{"id":18861,"date":"2026-04-02T13:44:21","date_gmt":"2026-04-02T17:44:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mypar.org\/?p=18861"},"modified":"2026-04-02T20:22:11","modified_gmt":"2026-04-03T00:22:11","slug":"beyond-the-annual-survey-why-continuous-member-feedback-is-the-future-of-association-growth","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mypar.org\/beyond-the-annual-survey-why-continuous-member-feedback-is-the-future-of-association-growth\/","title":{"rendered":"Beyond the Annual Survey: Why Continuous Member Feedback is the Future of Association Growth"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\t

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By Kathryn Deen, PAR<\/p>\n\t

For years, associations have relied on a familiar tool to understand their members: the annual survey. It’s structured, expected, and often seen as a key listening mechanism. But according to CredSpark<\/a> founder and CEO Lev Kaye, that approach is no longer enough – and it may even be holding associations back.<\/p>\n

“If an association does one thing with member engagement, it should be to move beyond the annual member survey,” he says. “We think the most important shift is to understand your membership at a deeper level, and to do that by means of regular interaction, regular question asking.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

At its core, the issue isn’t whether associations are asking questions. It’s how often – and how strategically – they are doing it.<\/p>\n

The limits of once-a-year listening<\/strong><\/p>\n

Annual surveys can provide useful snapshots, but they fall short when it comes to building real relationships. Member needs evolve quickly, industries shift, and expectations change. A single check-in each year simply cannot capture that level of nuance.<\/p>\n\tMust-Ask Question<\/b>\nIf there’s one question every association should pose to its members, Kaye says it’s this:\n

\n“What’s the most effective approach to [insert professional skill or industry challenge]?”<\/b>\n<\/blockquote>\nKaye shares why it’s a triple win:\n