loyalty or success. According to the 2024 MemberWise Digital Excellence Report, around 34% of membership organisations have seen a decline in membership numbers over the last year. On top of this, over [...]

Introduction We’re always talking about the ‘ongoing loop of value and engagement’ - but what does that actually mean? It’s a simple idea: your members give, and they get. They contribute their time, ideas, and energy – and in return, they receive valuable resources, recognition and that all-important sense of belonging. But here’s the [...]

Trust means a lot more to your members than you might think. Loyal members spend 67% more than new members, and they are much more forgiving when things do go wrong every now and then. That is trust in action. However, some membership organisations still prefer working behind closed doors, leaving members to guess [...]

In today’s digital-first world, member engagement isn’t just a buzzword – it’s the foundation for thriving, resilient membership organisations. That’s why at Cantarus, we’re helping organisations transform their digital journeys with data and optimisation tools. These combined with a CMS platform enables organisations to turn visitors into loyal members, by combining real-time data with [...]

From streaming platforms and meal kits to Spotify and Netflix, monthly recurring payments are piling up. Members already juggling multiple subscriptions may start questioning whether they can justify one more. As a result, associations and membership bodies risk being viewed as just another expense to cut. In the UK, the average annual retention rate [...]

Creating the Perfect Membership Pack in 2025: Engaging, Valuable, and On-Brand Membership packs remain a crucial tool in building engagement, loyalty, and a sense of belonging. Discussions around digital vs physical have been bubbling along for a little while, as you can see from the MemberWise discussion boards. But in a world of digital [...]

Few things are as subjective as member experience. The margin for error can be paper-thin to non-existent. You might be delivering fantastic value, celebrating record renewal rates and shipping off regular newsletters. All is right as rain—or so you think. But what if there’s a gap between your internal assumptions and the reality your [...]

LinkedIn has long been seen as the professional social network — and for good reason. With over 1 billion members worldwide and a strong emphasis on career development, sector insight, and B2B networking, it’s no surprise that many membership organisations see LinkedIn as their digital home. But while LinkedIn remains a key channel for [...]