Benjamin Franklin once wrote, “An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.” He was right, especially when it comes to practical knowledge. Gaining knowledge — useful knowledge — is a clear strategy for learning how to add value.

That’s one of the main reasons why joining an association is a good idea. Done right, it is an investment in yourself and your future.

You can find trade and professional associations with a local, state or national presence. You might even want to consider belonging to more than one; for example, you could consider a general association, such as the Chamber of Commerce, but you can also look for something specific to your industry. The federal government lists national and state associations; you can find them online. Enter “associations” or “consumer trade organizations” at www.usa.gov; one of the resources on this website is the Consumer Action Handbook — Trade Associations. Another option is talking with colleagues or other people in your industry, and asking them what they would recommend.

Put some effort into evaluating any associations you think you might like to join. Check the event calendar and see what’s offered. Find some members, then contact them and ask them about their experiences.

Yes, it costs money to join. Sometimes people think that’s a reason not to join. If you join an association and you don’t take advantage of the many benefits that are offered in exchange for that membership fee, maybe they are right. Membership by itself does not justify the expense. Fortunately, however, there is more to joining an association than a membership card.

After you join an association, what are the main benefits you can expect? Read on.

Educational Opportunities

As mentioned above, an association’s educational opportunities are probably the most compelling reason to join. If you want to know what the best practices in your industry are, or the developing trends, membership in an association can give you a place to find out. You can learn new techniques, participate in training programs and conferences, and get written materials for yourself and (if people work for you) your employees. If attending national or international conferences is out of reach, you can still participate in webinars. Don’t forget the newsletters, either, which are a valuable resource that can give you timely information that has been written with your specific interests and needs in mind.

It is wise to stay current in your field, whether you are involved in formal training or not. An association can help you keep your competitive edge sharp.

Pooled Resources

Many associations want to make sure they understand their specific industries. As a result, they research and analyze subjects and create white papers and reports to tell association members what they found out.

By yourself, it’s unlikely you have the resources to pay for the kind, and quality, of research that most associations can commission. As part of an association, however, you do have the combined resources to make research possible. That’s a large benefit. When the people in an association decide they need information on a particular subject and use their combined resources to get and share that information with everyone in the group, everyone benefits.

Pooled resources can also mean access to enhanced benefits programs, certification and licensing programs, and discounts.

Advocacy

The U.S. is a complex society with many competing interests and needs. An association is an excellent way to work together as a group and to advocate for your industry. Can you imagine trying to hire a lobbyist to represent just your business? It would be expensive, and (worse) it would probably be ineffective, because one business by itself doesn’t seem all that important to politicians. Get an association involved, though, and the situation changes at once. What is expensive for one person is reasonable for a group of businesses. And when politicians understand that your association represents, say, an entire industry filled with members who are also likely to vote in upcoming elections, suddenly you have the politicians’ respect and potential support. Never underestimate the power of acting as a political group.

Relationships

We’ve gotten used to thinking of networking as a good way to advance a career, but what many people forget is that networking is nothing more than the power of good relationships being put to work. The unspoken foundation is that a network is made up of people who are actually friends. It starts with directories of other association members, but who knows where those relationships might end?

An association gives you plenty of excuses to get together with others in the association and, while benefiting from other membership benefits, also becoming friends. You can learn from these association friends. You can create partnerships and alliances. You can help each other. Even if it turns out that some of the friends you make are business competitors, an association can help your relationship to be more collaborative and less adversarial.

Understanding other people is an important part of doing business with them. Associations are the place where you can gain that understanding.

Keep in mind, too, that networking is not necessarily just for your personal benefit. Associations give you an opportunity to do something for your community that you couldn’t accomplish on your own. They offer a way to repay some of the kind efforts others have made to help you.