Before people are part of a team, club, or business, they are usually introduced with membership application forms. That document serves as the gate for them to be officially part of an organization. And if you were part of the organization that invites new members, you would know that first impressions matter. The message, design, format, and style should be as welcoming as possible from the membership application form itself. Because if you can connect interested applicants to your business, they will slowly be comfortable disclosing their identification details by writing in the form. So how can your company’s membership enrollment form be welcoming and well-planned? Find out below.
Generally, membership forms detail transaction information of an association or group. A membership application form helps in knowing and understanding who wants to be a member of the organization and motivating them to participate in the process. Expect such forms to ask questions related to the applicants’ identification. That way, companies already know who will qualify as new members. And at the same time, applicants expect something from the association after being a member, like receiving discounts, freebies, and special benefits.
According to the National Center for Charitable Statistics (NCCS), there were around 1.56 million IRS-registered nonprofits in 2015.
Also, approximately 25.1% of American adults volunteered back in 2017.
Meanwhile, Statista reported that the US gym and fitness centers had 60.87 million total members in 2017.
To identify and formally welcome new members is basically why membership application forms are important. Not acknowledging new people as members of the team only makes them want to back out. It is critical to know whoever joins the pack because a person’s background says a lot. Most importantly, everyone identified will be officially listed as one of the official members of an organization. Certain members might not receive what the business offers if they were not listed. So for formality’s sake and documentation purposes, members must fill out the forms.
Just like an enrollment form or registration form, the membership document is easy to use. Applicants already receive pre-formatted sheets, meaning they only have to fill in every blank in membership forms. It is better to have a template than let applicants write essays or guess what other information will be needed to write in the membership application. Since there are instructions and questions given in forms, applicants are guided on how to complete the application accordingly. More so, memberships work on many fields, may that be applying for training, gym, sports, class, or nonprofit group.
A membership registration form is more than just asking who is applying. Various elements make the form both informative and welcoming. And without such factors, the application form might not be called as such. So if you are wondering what makes a membership application form, we outlined a list of the document’s typical elements.
You already know the membership application form’s meaning, importance, and elements. Now, are you ready to make the form itself? It is not as hard as you might think. We have sample templates prepared for you. Instead of starting from the beginning, the membership sheet’s format, content, and design are already laid out in the template. Just fill in what is missing, and you are sure to finish in no time. And if your smart goal is to create a decent and excellent output for the membership application form, follow these steps:
Membership application forms must begin with introductory statements. Please show your appreciation by welcoming and thanking the applicant for his or her interest in joining the club. A warm or positive tone works well in this case. Be sure you stated what organization or membership the application is for to clarify. One example involves one of the most influential groups that gained many members every year—the nonprofit association. As reported by NCCS, 2015 alone had 1.56 million nonprofit organizations registered in the IRS. And about 25.1% of American adults volunteered in 2017. You can expect many members, for sure. So introduce which nonprofit group you are specifically, as many associations exist.
Can you still recall the elements of a membership application form, down from the names to references, as discussed earlier? Slowly insert them in the document. Also, define and describe each category or element. That way, applicants easily know which parts talk about the fees, subscription terms, etc. In short, detail what information you must collect. But do not just enumerate all elements without any flow. Organize the presentation. Arrange the details in the proper sequence to create a smooth flow.
Right from the get-go, you encourage participation. Inform by writing in the sheet about what are the promising benefits to expect once applicants officially become members of the association. This part helps applicants get excited, and it will clarify what they signed up for as well. So will the members experience hotel accommodations, special promos, and other freebies? Note them down and be specific. As much as possible, be honest. Maybe you created promises that would not happen, which is a scam. Whatever is being promised must be given to the members.
Do not forget that the templates for grabs are editable. Therefore, you can always customize each template. Be sure to explore the different features of what you can edit until you can beautify and enhance the form. And with its easy-to-use features, working is no longer a hassle. Your only concern is to finalize what your preferred format and design should be until they are established.
Is the membership form user-friendly? If yes, maintain it. Otherwise, you must change into versions that are much easier to work with. Remember that there must be a balance in getting as much information as possible while also letting applicants complete the form without getting tired. A tip is to put instructions as every applicant’s guide on how to complete the application effortlessly. More so, you may add tables, charts, and other organizers to simply the document.
Your brand already reflects in the form’s style and content. Thus, work hard in keeping the output clean, informative, organized, and welcoming. Otherwise, impressions received from applicants might be bad. There are still plenty of ways to enhance the presentation anyway, like adding better colors, clearer statements, and branding your logo. And the task is not over yet. Everything inputted by applicants will be yours. Thus, you get all the information that you must keep safe. Never lose such documents as they may be needed in certain matters.
There are plenty of ways to encourage more people to join your club or organization. And some ideas are the following:
Success differs for each organization. But generally, successful organizations have members who actively participate in completing the company goals and objectives. The same goes for organizations that earn more members, profit, and other rewarding effects.
Remember that aside from being a gateway to your association, membership application forms mark as the beginning of your relationship with the new members. Just like any relationship, learn to enrich it. Keep your promises by ensuring that what you will offer to the members will be offered eventually. And such relationships might not be enriched if introductions are off to a rough start—which explains why you should impress interested applicants right from the start with a promising membership application form.
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