MEMBERSHIP MARKETING SCHOOL
Transforming your approach to membership marketing
At Membership Marketing School, we make digital marketing accessible, affordable, and easy, empowering associations of any size to thrive and stay ahead with strategies that work.
15+
years in the association sector
500+
school participants
150+
associations globally
What to Explore
Want to grow your membership and create a more connected, engaged community? We’re here to help! From attracting new members to boosting engagement, our tools and strategies are tailored for association professionals like you.
Featured Courses
What is MMS?
Membership Marketing School (MMS) is an online marketing platform that helps association executives understand, nurture, grow, and optimise their membership communities.
Who Membership Marketing School Is For
Is It Right For You?
Membership Marketing School works for any Association Executive looking to learn about the latest marketing and member engagement trends and tools. Whether you’re a Membership Professional who would like to learn effective marketing tactics to grow your membership, or you’re a Marketer who started your career in the association or membership setting, and would now like to learn more about the specifics of marketing for membership, the Membership Marketing School is right for you!
MEMBERSHIP PROFESSIONALS
who would like to learn effective marketing and member engagement tactics to grow their membership.
ASSOCIATION
MARKETERS
who started their career in the association or membership setting and would like to learn more about the specifics of marketing for membership.
ASSOCIATION
EXECUTIVES
who would like to learn about the latest digital marketing trends and tools.
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Courses Made for Associations
Explore our live events, on-demand training, and templates, all designed to make membership marketing more effective and your work more rewarding. Gain practical skills, save time, and see real results. Let’s make achieving your goals easier (and more fun)!
Your Year of Smarter, Stronger Membership Marketing Starts Here.
Introducing the MMS Annual Pass
No need to pay each time. Just register and jump in when the next program launches.
What MMS Participants Say
The Membership Marketing School was first launched in September 2021 and since then, practitioners from hundreds of associations have participated in the program. Additionally, MMS host, Olena Lima CAE, is a frequent speaker and contributor on membership engagement and digital transformation topics for groups like the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE), Australasian Society of Association Executives (AuSAE), European Society of Association Executives (ESAE), Philippine Council of Associations and Association Executives (PCAAE), the Union of International Associations, BestCities Global Alliance, Australian Marketing Institute, Australian Community Managers, and more. She also runs regular in-house workshops. Below is a selection of testimonials from workshop participants:
I found the Market Research Fundamentals for Associations by accident, during the time that I am very knee-deep in creating and leading many different survey & research projects for our organisation and say "might as well try, it's a couple hundred bucks and the topics are really relevant for a deeply one-sided, technical guy like me". And lo and behold, I was really surprised to how much I have learned in just a few quick sessions - and even immediately applied those learnings to the survey projects I am conducting presently. Really heaps of information, useful techniques and strategies in crafting and promoting surveys to our members - hoping to apply all of them to our upcoming projects!
Jay Dungog
Data Analyst, Exercise & Sports Science Australia (ESSA)
I have found the Association Event Marketing Accelerator to be a great learning tool to add to my pre-existing industry knowledge and experience. Nice to engage with others to hear what they are doing and what they have found has worked for them in their event marketing process.
Ben Yeoh
Events & Partnerships Coordinator, Educate Plus
The session on Association Event Marketing Accelerator was well-structured and perfectly paced. It was immediately clear that both Olena and Billie know their field inside and out. What stood out most was the balance they had between practical experience and thoughtful theory. They shared a wealth of "real-world lessons" in a structured way that made the content not only easy to follow but also directly applicable.
Nina Schubert
Admin, International Institute for Bioenergetic Analysis
This session on AMS/CRM was invaluable—clear guidance on what to do, what to avoid, and the way forward to find a system that works for us. It’s exactly the kind of direction we needed to move ahead with confidence. It was greatly appreciated.
Kathryn Wyatt
Publicity and Marketing Manager, Gemmological Association of Australia (GAA)
Olena's presentations are great. She shares her extensive knowledge of association marketing freely and the information shared is easy to follow as Olena's style is very engaging.
Jill Brookfield
CEO, Association of Australian Certifiers (AAC)
Olena is amazing. She has a wealth of knowledge and shares it in an easily understandable way and is very engaging.
Paul Arztenhofer
GM Operations, Australasian College of Physical Scientists and Engineers in Medicine (ACPSEM)
Olena’s Marketing Bootcamp was an incredibly insightful experience. The program provided me with the clarity and confidence to develop a comprehensive marketing plan for the year ahead. Olena’s deep expertise, practical advice, and genuine passion for membership marketing truly set this program apart.
Zoe Perrington
Membership and Marketing Coordinator, Association of Rotational Moulders Australasia LTD
The Marketing Planning Bootcamp was a comprehensive step by step program that allowed my organisation to deep dive into our marketing planning for the year ahead. We pulled together elements from across the organisation, including our goals, strategies and research, to respond to daily prompts and build a robust marketing plan. Collaborating and sharing with association peers is just priceless- we came together regularly in the bootcamp and learnt so much from one another.
Kate Rickwood
Coordinator Member Communications Victoria Tourism Industry Council (VTIC)
Olena and the Memberboat team have been absolutely outstanding in consistently offering actionable and insightful advice. Their expertise and guidance have not only been incredibly valuable, but they also break down complex concepts into easy-to-understand steps that have made a tangible difference. They go above and beyond to tailor their advice to specific needs and challenges, making each session truly worthwhile. Without a doubt, they are the best in the business, and I've gained so much from every interaction. Every session leaves me more confident and equipped with practical tools to move forward successfully.
Sebena Fabling
Member Support Officer, The Pharmacy Guild of Australia WA Branch
The Marketing Automation Workshop with Olena was really helpful in getting an overall picture of how automation will help our membership benefits and communications, and how to improve our website interactions.
Rosalie Maxted
Corporate Services & Programs Administrator, Science Teachers Association of Victoria
Olena was a great facilitator, presented the information well and was informative and friendly in her delivery. I enjoyed the workshop and are looking forward to the next one. Also really keen to see a membership management group set up for future networking opportunities.
Fiona McDonagh
Membership Manager, Transporting New Zealand
Olena is clearly knowledgeable about membership operations. I highly recommend this style of training to other industry association professionals who are looking to improve member support services, engagement and retention.
Alanna Mahlakolisane
Project Officer, AIDN
Olena provided a lot of useful information, examples and structures for incorporating personalisation into customer and member workflows. I now have a clearer idea of what is possible, and what I/we can be working towards.
Jane Mason
Member Services Manager, Volunteering WA
I found the Personalisation and Segmentation Workshop valuable and would highly recommend it. Olena knows her subject and delivers the content in an accessible and interactive manner. The workshop provoked thought and a desire to do better.
Tina Fleming
Member Relations Manager - Educate Plus
There is a subtle difference between explaining the why, how and what of a topic. This workshop struck a good balance between the three. The reason I joined was to be able to obtain a clear operational understanding of higher-level topic areas. How to actually do segmentation, rather than talking about segmentation more broadly. I can take away the knowledge today and apply it which is rare in workshops.
Liam Bednarski
2024 Workshop Participant
The Marketing Automation & AI Workshop was rich with relevant and on-topic information. Olena was an excellent facilitator and was able to engage us in helpful idea- generating conversation. I left with creative ideas and plans flowing. Now to find the time!
Kayt Duncan
Digital Marketing Officer, Family Day Care Queensland
What MMS Participants Say
The Membership Marketing School was first launched in September 2021 and since then, practitioners from dozens of associations have participated in the program. Additionally, Olena is a frequent speaker and contributor on membership engagement and digital transformation topics for groups like the Australian Marketing Institute, Australian Community Managers, Australasian Society of Association Executives, European Society of Association Executives, Philippine Council of Associations and Association Executives, the Union of International Associations, Answers for Associations and more. She also runs regular in-house workshops. Below is a selection of testimonials from workshop participants:
I have found the Association Event Marketing Accelerator to be a great learning tool to add to my pre-existing industry knowledge and experience. Nice to engage with others to hear what they are doing and what they have found has worked for them in their event marketing process.
Ben Yeoh
Events & Partnerships Coordinator, Educate Plus
The session on Association Event Marketing Accelerator was well-structured and perfectly paced. It was immediately clear that both Olena and Billie know their field inside and out. What stood out most was the balance they had between practical experience and thoughtful theory. They shared a wealth of "real-world lessons" in a structured way that made the content not only easy to follow but also directly applicable.
Nina Schubert
Admin, International Institute for Bioenergetic Analysis
This session on AMS/CRM was invaluable—clear guidance on what to do, what to avoid, and the way forward to find a system that works for us. It’s exactly the kind of direction we needed to move ahead with confidence. It was greatly appreciated.
Kathryn Wyatt
Publicity and Marketing Manager, Gemmological Association of Australia (GAA)
Olena's presentations are great. She shares her extensive knowledge of association marketing freely and the information shared is easy to follow as Olena's style is very engaging.
Jill Brookfield
CEO, Association of Australian Certifiers (AAC)
Olena is amazing. She has a wealth of knowledge and shares it in an easily understandable way and is very engaging.
Paul Arztenhofer
GM Operations, Australasian College of Physical Scientists and Engineers in Medicine (ACPSEM)
Olena’s Marketing Bootcamp was an incredibly insightful experience. The program provided me with the clarity and confidence to develop a comprehensive marketing plan for the year ahead. Olena’s deep expertise, practical advice, and genuine passion for membership marketing truly set this program apart.
Zoe Perrington
Membership and Marketing Coordinator, Association of Rotational Moulders Australasia LTD
The Marketing Planning Bootcamp was a comprehensive step by step program that allowed my organisation to deep dive into our marketing planning for the year ahead. We pulled together elements from across the organisation, including our goals, strategies and research, to respond to daily prompts and build a robust marketing plan. Collaborating and sharing with association peers is just priceless- we came together regularly in the bootcamp and learnt so much from one another.
Kate Rickwood
Coordinator Member Communications Victoria Tourism Industry Council (VTIC)
Olena and the Memberboat team have been absolutely outstanding in consistently offering actionable and insightful advice. Their expertise and guidance have not only been incredibly valuable, but they also break down complex concepts into easy-to-understand steps that have made a tangible difference. They go above and beyond to tailor their advice to specific needs and challenges, making each session truly worthwhile. Without a doubt, they are the best in the business, and I've gained so much from every interaction. Every session leaves me more confident and equipped with practical tools to move forward successfully.
Sebena Fabling
Member Support Officer, The Pharmacy Guild of Australia WA Branch
The Marketing Automation Workshop with Olena was really helpful in getting an overall picture of how automation will help our membership benefits and communications, and how to improve our website interactions.
Rosalie Maxted
Corporate Services & Programs Administrator, Science Teachers Association of Victoria
Olena was a great facilitator, presented the information well and was informative and friendly in her delivery. I enjoyed the workshop and are looking forward to the next one. Also really keen to see a membership management group set up for future networking opportunities.
Fiona McDonagh
Membership Manager, Transporting New Zealand
Olena is clearly knowledgeable about membership operations. I highly recommend this style of training to other industry association professionals who are looking to improve member support services, engagement and retention.
Alanna Mahlakolisane
Project Officer, AIDN
Olena provided a lot of useful information, examples and structures for incorporating personalisation into customer and member workflows. I now have a clearer idea of what is possible, and what I/we can be working towards.
Jane Mason
Member Services Manager, Volunteering WA
I found the Personalisation and Segmentation Workshop valuable and would highly recommend it. Olena knows her subject and delivers the content in an accessible and interactive manner. The workshop provoked thought and a desire to do better.
Tina Fleming
Member Relations Manager - Educate Plus
There is a subtle difference between explaining the why, how and what of a topic. This workshop struck a good balance between the three. The reason I joined was to be able to obtain a clear operational understanding of higher-level topic areas. How to actually do segmentation, rather than talking about segmentation more broadly. I can take away the knowledge today and apply it which is rare in workshops.
Liam Bednarski
2024 Workshop Participant
The Marketing Automation & AI Workshop was rich with relevant and on-topic information. Olena was an excellent facilitator and was able to engage us in helpful idea- generating conversation. I left with creative ideas and plans flowing. Now to find the time!
Kayt Duncan
Digital Marketing Officer, Family Day Care Queensland
Membership Marketing School is a CAE Registered Provider
Founded by Olena Lima, CAE, we curate our program with associations in mind. Our workshops are designed to meet the professional development requirements for earning or maintaining the CAE credential. Most of our workshops are approved for CAE credit, and we will clearly identify the number of CAE credits granted for full participation. We maintain records of your participation in accordance with CAE policies. For more information about the CAE credential or Registered Provider program, please visit www.asaecenter.org/cae.
Social Media Templates for Associations
The MMS Template Library helps your association’s marketing become easier and more engaging with this fully customisable Canva template set. Whether you’re promoting events, engaging members, or sharing industry updates, these professionally designed templates will save you time and help you maintain a polished, on-brand presence across all platforms.
Looking for a quick and exciting way to stay up-to-date on the latest trends and insights in the Association industry?
Look no further than Association Hub Podcast, the bite-sized podcast series for curious and passionate Association Professionals! From membership growth to online communities, from alternative sources of revenue to governance, we cover it all. And we don't just talk about theory - we bring in experts from the industry who are leading the charge to share their real-world experiences and practical tips.
Membership Marketing Expert, CAE (Certified Association Executive), Membership Experience & Association Digital Transformation
Hi,
My name is Olena Lima
I first started working with associations over a decade ago and I quickly fell in love with this sector. I admired the people I worked with and the passion they held for their professions. I was amazed by the dedication to raise industry standards and the willingness to share ideas and success stories. I’m extremely passionate about the success of memberships and communities. I appreciate what makes associations special and why they need to run their own race.
As years passed, I have always searched for a place where I could find people who share the same passion for membership marketing and who are simply on the same page with me in terms of understanding what it means to build a strong community.
Today I’d like to take the opportunity to invite YOU to join my Membership Marketing School, where you will be able to learn the latest marketing trends and tools and how they’re relevant to the association and membership setting, and hear from our industry peers! Let’s build stronger membership communities together!
Membership Marketing School is powered by Memberboat, a digital marketing agency dedicated to helping professional associations, industry bodies and other membership organisations globally.
