5 Ways Associations Can Maximise Digital Real Estate
24 April 2025In today's digital-first world, membership organisations and associations need to adapt to meet the evolving expectations of their members. As technology continues to transform how we connect, work, and communicate, associations must ask themselves: how can we make the most of the digital spaces where our members interact?
Enter the concept of digital real estate—the online spaces, tools, and platforms where your members engage with your content, community, and services. Just like real-world real estate, the value of digital real estate lies in its potential to build community, drive engagement, and enhance member experience.
Here are five ways associations can maximise their digital real estate and create a more engaging, valuable experience for their members:
1. Create Personalised Member Experiences
In the digital era, members expect content and interactions tailored to their specific needs and interests. Personalisation is no longer just a nice-to-have feature; it's an expectation. Associations can maximise digital real estate by offering personalised member experiences that make each person feel valued and engaged.
How to do it:
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Use member data to provide personalised content, such as articles, event recommendations, and networking opportunities.
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Offer customised notifications and updates, keeping members informed about topics that interest them most.
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Create dynamic member profiles that enable members to showcase their expertise and interests, making it easier for others to connect with them.
By offering a personalised experience, associations can deepen their relationship with members, improving satisfaction and retention.
2. Turn Your Platform into a Daily Destination
One of the biggest challenges for associations is keeping members engaged beyond annual events or newsletters. By turning your digital real estate into a place members visit regularly, associations can encourage daily interactions that foster a deeper connection to the community.
How to do it:
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Develop daily or weekly content updates that keep members coming back, such as news, blog posts, industry updates, or discussion prompts.
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Introduce gamification elements, like badges or rewards, to motivate members to engage more frequently.
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Enable push notifications to remind members of key updates, discussions, or events that are relevant to their interests.
These consistent interactions help associations remain top-of-mind, turning their platform into a trusted resource that members engage with daily.
3. Build and Foster Community
Digital real estate isn’t just about content—it’s about creating community. By using digital platforms to bring members together, associations can encourage discussions, facilitate networking, and spark collaboration among like-minded professionals.
How to do it:
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Create dedicated spaces for member-led discussions, such as forums or interest-based groups.
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Use social features, like commenting, liking, and sharing, to facilitate interaction between members.
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Host regular online events, webinars, and live chats that allow members to connect in real-time.
Fostering a sense of community is vital to membership retention. The more connected your members feel, the more likely they are to remain active and involved.
4. Encourage Collaboration and Knowledge Sharing
A key benefit of digital platforms is their ability to facilitate collaboration among members. In today’s fast-paced world, access to shared knowledge and resources is crucial for success. Associations can maximise digital real estate by providing tools that make collaboration easy and seamless.
How to do it:
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Provide document-sharing capabilities where members can upload, download, and discuss industry papers, reports, and best practices.
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Create collaborative spaces, like project management tools or shared calendars, that allow members to work together on initiatives or events.
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Use digital platforms to host idea-generation sessions or crowdsource solutions to industry challenges.
Encouraging collaboration strengthens the bond between members and helps create an environment of shared learning and innovation.
5. Drive Member Engagement with Continuous Communication
Staying top of mind with members requires consistent, targeted communication. By utilising your digital real estate for ongoing interaction, associations can keep members engaged and excited about what’s to come.
How to do it:
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Use email marketing and in-app notifications to keep members updated on important news, events, and opportunities.
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Share member-exclusive content and perks that remind them of the value their membership brings.
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Enable direct messaging between members and association leaders to foster open communication and trust.
With consistent, relevant communication, associations can deepen member engagement and ensure they are always connected with their community.
How Aevus Can Help
There is a lot that membership organisations can do to engage their communities and maximise their digital real estate. From personalising experiences to fostering collaboration, the possibilities are endless. However, with so many options and tools available, it can be overwhelming to know where to even begin. How can you ensure that your digital platform truly becomes a hub for member engagement?
Enter the mobile app we’ve created at Aevus. Designed specifically with associations in mind, our app helps organisations turn their digital real estate into a daily destination for members. With the ability to personalise content, drive communication, and foster collaboration, the Aevus mobile app makes it easier for associations to take full advantage of their digital spaces.
By providing real-time updates, community discussions, networking opportunities, and in-app notifications, our mobile app helps keep members engaged and connected, ensuring that they’re consistently interacting with your content and community. It’s the perfect tool to build stronger member relationships, increase engagement, and create a sense of belonging.
If you're ready to elevate your digital platform and turn it into a daily destination for your members, Let’s talk.
Book a personalised demo to learn more about how our mobile app can help your association build a thriving, engaged membership community.
Or get in touch with our team to start a conversation about what’s next for your organisation. +44 (0) 1745 828419
