The Power of Person-to-Person Relationships

Nearly everybody agrees that members are the most valuable asset to any association. Without members, an association would likely have no reason to exist. But at Inalink, we never lose sight of the fact that members are people first – not just numbers or sources of revenue. We know of no more successful and cost-effective way to gain the trust, loyalty and participation of members than by connecting with them as highly educated and accomplished individuals and valued members. We know because we experience it.

Every day at Inalink, we make hundreds of real connections by phone. Once a connection is made and trust is established, loyalty and participation follow naturally.

Direct mail, web sites, advertising, publications – all have their place in your member relations program. But nothing can take the place of a natural, informed and personal conversation. It's the turning point in the line of every positive member communication.

Inalink uses the power of personal conversations to genuinely assist its clients' members. We take great care and pride in knowing that we treat each member as though they were the single most important member of the organization. Very simply, our one-to-one phone-based approach translates into big and positive differences for our association clients.

Why phone-based member contact? (Not telemarketing)

No amount of fancy marketing or cutting-edge technology can replace a one-on-one, warm and friendly conversation. Mail can be ignored or thrown away; websites require your member to punch in a URL. Even the best marketing programs are only successful if the person you're trying to reach takes the initiative. What association can afford to depend on that?

Imagine instead that your member has a meaningful, person-to-person conversation that informs and naturally prompts them to act – perhaps to attend a conference or to renew membership. If your members are similar to those that we talk to everyday, the outcome of these conversations is virtually predictable. Your members will attend your conference, and they will renew their lapsed membership. The personal connection makes the difference. But not just any personal connection will do.

Why We Aren't Telemarketers

Inalink wouldn't dream of thinking of your members as tick marks on a call sheet, or the next pop-up name on a computer screen. Think about how you feel when you get a call from a telemarketer – rushing through a script, can't get your name right for the fifth time, anxious to make commission, badgering you into something you don't want to do – frustrating, isn't it? We're much more sophisticated than that!

You can think of Inalink's representatives as your virtual employees. Each of us is an expert communicator, and all of us combined have the research, interpersonal, sales and service skills to successfully and professionally facilitate the long-term or project-specific needs of your organization, large or small. We don't use scripts. We don't have fancy sales pitches or commissions or quotas either. If we say "we called your member," we didn't just reach that person's secretary or leave a voice mail. We mean we actually spoke with your member.  When your members have comments or concerns, we let you know what they've said in our easy-to-read reports. And if their concern is urgent, we let you know as soon as we finish speaking with them.

The Inalink Touch

We always take the extra steps to leave your members with the warm and fuzzy feeling that you value them enough as a member to make the effort to contact them personally. With us, your members will never feel that they are just a member ID or an annual dues amount; they will know they play a central role in your association. We let them know that their feedback and continued membership is important and plays a significant role in the success of their organization. In turn, they feel that your goal as an association is to maintain happy, satisfied and informed members.