AMA: I’m beginning to see the problem
After some fun in-person events, I recently joined the American Marketing Association. Rather than complain from the outside about how traditional marketers aren’t "getting it", I figured I’d help change from within.
I’ve been an AMA member for a month or two now and already have to raise a red flag. Since my induction into the group, I’ve been subscribed to the AMA mailing list, and in that time I’ve gotten scores of emails. I’m getting at least two a week, each yelling to me about how I have to hurry and sign up for whatever upcoming event they have planned, or face eternal doom.
I’ve yet to get a call or a personal email from anyone in the group, yet I’ve gotten no less than 45 emails in a matter of weeks. I’m unsubscribing as quickly as possible. That’s some fantastic marketing from the folks who are supposed to represent the best and brightest of the marketing industry.
UPDATE: To clarify a bit … there is really two AMAs - the local chapter and the uber-organization. The local chapter had originally emailed me a personal introduction. My beef is with the uber-organization.
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3 Responses to “AMA: I’m beginning to see the problem”
Jim, I just updated the post to reflect some details I left out - namely that my beef is with the larger AMA organization. On a local level, you’re right - if I want to see things change, I’d better get to work!
Jake
What’s interesting to me is the difference in responses between the local group and the uber-nationals. It unfortunately seems to fit the stereotype of big corporate too much - the local, passionate guys are doing what they can, and the big headquarters folks are near clueless, expecting you to be impressed with them and respond to how they do things. And of course, the irony of it being a Marketing Association is beyond entertaining.
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Hi Jake:
Thanks for the heads-up on what the AMA -in my case, the Dallas-Fort Worth Chapter, is or is not doing per your comments. While I do not condone the array of emails you’re receiving and I doubt they’re just from the local chapter, the association knows how critical it is to get a new member engaged with the chapter on a personal level. Generally, if an association member does not participate in an event within the first 90 days of being a new member they become far less likely to attend an event thereafter and get the true value of the organization.
That said, 100% volunteer groups, like the DFW AMA, rely on the time, talent and commitment of members to follow through on their stated chapter role, especially in the membership area. But like all of us, being a volunteer takes a back seat to family, work and life in general, so if there is a delay or lag in personally reaching out to each new member that joins the DFW AMA, I’m sorry no one has reached out to you - yet.
I can assure you that as president of the local DFW AMA Chapter that I will do a better job of making sure that we try and “connect” with you, and other new members on a personal level. Second, if you’re getting blasted by AMA emails, especially from the national offices in Chicago, you can easily opt in or out of the messages you want to receive.
Lastly, let me suggest that as an expert in the e-space and a new member that you help us refine our email effort - maybe even volunteer to help.