Join Together
The events of the last few weeks have, more than ever, drawn attention to the need for people to come together and support each other. This support should be on many levels. Supporting your community, friends and family is probably the most important to you now. Your professional community is also in need of your support. This support is not solely financial. In fact, when you look at your professional peer groups, you will probably find that what they need right now is your time, attention and energy - along with your membership dues or renewal. It is by joining together in a professional peer group that you can get the critical support your business needs right now. For example, check out the professional association discount in my own bookstore! That is just one example, by contacting (or re-contacting) your professional peers; you will find strength, assistance and encouragement to keep on going. At the end of this tip, I will list a few of the organizations I am familiar with. Please email me if you would like to add to this list!
I really have come to believe that membership dues and participating in your peer association should be considered a necessity of business and not an option. Creative professionals afraid of relationships with their fellow professionals have nothing to gain and everything to lose. Here are some of these benefits. Join or renew your membership today and get involved!
Professionalism
First of all, you can't really call yourself a professional in today's marketplace without being able to prove it with those magic words, "member of". Clients are much more educated and discerning today. It is the quickest and easiest way for any type of client to determine you are a professional. Maybe being judged by the company you keep and your professional associations or affiliations doesn't seem fair, but it is real life. Clients simply want the value of a "pro" for their money.
Information
As a member, you will get sample forms, business guidelines, supplier discounts, insurance information, accounting tips and more assistance with your business from being connected than being the traditional non-joiner. You can find knowledgeable associate members in related fields such as legal and marketing. You can call fellow members, ask questions, and get professional help!
Referrals
With the association online directories and email lists, other members of the association can refer clients to you. When they can't or won't take the job, you are their "backup" and can get the job as a referral.
People Skills
Finally, peer associations give you the opportunity to practice all the skills you are learning -or learned and forget how to use - that come with running a business. Many creative professionals do not have this opportunity in school and you certainly can't practice on your clients. When you want to learn publicity and familiarize yourself with the local and national media, join the publicity committee. When you need to overcome your reluctance to call total strangers and get them to give you work, join the membership committee. If you can sell memberships, you can sell creative services. Besides, your creative services association gives you a safe place to practice. You can't get fired!
PROFESSIONAL PEER GROUPS (partial list-check for a local chapter)
www.apanational.org, Advertising Photographers of America
www.asmp.org, American Society of Media Photographers
www.nppa.org, National Press Photographers Association
www.ppa.com, Professional Photographers of America
www.wppi-online.com, Wedding & Portrait Photographers
www.aspp.com, American Society of Picture Professionals
www.womeninphotography.org, Women In Photography
www.gag.org, Graphic Artists Guild
www.aiga.org, American Institute Graphic Arts
www.societyillustrators.org, Society of Illustrators
www.capic.org, Canadian Association of Photographers & Illustrators in Communications
www.pmai.org, Photo Marketing Association International
www.nase.org, National Association for the Self-Employed
