For part two of my UnTech10 reflections, I want to focus on Jeff De Cagna and Chris Bonney’s “Mobile Matters.” I think the information provided can be extremely valuable to small-staff association professionals.

As someone who’s attached to her BlackBerry and MacBook, I’ve come to accept that mobile is just a way of life. And I love when a Web site translates easily to my mobile device, and that’s what associations should be focusing on.

By 2016, smartphones will comprise 66 percent of the market share. Traditional flip phones are on their way out as people are communicating nonstop and sharing information they collect on their phones (photos, etc…).

Mobile is inherently social. So are associations. So it only makes sense that associations should start thinking about what their Web sites look like on a mobile device, be it BlackBerry, iPhone or Android. These platforms can help associations nurture social relationships.

I remember when Facebook first introduced the status update. It was around 2006, and I was pretty horrified. “Facebook stalking just reached a whole new level,” my friends and I thought. “Why would anyone care what I’m doing at all times?”

Of course, the beauty in the status update is that we can share photos, links, videos and more. Sure, some people abuse it and update eleventy million times a day. But many people use it for exactly its purpose — sharing information they find interesting, funny and/or relevant.

If members are accessing your organization’s Web site on their smartphone, it’s important to consider how it appears. Should you create an app? Perhaps. The three main platforms are the iPhone, BlackBerry and Android.

If you choose not to create an app, be aware of how your actual site translates to a smaller screen. Not every aspect of your Web site needs to be available on the mobile platform. Create a user-friendly mobile version with larger text, fewer photos and only the most important parts.

Consider this: 25 percent of Facebook users access the site on a mobile device – whether it’s a mobile Web site or the Facebook application. That statistic will only grow as Facebook itself continues to grow. (The site recently announced it hit 400 million active users.)

This has moved past a trend for Gen-Y and Gen-X. Mobile devices are the future of communication.

How will your association get more people involved in mobile activities?

Image credit: Flickr

Welcome to the end of the workweek! It was an exciting week for tech geeks everywhere, but the iPad wasn’t the only thing going on this week. There have been some awesome discussions going on in the association community, and I’m thrilled to highlight a few of my favorite posts.

1. Wes Trochlil has been a technology consultant for 10 years now, and I really enjoyed his post about changes he’s seen during that time. Technology certainly has come a long way since 1999, and I expect 2019 to hold even more surprises! What tech change do you think has most affected the association community?

2. Since she’s been crowdsourcing an “action list” for 2010, Peggy Hoffman also turned to author David Nour. Nour came up with a great list focused on building relationships. My favorite? When it comes to social networking, consistency is a lot more valuable than creativity.

3. This post at Erik’s Experts in Membership Marketing surprised me a little: Students and Young Professionals are Influenced by Direct Mail. I’m a big believer in using the right channels to contact people (and they can differ from person to person), and Erik Schonher summed up a 2008 study so well in this great post.

4. I really loved Cindy Butts’ post comparing association executives to student athletes. There are a lot of similarities to be had, and participating in sports can teach us all invaluable lessons for later in life. One of my favorite lessons Cindy highlights is to take pride in your school or team, and by extension, your association.

5. Mark Alcorn, an association lawyer and management consultant, has a fantastic new blog and this week’s post was superb: Top Ten Signs of a Dysfunctional Board. From power struggles and lack of respect to micromanagement and overly powerful executives, Mark tackles many board issues with a unique perspective and clear voice. Can’t wait to read his future posts!

From everyone at MemberClicks, have a wonderful weekend!

(Image via Flickr.)