Associations, are you a member?

[Mikey P]

When I see up coming events like the CFI / CCINW I can see the value of being a member. Really though, other than a large event where is the value anymore?

I believe most cost a few hundred per year to belong and for that you get a quarterly meeting at a member's shop to watch a process being one or listen to a speaker.
All of which is virtually free online.

What other benefits am I missing?

 

[Desk Jockey]

We are members of RIA and were once members of PCUCA & SCRT.

I would agree with the internet and boards like this it has taken away some of the value in associations. However RIA does put on very specific classes and webinars with information that would not be easily attained.

 

[hogjowl]

The really big names don't come here, but you can be impressed by them if you go and join an association.

Harold comes to mind ...

 

[rhyde]

A member of ARCS past member of IICRC

 

[FB7777]

I belong to local associations, Chamber of Commerce for example

Far better networking possibilities and conversations with people outside our industry.


Our local Industry association is populated mostly by 1 man wonders that have far more time than work .

They enjoy nothing more than the sound of their own voice


I prefer associating with do'ers not talkers

 

[Ken Snow]

Re: Re: Associations, are you a member?

I belong to local associations, Chamber of Commerce for example

Far better networking possibilities and conversations with people outside our industry.


Our local Industry association is populated mostly by 1 man wonders that have far more time than work .

They enjoy nothing more than the sound of their own voice


I prefer associating with do'ers not talkers

X2
Past members of RIA/ASCR/AIDS, UCCI, ISCT

Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk 2

 

[Desk Jockey]

I belong to local associations, Chamber of Commerce for example

Far better networking possibilities and conversations with people outside our industry.

Our local Industry association is populated mostly by 1 man wonders that have far more time than work .

They enjoy nothing more than the sound of their own voice

I prefer associating with do'ers not talkers

thathurts Larry is right you are mean. Seriously I agree with you Fred, you'll find more work and networking done with the local associations.

I see industry associations more for specific training and continuing education in running your business.

 

[akpowerclean]

Hello fellas and ladies,

Akpowerclean here from Alaska.

I agree that with all of the forums and resources available online from experts such as many of you the benefit as far knowledge goes is not what it once was.

Where the real value is is marketing. Creating incoming links for websites, creating relationships that help SEO for websites. Plus just the marketing value of stating on your website you are IICRC certified or CSI certified, etc....
The question is it worth the money and time needed to get real value from these organizations?
The answer depends on who you are, how much time you have and what your skill sets are with marketing.
if you have the time, the desire and the skill sets to take advantage of these opportunities intelligently then they might be very valuable.
If you just pay your money and kind of forget about them then they might have very little value to you.
It could be if you operate in a small town without much competition on the internet for your local services then you would need to worry less about these sort of things. If you face stiff competition and are trying to get on that first page then you better be learning how to use these opportunities to improve your ranking.

 

[Brian R]

I'm certified by Xoom Energy and federally accredited to sell energy.


I was also IICRC Certified...But what they hell can you do with that?

 

[Chris A]

Re: Re: Associations, are you a member?

[quote="Fred Boyle":2ebesuz5]I belong to local associations, Chamber of Commerce for example

Far better networking possibilities and conversations with people outside our industry.


Our local Industry association is populated mostly by 1 man wonders that have far more time than work .

They enjoy nothing more than the sound of their own voice


I prefer associating with do'ers not talkers

X2
Past members of RIA/ASCR/AIDS, UCCI, ISCT

Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk 2[/quote:2ebesuz5]

AIDS?

 

[Ken Snow]

Before u were born youngster lol. AIDS changed its name to ASCR when the AIDS epidemic hit.

Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk 2

 

[The Great Oz]

Maybe we're just lucky. We're members of several trade associations and don't have to think too hard when it's time to renew.

Some value is associating with the best people in the business, some is tangible like linking to the community website, some is having the association find and vet presenters.

For example, I went to a local meeting on internet marketing with some guy I'd never heard of, Miles Austin. (Didn't he play for Dallas?) His presentation was so far beyond the SEO tricks I'd read about that I hired him to revamp our marketing strategy. That meeting paid for several years worth of dues.

PS: Because he likes us, Miles agreed to do the Web Tools workshop at the Cleaning College for less than half of what he charges web professionals. Don't tell the tech-heads.

 

[randy]

I have found the Chamber of Commerce, Better Business Bureau, the IICRC and "local" associations to be a complete waste of time & money. Attend an event like Connections, Summer fest or Mikey's Fest, read 4-5 boards occasionally through the week and maybe pick up a trade magazine (although they are working real hard at making themselves worthless). The collective effort will pay off many times over. I can't say the same about associations as they seem to always be pushing an agenda. I attended a local trade association meeting when I first became involved in a food industry business. The whole focus of the meeting was essentially selling us on the idea of collecting for Feed the Children( Larry Jone's outfit) at the register. It sort of seemed like a waste of two hours. Three years latter Mr. Jones is thrown out of Feed the Children, his offices and warehouse have been raided by the FBI and a criminal investigation is still underway. He is suing the board for throwing him out when they discovered he had wiretapped the offices of the board and had a huge collection of porn hidden in his office. He also was getting kick backs from advertising agencies, selling donated food to small convenience stores and enriching himself off of the billion dollar charity tremendously. (FTC took in a billion in 2009 but only 75 million in contributions in 2011). Needless to say I'm glad I didn't ask for donations at my locations. Another a few miles from my house did and when the scandal broke weeks latter he "heard about it " and was a bit embarrassed. Group think is not always correct or the best route to go.

 

[Doug Cox]

I belong to local associations, Chamber of Commerce for example

Far better networking possibilities and conversations with people outside our industry.


Our local Industry association is populated mostly by 1 man wonders that have far more time than work .

They enjoy nothing more than the sound of their own voice


I prefer associating with do'ers not talkers

X3