Participation in the Right Type of Association Can Help Your Business!

How?

Depending on the type of associations you join, your business networking with others inside your industry and outside of your industry can provide valuable contacts and access to hard-to-access business resources. This participation needs to be a key part of building your own small business community.

Other elements of your business community to consider is working with business mentors or coaches, building an internal committee with key staff (obviously your organization needs staff for this type of network building) to focus on specific challenges or
directions, and working with local,
regional and federal government
agencies set up to support small business.

Building a successful network requires several different strategies and your commitment of time and effort. The pay-off will be worth it.

Other benefits of joining:

Trade Associations and Industry associations

• many associations have member benefits such as industry educational programs, access to industry research and statistics, industry conferences;

• additionally industry and trade associations often act officially or unofficially as lobbyists for their industry - they represent their members at all levels of government;

• some industry groups have certification programs (programs that certify companies have achieved a certain auditable, professional and/or business standard);

Business associations

(such as the Chamber of Commerce, Board of Trade, Soho (small office, home office), Women in Leadership, and more in different countries around the world)

• often you can meet potential customers at business events:

  For example, if you sell business to business (rather than business to consumer), and you join the local Chamber of Commerce, there is a good chance that some of your customers will also be chamber members. It's a small business community. And by joining, you will have an opportunity to meet them, get to know them better and participate in events with them. All great business opportunities;

• business associations will provide member discount programs (for example: courier programs; merchant credit card programs; gas programs; and more)

• many business associations will also provide educational programs and events targeted to their members' needs;

• many business associations will also lobby various levels of government on their members behalf (on member issues such as corporate tax rates, etc.);

• And generally, all associations will give you access to their membership list (contacts list) upon becoming a member.

I have belonged to many organizations and associations over the many years I’ve worked in business.

Today I am still actively involved in three as a member – when I say active I mean I sit on the Board or on a Committee for those associations.

I have found that whatever time and energy I commit to them, I get back in building great relations with members (some of whom are my customers) and get back through the improvement of the association (a better, stronger group is where I want to be).

Building a successful network will help you in building a stronger business.

Please note: I also attend a number of events as a non-member of a number of industry associations. There are typically always non-member rates for attendance or participation. I’m pretty pragmatic about that attendance – if I’m attending three or more events per year per association then I should probably join and become active.

If you need help in setting up a network, committee, finding a business mentor or coach, and/or finding the right type of association to join, use the Contact Us form on this website and provide your contact information. I'll be in touch.

Participation in the right type of association will help you grow your business, grow your relationships and grow your business community.

Return from the right Type of Association to building a Business Community.

Or Return From the Right Type of Association to More-For-Small-Business.