Blog
Every day we routinely come across important insights in the industries and technologies where we work. That’s one of the reasons why we love what we do — these are some of the most exciting times for fields as dynamic as they are important. Watch here for some of these insights and contact us at support@empoweredmargins.com for guest blogging opportunities.
5 Signs Your Association’s Technology Stack Has Become the Bottleneck
Your association probably has plenty of technology. A membership management system. An LMS. An event platform. A CRM. Email marketing tools. Maybe a few specialized platforms for certification,...
Tangible Outcomes: How Our Annual AI Hackathon Drives Real Efficiency at Empowered Margins
Most hackathons end with a demo. Ours are built to ship. For the past two years, Empowered Margins has hosted an annual internal AI Hackathon with a straightforward mission: target everyday...
The Architecture of Belonging: Ancient Intelligence in an AI Age
The closing of #ASAE26 in Indianapolis provided more than a departure point; it offered a thesis for the future of our industry. Van Jones, in a keynote that shifted between radical candor and disarming warmth, challenged the “Creative Class” of association leaders to…
The Architecture of Intuition: Oz Pearlman at ASAE 2026
At the ASAE Annual Meeting in Indianapolis, Oz Pearlman did not just perform; he orchestrated a masterclass in high-leverage observation. While the Emmy-winning mentalist is often categorized under “magic,” his opening…
Small But Mighty: Why Better Decisions Matter More Than Bigger Teams
Marketing teams in associations and nonprofits rarely complain about a lack of ideas. What they struggle with is a lack of time. Limited staff, competing priorities, endless requests, changing directions, and meetings that don’t lead…
Why Strategic Patience Is Becoming Marketing’s Competitive Advantage
At the 2026 MMC+Tech Conference, marketing expert and Wall Street Journal bestselling author Ann Handley challenged one of marketing’s most deeply held beliefs: faster isn’t always better. Marketers today operate…
Live from ASAE MMCT: Sheri Jacobs on Rethinking Membership in an Age of Overload
Closing Keynote: The Art of Membership in the Age of Everything, Membership hasn’t lost its value. It has simply become harder to earn. That was the central message from Sheri Jacobs, President and CEO of Avenue M Group,…
North Korea Poisoned One of the Internet’s Most Popular Code Libraries — Here’s Why It Didn’t Affect Us
On March 31, 2026, a serious attack quietly unfolded across the global software supply chain. Hackers linked to North Korea’s Sapphire Sleet operation compromised the npm account of the lead maintainer of…
Using Membership Data Analytics to Drive Association Growth
Association growth rarely slows due to a lack of ambition. Leadership teams continually invest in new programs, enhanced member benefits, expanded sponsorship opportunities, and stronger engagement...
Maximizing Member Engagement with Empowered Directory
Most associations don’t have an engagement problem. They have a connection problem. Members join for access: access to peers, expertise, opportunity, credibility. But over time, if those connections...