No matter what path your self-employed career takes you on, there are dozens, if not hundreds, of professional associations, membership organizations, online forums, and Facebook groups waiting to give you advice and support along the way.
But not all of them are all they’re cracked up to be.
When you’re first starting out, if you have the funds, it’s easy to fall into the track of joining group after group—especially paid groups with a good sales page explaining the value they’ll bring your business—only to find:
- you don’t have time for them all
- they’re not all helpful
- or, they’re just not right for you
Just as with social networks, where you’re better off concentrating on a few sites where you can really dive into the community, your career will thank you if you choose a few professional organizations and take full advantage.
How do you choose?
National Professional Organizations and Associations
Even before you entered you current field, you probably came across the “official” organization or association for self-employed professionals doing your kind of work. It’s a great way to network, see what it takes to be successful in this career, and get certified if that is something you require.
Since they typically sport a high price tag, self-employed women bootstrapping their businesses often skip these groups based on budget alone. But joining one of these groups can often be one of the best things you can do for your business, bringing a sort of brick-and-mortar, brand-name authenticity to your products or services that reassures customers.
Industry specific organizations exist everywhere. For example, if you are a freelance photographer, the American Society of Media Photographers might a place to start looking into. If your a Professional Organizer then you might want to look at the National Association of Professional Organizers.
The industry specific organizations can be the best ones to join since they are so specific and relate exactly to what you do. AND, they help build credibility with your clients. All it takes is a google search and a trial meeting and you are on your way to figuring out if it is a good fit or not.
Here are some of the most recognizable names in a few categories, guaranteed to give you connections, valuable knowledge, and important credentials if you use them wisely:
- The International Association of Coaching
- International Coach Federation
- American Federation of Coaches
- The American Society of Journalists and Authors
- American Copy Editors Association
- National Association of Independent Writers and Editors
- Social Media Club
- Social Media Association
- National Institute for Social Media
- eWomen Network
Facebook, Membership Sites + Other Online-Only Groups
It seems like every week there is a new membership site popping up, as more and more popular blogs offer a paid forum and/or a course component to their website.
These usually start out very casually, as the offshoot of a course, as in the case of Mridu Khullar Relph’s advice-chocked 30 Days, 30 Queries Facebook group or the solopreneur groups that spring from Chris Guillebeau’s Pioneer Nation event, but end up being some of the most effective gathering places for self-employed professionals of all types.
People share their problems and solutions in an open way, typically without an “authority” figure running the show and leading the conversation.
While these groups sometimes carry a fee, they are more importantly usually capacity controlled, so you’ll typically have to do some initial networking to find an in if it’s not possible to just buy a spot, such as the A-List Blogging group.
Local & Regional Meet-up Groups
You’re probably already part of a local moms’ or parents’ group and maybe even your local women’s group, but have you found ways to connect with and get advice and support from other local woman who do the same kind of work you do?
Just as when you had your first child and that core group of women going through the exact same things as you helped you with so many questions, local business-based meetings can provide that crucial piece of the puzzle for your burning business questions.
Meetup.com and Eventbrite are often great places to find these if you’re not sure where to start. But you can also simply google, for example, “coaches group/meet-up + your city” and either get a hit or a lead on a local who might be able to point you in the right direction. If nothing comes up, why not start one yourself?
The Bottom Line
The best groups for you will depend entirely on your situation, background, and existing support network, but it’s good to have a mix of:
- groups that impart legitimacy (national organizations and the like)
- groups that provide education (whether through conferences like national orgs or online courses like membership sites)
- groups where you can get support (in-person or online from women whose businesses are in the stage of development as yours)
What groups for like-minded professionals are you a part of? Would you recommend them to others?
