As the fall semester draws nearer, many club leaders are gearing up for a successful year. Whether you're a first-time club leader or a seasoned veteran, we've compiled a set of tested and proven steps, gathered from the experiences of successful club leaders, that you can follow to set your organization up for success this year.
Start Fostering Cordial Relationships Among the Executive Team:
Ideally, you should start having periodic meetings with your fellow club executives soon. These meetings will provide a great opportunity to get to know each other better and ensure everyone is clear on their roles and expectations. Plan icebreakers to help establish emotional safety within the team, making sure everyone feels free to be themselves. Trust us, since you're all volunteering for "extra work," you'll need plenty of this camaraderie.
Plan Your Calendar of Events:
Create a comprehensive roadmap for the year by scheduling all events, big and small. Although priorities might shift, having a baseline plan helps to keep the team proactive and ensures your goals are feasible.
Start Planning and Booking Spaces (If Your School Allows It)
From experience, a significant challenge in planning successful events is choosing the right venue. The location can greatly impact the outcome of an event, and selecting the right space involves more than just booking a room. Factors such as your target audience and event goals should guide your choice. It's a good strategy to identify these criteria early and secure bookings for spaces that best meet them as soon as possible.
Develop a Comprehensive Marketing Plan
The reality is, no matter how great your event is, if no one knows about it, no one will attend. Develop a robust plan that encompasses all communication channels—email, social media, group chats, flyers, word of mouth, and more—and maintain a consistent outreach strategy. Your marketing efforts are crucial in engaging members and maintaining your club's visibility.
Develop a Member Management and Finance Plan
Managing your members effectively is crucial yet often underestimated. A well-planned member management strategy simplifies enrollment, enhances engagement, improves retention, facilitates gamification, and optimizes fund sourcing. This summer, we're launching our platform designed to streamline all of these processes including others. Learn more and join our waitlist at Zation. People who join the waitlist before the launch will stand a chance to win free access to premium features in addition to other perks.
Stay tuned for more of our content. In the coming weeks, we'll be sharing case studies on campus clubs like yours that have achieved remarkable feats, offering valuable learning opportunities. Find us on LinkedIn and X, and make sure to follow us and comment with the name of your club and optionally your position to express interest in being featured, and we’ll be in touch. Clubs with more comments are more likely to be selected for our spotlight. Let's grow our clubs together!
Stay tuned for more of our content, in the coming weeks we will be posting case studies on campus clubs like yours that have achieved incredible fits. Do you have unique experiences or stories to share about your campus club? Find us on LinkedIn and X, and make sure to follow us and comment on any of our relevant posts with the name of your club and the positions you hold to signify interest in having your club featured. Clubs with more comments are more likely to get selected!
