Did you know joining a professional association can help you save time and money?
If so, you’re not alone. There are over 90,000 trade, industry, and professional associations in the US with millions of members — all gaining the financial and networking benefits of membership.
Here are seven of the most powerful to consider.
- Continuing Education. Membership can give you access to education for yourself or your staff. Often options are in-person education or recorded educational content on-demand to fit your schedule and your pocketbook. Members typically receive discounted or complimentary rates for registration.
- Sharpen Your Competitive Edge. One of the biggest benefits of joining an association is the pool of knowledge and talent to draw from. Take advantage of the association’s educational resources, publications, events to share best practices with peers, and access member only information and advanced training opportunities to maintain an edge over non-members.
- Save time and money. Associations traditionally provide their members with group savings on many products and services. They also provide training and ideas to members on how that can be more efficient or otherwise save or make money.
- Find New Talent. Your new community should allow you to interact with the brightest minds and up-and-coming talent within your function or industry. Association events can be a fantastic place to meet top talent and even find your next best employee. Your association can help you find employees. Whether through an industry job board, member-exclusive job fairs, networking events, or the opportunity to be a mentor or provide an internship.
- Certification Assistance. Certifications can help your business stand apart. Many associations provide guidance and resources to member as well as certification assistance and discounts. Associations can help you provide required continuing education such as sexual harassment prevention training as discounted rates.
- Exclusive Industry Events. Joining an association may qualify you for special access and/or pricing to upcoming conferences, trade shows, and events in your area. Professional associations often have member-only events in which industry leaders of national and international organizations come together to strategize, share experiences, and explore pressing topics.
- Have a Voice. In a world where change is the only constant, membership provides you with a preexisting framework for industry organization and advocacy. This can put what will affect you, and your industry, closer to your reach.
In these fast-paced, dynamic times, it is more important than ever to stay on top of industry changes and new skills. Membership in a trade association is an indispensable way for your business to ensure you stay at the forefront of your profession. From education and recruiting, to advocacy and cost savings, the benefits of membership in a professional association are extensive and ever-growing.
Printing business and marketing agencies in Northern California choose the Visual Media Alliance as their preferred association.
Visual Media Alliance (VMA) provides printers, design agencies, and other small business owners and managers with support and resources to help the industry and your business thrive. We are a non-profit and put our mission to our members foremost.
Some of the ways that our members benefit for membership:
- VMA member receive complimentary access to Print University — on-demand virtual print production training with over 50+ courses and Spanish subtitles.
- VMA members enjoy monthly webinars on human resources, sales, marketing, and other topics. Past events include “Social Media for Small Business” and “Sales Prospecting Strategies”, “Top 10 Employment Law Gotchas.” Check out upcoming member Collective Conversations events.
- VMA members receive a slew of discounts from exclusive Apple product discounts to those for shipping, software, and much more.
- Every year, VMA invites members to an exclusive Cal Poly Graphic Communication program job fair. Members have been successful in finding fantastic new talent. We also offer a job board and other connections to help you find experienced and new employees in this tough market.
- VMA members get exclusive savings on FCS certification, helping them to differentiate their business and stay competitive.
- We have networking events all year round including our infamous winter Crabfest.
- We provide advocacy to protect the printing and graphic arts industries. And we provide opportunities for our members to support the next generation.
Contact Shannon Wolford, Director of Sales and Membership, at shannon@visualmediaalliance.org for more information and to join.