You're A Member, Now What?
Dear Member,
First, I want to say THANK YOU. Whether you realize it or not, your new headshot proudly posted to our Member Directory says, “I’m here to support women-owned businesses, I want to help other women succeed, and I believe that women are better together.”
This is an essential message that the world needs to hear. With every new member, our message gets louder, and we recruit more women who want to make #womenhelpingwomen a lifestyle, not just a trendy hashtag.
Your commitment to be a part of our community means that you have an opportunity to change the lives of women you connect with while you learn. You will be challenged, be inspired, and be empowered to reach a new level of success in your own business.
To get the most out of your membership, you’ll need to be equally committed to growing your own business and helping other women grow theirs. Attend events, maybe even apply to speak at one, ask and answer questions in the Facebook group, and leverage the Member Directory to find women you can collaborate with and learn from.
View the women in this membership as your business allies, not a group to sell your products and services to. (Why? Learn more >)
Here are my top 3 tips for making the most of your membership right away:
01 Introduce Yourself and Make an Ask
Share about yourself in our Members Only Facebook Group, but don’t just tell us who you are and what you do, tell us WHY you do it. Be sure to include some of your personal journey and MAKE AN ASK that includes what you’re looking for. Example “asks” are places to speak or to contribute content, warm introductions, Instagram followers or Facebook page likes, sharing about an upcoming event, or consulting on a particular topic like the best CRM to use or the best small business accountant.
02 Leverage Your 250+ New Connections
Head over to your Member Dashboard and open the Member Directory. Browse by industry and check out 5-10 profiles of women who look interesting. Be sure to follow them on Facebook or Instagram so you can gradually get to know them and find out if they’re someone you should reach out to. Make a note somewhere to do this once a week. Then begin to set up one 15 min virtual coffee every 1-2 weeks with a woman who stands out to you. Be sure to use our Virtual Coffee Cheat Sheet and Step-by-Step Virtual Coffee Agenda to make the most of your new connection.
03 Show Up and Speak Up
Bookmark our Events page and be sure to attend as many events as possible. Not only do we feature high-quality speakers from who you can learn, but we always allow time for members to share about their business. It’s important to get away from our computers or our storefronts (if we’re in person) and see new faces other than our clients and customers.
Prepare for the event by thinking through who will be there (our members) and what specific ask you can make to the group to help you with what you’re working on. Don’t forget to think about what the speaker or sponsor could offer you (maybe a free consult or introduction to someone?)
Our speakers range from international facilitators to hard-to-reach PR professionals to C-Suite execs. Read their bio, check out who they’re connected with on LinkedIn, and be clear on your ask. There’s no better time to reach out to them than right after an event when you can reference something they said.
Be brave, be vulnerable, and most importantly - remember that we’re all human.
Your goal is to connect with women who believe what you believe. When your values are aligned, helping each other becomes easy. Now get in there and show us what you got!