Is an invoice enough to generate the revenue you depend on? Just an invoice? I don’t think so. 

I’ve been working in and teaching membership operations and sales best practices for more than 25 years. I’ve found that 90 percent of chambers are missing at least half of the touches needed in their renewal sequence. 

When 40 to 65 percent of your annual revenue depends on renewals, sending an invoice is laughably inadequate. You need a longer runway to turn membership collections into enthusiastic renewals.

The right renewal sequence is a series of emailed and printed messages that reflect the enthusiasm we must transfer – and preserves the dignity of your membership staff with firm, polite and clear messages that reinforce the value of membership. 

So, I’ve written this membership renewal sequence for you:

1. 90 days before renewal, email a survey <== I've written the survey for you, too! 
2. 60 days before renewal, email a thank you
3. 30 days before renewal, email link to invoice; print/mail invoice batch
4. 7 days before renewal, email “renew this week”
5. Due date, email “happy Chamber-versary!” and print/mail invoice batch
6. 15 days past due, email “please renew today”
7. 30 days past due, email “there’s still time to renew” and print/mail invoice batch
8. 45 days past due, “membership renewal options” email
9. 60 days past due, “your membership is being cancelled” email and print/mail
10. 90 days past due, “we want you back” email and print/mail
11. Thank you letter/email when renewal is received