Above all else, there’s gold to be mined in online groups. Here’s how ;
In the past two years, 70% of my consulting clients have come off the virtual forums I belong to. There are tons of benefits to joining these virtual support networks. From premium advice from people who are intimately familiar with your job, field or industry, to meeting potential partners, clients and mentors. I have also discovered and shared invaluable and priceless resources.
The most favorable virtual communities I have ever joined are on Slack. Recently, people have been using the platform to launch and maintain “digital community” forums for collaborating and connecting with like-minded professionals.
So, the real question isn’t, “Should I join a Slack community?” It is, “Which Slack communities should I join?”
1. If you’re a team lead…
You should join #People. HR professionals, people operations specialists, organizational psychologists, and managers use #People to, in the organization’s words, “find advice, inspiration, events, get feedback on ideas, take part in Q&A’s and AMAs, and get involved in discussions.”
There are different sub-groups for compensation, hiring, recruitment, benefits and perks, and training and coaching, so no matter what you’re looking for, you’ve got a good chance of finding it.
Application process: Yes
Membership fee: No
2. If you’re a remote worker…
You should join Workfrom. Designed for anyone who doesn’t work at a traditional office — including digital nomads, freelancers, business travelers, and students — this community comes with a lot of perks.
A free membership comes with recommendations for freelancer-friendly work spaces, along with info about their WiFi speeds and real-time seating capacity. For $5 a month, you get access to the chat room, discounts on goods and services, and exclusive features.
Application process: No
Membership fee: Yes
3. If you’re a software programmer…
You should join #CodeNewbie. This Slack chat is actually an extension of CodeNewbie’s thriving online community and gives you the opportunity to chat with other beginning developers, get help on tough problems, discuss software updates and news, and just hang out with people who are as obsessed with coding as you.
Application process: Yes
Membership fee: No
4. If you’re a freelancer…
You should join #Freelance. Being your own boss can be lonely — plus, it’s hard to find others who understand the unique challenges and rewards of freelancing. This organization will give you your own dose of water-cooler talk.
However, even if you’re completely uninterested in socializing with other contractors, #Freelance has a lot to offer. Discover how others have found clients, ask for advice, get leads, pair up with other freelancers, and trade services.
Application process: Yes
Membership fee: Yes
5. If you’re a UX designer or researcher…
You should join Designer Hangout. It’s not for amateurs, however: The “About” page warns wannabe members that if you don’t know what UX is, you’re probably in the wrong place. In addition, every member is pre-vetted.
The good thing about all these barriers-to-entry? They ensure high-quality discussions, debates, and resources. Plus, spammers and recruiters are virtually nonexistent.
Application process: Yes
Membership fee: No
6. If you’re a startup founder…
You should join #Startup. More than 2,000 founders around the globe are on #Startup, making it a truly international group. The discussion types range from Q&As and AMAs (“Ask Me Anything”) to traditional conversations. Personally, i have helped my startup clients hire directly from this slack channel. Also, you can solicit feedback on your product, get advice, and more.
Application process: Yes
Membership fee: Yes
7. If you’re a products manager…
You should join #Product-Led Growth (PLG). The PLG Slack community is the place to be if you’re a product manager in a SaaS business with a free trial or a freemium model or planning to go down that path. PLG is an actual community of smart and supportive products experts sharing information across all aspects of the discipline. #PLG was founded in October 2019 by an organization dedicated to promoting product-led growth. It should be the go-to source for anyone wanting to up their game and stay on top of the latest in products management.
Application process: No
Membership fee: No
8. If you’re a startups investor…
You should join VC Club. It’s composed of venture capitalists, angels, startup founders, and advisors. The main topics are fundraising, market trends and opportunities, investment strategy, and deals.
Even if you’re not looking to put money into any companies at the moment, it’s always smart to keep up with what’s going on in the funding world.
Application process: Yes
Membership fee: No
9. If you’re a marketer…
You should join #CreativeTribes. There are currently over 300 marketers, entrepreneurs and other creatives in the group, and their main focus is growing their businesses or reach.
CreativeTribes definitely has a communal atmosphere. Beyond sharing techniques, resources, and experiences with each other, members are also looking to “build their tribes.” If you’re looking for team members or trying to expand your following, this is a great Slack community to join.
Application process: Yes
Membership fee: Yes
10. If you’re a tech exec (or getting ready to be one)…
OnlineGeniuses is a digital marketing community. In this community, you will find a lot of VPs, CMOs of popular products, freelancers, consultants, and agency owners from every niche in the marketing ecosystem. It’s arguably the best and most active marketing-related workspace with tons of industry experts from across the globe and thousands of messages every day.
It’s free to join, but the team behind Online Geniuses vets every applicant manually.
