Create A Bond With Shared Experiences

Think back to your most recent vacation.

Was there something about that trip that you’ve shared with others over and over again?

Did this “something” involve someone else?

If it did, it’s likely turned into a lasting memory and chances are, your relationship with that other person is more rich because of it.

This is the power of a “shared experience” and it’s one of the most effective ways to increase your retention.

Here’s what I mean…

When you have an experience with others, a bond develops because you now “share” something together.

It deepens the connection and gives you something  to remember.

Now it goes without saying that you obviously want this “experience” to be a positive one :)   And when it is, you’ll find the loyalty others have towards you goes up dramatically.

For example…

One of the most rewarding experiences anyone ever gave me was when my wife took me to El Salvador to help a variety of schools that were struggling financially.

That trip opened my eyes to the need that is out there in developing countries but it also opened my heart to begin wanting to actually do something about it through entrepreneurship.

That trip literally changed me as a person.  Plus I felt an even deeper connection to the person that gave it to me (so it’s no wonder that I asked her to marry me not long afterwards! LOL).

What’s interesting about that story is that we’ve since gone on to form our own charity and one of our “shared goals” is to provide that same experience for others.

So how can you do this for your members?

Here are a few ideas to get you started…

1)  Experience Something For The First Time Together

Doing something new can be nerve racking.  But doing it with someone else (who’s never done it before) can be a lot of fun and will likely create a variety of fun memories.

Why?

Because chances are there will be a few embarrassing moments as you learn whatever you are trying together.  It’s this vulnerability and sense of fun that builds the bond.

What could you do with your members that is new to you and them?

2)  Accomplish a Goal Together

Community fundraisers are a great example of how you can bring your members together by striving to achieve a “group goal”.

If you want to take this a step further, arrange a trip where your members can join you in delivering the funds to the actual people you are helping.

That’s what will take it from a “good” experience to an “AMAZING” experience.

3)  Help Them Achieve Their First Goal

Often times it’s the “little things” that hold so many people back from accomplishing their goals.
So set aside some time to help people get from A to B.  If you do, you’ll find their loyalty will skyrocket because you’re probably the only person who has taken the time to actually help.

“30-Day Challenges” are a great example of this.

Could you mix it up and make it a “7-day” or “24-Hour” challenge?

Think about the “first step” goals you want your members achieving and then design a fun way to help them get there.

4)  Meet In Person

Anytime you can add an “in-person” element to your membership you’ll immediately raise the connection people feel to not only you but each other.

Knowing someone through email, Twitter or within your site is one thing.

But sitting down and sharing a real-world conversation is something totally different.

In today’s digital world this will only grow in the impact it can have.

If you want to raise the value of the experience, do something fun together.  For example could you go to a baseball game together, have a Wii tournament at night or sing karaoke?

5)  Connect People Within Your Membership

When you connect people together, the experience they have together indirectly gets attributed back to you because you were the one that made it happen.

So keep an eye out for statements like…

“Does anyone know someone who…” or “Got any recommendations for XYZ?”

This is an opportunity for you to connect two people.  Then it’s up to you to find the right person to connect them with.

Become a business matchmaker and people will love you for it :)

6)  Look Back and Remember Together

Reminiscing about the “old days” or recalling old memories can be a fun exercise because generally most people can participate.

For example, if I asked you about your first computer I’m sure you’d laugh just thinking about how much you (or your parents) paid for it and how insignificant it would be compared to what you are using now.

The great thing about this exercise is that “looking back” can actually turn into a whole new experience that you now have together.

7)  Create Something Together

By involving in others in the development of a project you immediately give them something to look forward to when it is complete.

There’s a sense of pride.

Here’s the key:  Give them all the credit for any and all success you experience (it just deepens the bond).

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Hopefully these 7 quick ideas will get your creative juices flowing.


Do you have any other ideas?  Share them below in the comments.