There is a secret organization savvy event profs join that gives them a leg up on the competition. No, not the Freemasons, Illuminati, or the Stonecutters. We're talking about LinkedIn Groups.
You're probably already on LinkedIn (we are). But the value LinkedIn provides goes beyond your feed and your network. LinkedIn Groups are often vibrant, active online communities filled with thousands of like-minded professionals who gather to share news, ask questions, and connect with experts in their fields. Dedicate a few minutes a day to these groups and you'll quickly find yourself more knowledgeable and better connected event professional.These are not open communities; you must apply for membership and be approved by a group administer, and all group conversations happen in private. But that small amount of effort unlocks a whole world of value.
Here are some of our favorites.
Event Planning & Event Management the 1st Group for Event Professionals
By far the biggest and—let's be honest—the best LinkedIn Group for event professionals, this highly active group always has numerous wide-ranging discussions happening at any given time. It's run by Julius Solaris, one of our essential #eventprofs to follow on Twitter. This group—smartly, since it's so active— has several regional and topical subgroups, so you'll never miss a relevant post.
Some of those subtopic groups include...
- Social Media and Event Technology for Event Planners and Meeting Planners
- Sales & Marketing Tips & Strategies for Event Planners, Meeting Planners & Event Managers
- Career Advice for Event Planning & Management
Some of the regional groups include...
- Washington, D.C. Networking Events & Professional Development
- New York Networking Events & Professional Development for Event Planners
- San Francisco Bay Area Event Planners & Event Professionals
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While you could just stick to that group and its sub-groups, there are several other groups worth joining.
Event Managers
With almost 140,000 members, this is the second largest group for event professionals. Beyond the lively discussions and interesting articles being shared, their Event Digest threads, a periodic roundup of articles and relevant news, make this group a worthwhile time-saver.
Event Marketing Pros
Join the 20,000-member strong Event Marketing Pros group to hone your marketing skills (also be sure to download our Event Marketing Best Practices Guide).
BizBash - Event Planners Gather
BizBash is an essential website for anyone in the events industry. Their active LinkedIn Group is a great place to stay abreast of the latest news and articles of interest to event professionals.
Event Technology
Yes, we have a special affinity for event technology. Which is why the discussions and news being shared within this group are like catnip for tech-loving event profs like us. But it's not just for the diehard; this is a great group to join to learn about how event technology can transform your event.
AMC Institute
It may be smaller than some of the other groups mentioned, but the AMC Institute LinkedIn Group is a great, quick way stay on top of important discussions in the association space.
Don't stop there!
There's more to the #eventprofs internet community than just blogs! Read our 11 Essential Blogs for Event Professionals and our 12 Essential #eventprofs to Follow on Twitter too, or subscribe to our blog for more inspirations:
