The Major Benefits Of Joining An Association

The power of belonging.

75% of Americans are active in one group or another, according to Pew Research Center. What this means is this, people are searching for belonging, acceptance, and a tribe to fit into. That’s one of the key reasons why membership associations exist. What’s a membership association?  A classic example of a membership association is the American Automobile Association (AAA) that serves millions of automobile owners, to specialty associations that represent industry specific interests, for example:

• Specialty Food Association
• United Contractors
• The Natural Products Association
• National Cannabis Industry Association
• National Confectioners Association aka Candy Association – yes this really exists!

As you can see, there is an association for everyone from candy makers to people selling the finest meats and contractors building the roads we drive on everyday. While associations are diverse in who and what they represent, their strength rests in a centralized, collective, group approach to tackling macro-level issues, and policies that impact members. Unless you’re a top lobbyist with billions of dollars, odds are, you’ll need the help of a group to go head-to-head with the government when it comes to issues impacting what you do and what you believe in, because there’s power in numbers and one voice. Associations range in their services, products, and who they let join their club. Some associations are highly selective in who they allow while others accept anyone willing to pay ongoing membership dues. Once a member, associations typically offer events and other avenues to meet members. This is an excellent way to grow your business, as the old saying holds true, “people buy from people they know, like, and trust.” One or twice a year, associations show up to the Capital to remind their elected officials of their priorities, interests, and needs on the state and federal level. Monthly, many hold government affairs meetings to discuss local, state, and federal policies impacting their business or industry. Associations also offer affiliate perks and discounts ranging from group health insurance options to automobile discounts, and more. A lot of sales professionals will join as associate members, trying to access CEOs and key decision makers to leverage trusted relationships to close high-value deals that would typically take more time if they were not members of the association, trying to cold call. Knowledge sharing is another valuable offering that happens organically when great people come together in a trusted environment. Form webinars to conferences and 1:1 mentoring, the sharing of knowledge has the power to transform lives and business results. Overall, industry associations offer a lot of value if they are run like a business, taking into account the needs of their stakeholders and who they serve.  If you’re new to business, or you’ve been around for a while, consider checking out an industry association. If you’re in an association, feel free to share what you like in the comments below 👇