Over at Association Media & Publishing's blog, Blurb, Jim Elliott talks about how silos can impact Association revenues. Here's the full article:
Commercial publishing companies are in business primarily to make money, so they are highly motivated to find a way to package assets for sale. Most associations exist to promote member interests, and many have untouchable assets that have never been sold. Some associations have half-heartedly tried to monetize their assets and to carry advertising, only to be thwarted by staff members who resist the idea.
As executive directors try to find sources of revenue to serve their members without raising dues beyond the breaking point, selling advertising in their publications and websites is a logical place to start. They may also try to find and monetize other assets, only to meet unexpected resistance, and revenue enhancement is approached with a passive-aggressive attitude.
Historical reasons for the treatment of these assets as sacred cows may include reluctance to compromise the integrity of the association and fear of alienating members. However, long after issues of integrity and privacy have been satisfactorily addressed, the prohibitions against monetizing them often continue because of a “silo” mentality.
