SEPTEMBER 2009
New NMTA website launch provides platform for better communication

Recently I have been thinking of the NMTA as a radio station – KNMTA perhaps.  We are broadcasting 24-hours a day to our members with a newsletter, letters, faxes, email, phone calls, exhibitor updates, committee meetings and web pages.  Unfortunately associations don’t have a rating service like Arbitron that radio stations do to measure how many people are listening.  In the end we rely on our renewals, event sign-ups and member feedback to measure how we are communicating.  Our events are well attended, our renewal rate is always at the high end of normal for a member organization, and our websites receive strong, consistent traffic.  I think we are doing a good job, but I know we can do a better.

On September 1, the NMTA website (www.NMTA.net) received a major update.  John Thorburn, Director of Communications & Marketing, has studied our website traffic and knows what are the most used features of the website are and has designed the site to make all these features easier and faster to use.  Member Search, Boat Sales Data, and Association News are the three most used features.  A new feature to the website, and one I would like to see used often, is the NMTA Event Calendar.  We have eight open committees that meet regularly, most monthly – Boatyard, Fish, Government Affairs, Golf, Grow Boating, Marina, Marine Technicians, and Political Action Committee.  I encourage you to check out the new site take a look at the calendar and get involved.   A friend of mine likes to say “Get involved...the world is run by those who show up.”  In addition to the website update, you’ll see NMTA is connected to the latest social networking tools such as Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. Not only do these tools allow you to connect with NMTA services and staff, but they provide you with the latest methods to connect with your peers and other industry professionals. Finally, we’ve launched a new Association Updates blog that will appear on the NMTA website homepage. This will be the most current resource for NMTA news and information and it will be updated regularly.

Some members think we over communicate – too many mailings and too much email.  Whenever we can, we try to target our communications to specific segments of the membership.  Last week we contacted only boat dealers about our Floor Plan Financing Task Force; earlier in the month, only boatyard members were contacted about the status of the new stormwater permit about to be issued by the Department of Ecology; and last week every member was contacted about our annual Golf Tournament on September 24.  The risk of over communicating is that our email messages are deleted without being read or our letters are recycled without being opened.  Our member database relies on you taking the time to make sure your contact information and business information is correct. We do this formally twice a year: In June during our member renewals, and again in November.  If you would like to double-check your contact information go to www.nmta.net and find your company in the member search.  If you would like to update your contact information please contact Katie Groseclose, Membership Assistant, katie@nmta.net.

I’d like to know what you think about our communication with you – too much, too little or just about right?  Please contact me directly by email george@nmta.net or by phone 206-634-0911.

Sincerely,

George Harris
President
george@nmta.net