Birds of a feather, flock together. And when they do, they tend to share all sorts of resources and information with each other that make them better prepared than birds that are flying solo. In this step to Building a Better Business, your goal is to find a flock, or an association, to join and join it.
Almost every industry, profession, or trade that exists has a related association. To find an association that is relevant for your business, perform an Internet search on the term that best describes your business type or industry, followed by the word ‘association’.
Identify the ones that seem to be the most credible and offer the most benefits, have sizeable memberships, and have a chapter or group in the city or state where your business is located. Narrow down the list and select the one you’d most like to join. Most associations offer the option to join online, and many memberships costs $100 or less, but the advantages of joining an association are many, and include:
- Access to the latest research, innovation, and trends relevant to your business type or industry
- A source for meeting and interacting with other business owners in your field
- Access to training, resources, and services at a reduced cost, or for free
- An additional source of credibility (i.e., differentiator) for you and your business
photo by CharlieGentle (Flickr)
