We all need advice from time to time
and this is especially true for business owners. There are numerous challenges
that need to be tackled on a regular basis, from staff to money to growth. Even
if your business is doing well, dealing with these issues is simply the nature
of owning a business.
Business owners also regularly need
support and advice to keep taking the business to the next level. Feeling
supported and able to reach out for help when needed, can be the difference
between giving up or pushing forward at times in your business. As a small
business owner (or an aspiring one), one of the greatest resources you want to
take advantage of are online communities for small businesses.
Communities allow like-minded
entrepreneurs to connect, share experiences, advice and tools to succeed in
business. There are numerous advantages to being part of a community, here are
my top four.
1. Access to a wealth of information
You have all the information you might
need in one place. All the communities provide key information from business
planning and marketing to growth strategies and building a website. Almost all
business related topics are covered in these communities and you have a free
resource center with heaps of information to help you in any area of your
business. You can learn the best practices, share, and receive advice from
other small business owners who have faced similar challenges as you.
2. Get the support you didn’t know you needed
It is important to surround yourself
with people who will support and help you to get to the next level in your
business. If you want good advice, listen to those who are where you want to
be, those are the people who you want to take advice from. In the communities,
you can reach out for support through the forums, posting questions and by
participating in discussions. You might not think you need support, but when
you feel supported, you will understand how valuable this is for your growth.
3. Free marketing tool
Communities are also great marketing
tools. When you join the community, take time to create a strong profile. Make
sure that your information is clear and captivating to anyone reading it.
Always include your website address, who you work with, and what solution you
provide. Finding some potential clients would be great, but this shouldn’t be
seen as the main objective. It’s just an added benefit.
4. Build relationships and network
These types of communities are the hub
for building relationships and networking for free. You can network with other
small business owners and talk about your business and what you do. Networking
allows you to generate leads and increase your business. Networking also opens
up more opportunities for your business and you can build some great
connections.
You will meet amazing people and you
could even find the perfect joint venture partners to work with. Building
relationships is key to success. No one succeeds completely alone.
Top Online Communities for Small Business
There are many online small business
communities or even groups available for you to join. What might be best for
you however, might not be the best for someone else. Before joining a
community, take a look at a few and get a feel for what the community offers
and if you like it.
Here are a few of the top online
communities to get you started
Start Up Nation was founded by
entrepreneurs, for entrepreneurs. It is a free service so there is no charge to
join. It is the top leading community for entrepreneurs and provides you with
everything you need to know to grow your business.It has a wealth of forums,
groups to join, articles to learn from, blogs, networking for members, and much
more.
This amazing community provides you
with guides, templates, videos, articles and information in all forms and a
blog to share your ideas. They also have a group on LinkedIn where you can
participate in discussions, share, and get advice on specific topics and
connect.
The Small Business Bonfire is a
smaller community, but it is top of my list. It is also a free community and
you have access to amazing tools for small business owners which you definitely
can’t get anywhere else. It also provides a forum, groups and networking. Other communities definitely worth
checking out are:
- Partner UP – Social networking for small businesses.
- Entrepreneur.com - Everything you ever need to know in one stop, definitely worth checking out.
If none of the 5 communities provide
you with what you are really looking for, why not get creative and build your
own community? Building a community is definitely time consuming but there are
so many benefits to you as a business owner that if you can do it, do it! You
will need to be very active and provide high quality content, connect on the
forums and keep the community growing. Communities don’t need to encompass
everything from the beginning, rather view it is a place for like minded people
to connect, share ideas, resources and learn from others. You can do this via a
forum, a membership site or even a mastermind group to get you started. So what
are you waiting for? If you feel like you could use some more support and
guidance in your business, take the first step now and reach out to a
community. If you know of other communities that should have been listed here…
please share below! To your success!
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