By Melanie White, Marketing Manager, Hellwig Products Co., Inc.
Learn how to use the great resources that the aftermarket industry has to offer.
Getting involved in your industry’s association can be the best way to get the most out of your Industry; It’s a great resource to you and your company. You’ll find it can be the ideal place to network, find industry standards, related legislation, statistics, etc.
Here are 5 easy steps to get more involved in your industry’s association.
1. Ask for advice
Ask other involved industry folks how they got started. People like to share their experiences, good and bad. They can help you make the right steps and avoid the bad ones. Ask more than one person too, you’ll learn everyone has had different experiences along the way.
2. Join Networks
If there is a related network: join it! It’s usually free or the fees minimal, and what you get back is worth that fee and more. Within SEMA there are a number of Councils and Committees, I belong to all of the following and get valuable information from each of the organizations: The Young Executive Network, YEN; SEMA Business Woman’s Network, SBN; Light Truck Accessory Alliance, LTAA; Professional Restyling Organization, PRO; Street Performance Council, SPC; Automotive Restoration Market Organization, ARMO; and SEMA Business Technology Committee, SEMA BTC.
3. Link to Industry People
Most of the industry folks you meet are involved in social media, so link to them! Ask to be their friend on Facebook, join their Linked In Network, follow them on Twitter. This will give you that direct link to them.
4. Solicit a Mentor
If you find someone that you look up to, ask if they would mind if you turned to them for advice. Most people will find it flattering and welcome the open line of communication. And if you are respectful of them and their time the relationship can continue for years. I have a mentor within SEMA. She had a lot of experience, was awarded woman of the year by SBN; to say the least I was impressed with her and I approached her to ask her how I could get more involved. When I did she recommended we get involved in SBN’s Mentor Program. It has been such a great experience to have someone with so much knowledge and success to take me under her wing. We still communicate often and it’s been 6 years.
5. Say YES!
Don’t be afraid to say YES. Most industry associations need time from volunteers, so find out where help is needed and volunteer your time. And you are the one that sets the amount of time you volunteer.
If you follow even just a few of these steps you’ll allow yourself to be more open to all that your industry’s association has to offer.
Author Bio:
Melanie White is a Marketing Manager and Outside sales representative for Hellwig Products Co., Inc. Melanie has been involved in the Automotive Aftermarket for 6 years. She has a seat on the LTAA select committee, belongs to the SBN Mentor program, an active member of PRO and very involved in SEMA as an association.
