Some context, please

Some context, please

A pet peeve of mine: A report about associations (e.g., marketing benchmarks report) where the report defines associations by the number of members, but fails to discriminate between trade associations and individual associations. In other words, the report will talk about "associations with fewer than 500 members" as if a trade association with 450 members is somehow the same as an individual membership organization with 450 members.

I have worked with trade associations with fewer than three dozen members that had a budget and staff three times the size of a professional society with 2,500 members. I think you see my point; the number of members without context makes for pretty useless comparisons or benchmarks.

Just something to keep in mind if you're ever creating or reading benchmarking reports.

Wes's Wednesday Wisdom Archives

Data management is improvisation

September 16, 2026

Data management is improvisation I was listening to a podcast recently featuring TV writer Rob […]

Who own the AMS company is like the weather…

September 9, 2026

Who own the AMS company is like the weather… When I work with clients to […]

“As good or better than me.”

September 2, 2026

“As good or better than me.” I was recently speaking with a software developer working […]

Documentation is insurance

August 26, 2026

Documentation is insurance In a conversation with a client about their data management needs, the client […]

It all comes down to fundamentals

August 12, 2026

It all comes down to fundamentals I’m preparing for a webinar that I’m presenting in […]

Blog post themes over 20 years…

August 5, 2026

Blog post themes over 20 years… I’ve been writing blog posts for nearly 20 years […]

Lots of feedback is a GOOD thing!

July 29, 2026

Lots of feedback is a GOOD thing! A client in the middle of their AMS […]

Doing the reps…

July 22, 2026

Doing the reps… I’m helping a client with the implementation of a new AMS. During […]

Add one, remove one

July 15, 2026

Add one, remove one In the world of home-organizing, there’s the “one in, one out” […]

Spring cleaning, all year long

July 8, 2026

Spring cleaning, all year long I talk frequently about “weeding the garden,” the idea that proactively […]

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Scroll to Top