Pre-pandemic, the Made in Group was very strong on digital, maybe the strongest in our sector, but we were not a digital company. With a significant physical exhibition and in-person breakfast mornings, we had a time-heavy and arguably carbon-heavy business model.
In month one of the pandemic, we pivoted and invested six figures in making digital our number one USP.
Today we are not only a trade association but a technology business; all things being equal, if we are compared solely on digital with other trade associations, we are hands down number one.
With more than 500 member microsites, many achieving more than 5,000 microsite visits, we are batting well above one million visits annually.
We are nurturing hundreds of manufacturers into a digital transformation journey, and introducing a new idea on how to network and promote their businesses has not been a straightforward task. With an ageing demographic, we have not been able to bring 100% of the people we started along with us on our journey. However, we have helped many people master and widen their knowledge online. One great success story is Malthouse Engineering, which has participated in many of our networking events online and shared best practices digitally.
To help motivate us internally and to help explain this to our members, we have used gamification to help with this massive transition.
Back end improvements
Other improvements include the new badges that were added to the member microsites.
The badge is awarded based on platform activity. It is displayed on the member microsite to demonstrate recognition, proving to external visitors that this is an 'innovation active' company. The reality and truth are that businesses that are highly engaged in their businesses do the things that lead to the badges being awarded; it's a straightforward and fun way of increasing and maintaining the visibility of your business online.
Knowledge Badge
Adding to the existing badge and recognition system the Made in Group has launched a new badge to align with its mission to share and learn best practice.
Members who share a best practice story, will have a new badge called ‘Made Knowledge’ added to their microsite.
Each best practice talk is also added to the Made Talks section of the website, we now have a collection of 50+ best practice videos.
For members who have not spoken but still wish to earn this badge, all you need to do is post on social media key takeaways from a recent Made Talk or best practice story and what you’ve learned. When you make this post please let us know by including these hashtags #backingbritain #madetalks
To keep up to date with what's going on at Made in the Midlands and Made in Yorkshire please follow us on social media and visit www.madeinthemidlands.com and www.madeinyorkshire.com
The Made in Group is a trade association with a mission to unite British Industry.
Watch any of our 50+ talks now by visiting www.backingbritain.com