After signing up for an account through Meetup.com, you’ll be asked what your interests are. These can range from personal interests like comic books and hiking, all the way to business-focused interests.
Once you’re in, you’ll receive suggestions for groups you can join and events you can attend. Essentially, different groups on Meetup host various meetings and events centered around their main focus. So, for business, you might find a group specifically for tech startups. That group might be hosting events for networking, learning about new tech, or collaborative projects.
5 Reasons Meetup Works for Entrepreneurs
1. Learn and Network at the Same Time
Most of the business events on Meetup are a great blend of learning and networking. If you’re looking for a seminar that gives you a chance to learn a new skill or ask an expert some of the burning questions you’ve been holding back, it’s likely you’ll find an opportunity on Meetup.
2. See Who’s Attending So You Can Prepare
It’s always a bonus to know who you’ll have the opportunity to network with at an event. At the bottom of the event listings on Meetup, you can see other attendees so you’ll be prepared when you arrive. You can also see the members of different groups.
3. Find Your Niche Business Community
Are you looking to connect specifically with other tech startups? Maybe you have a financial services business and you want to get involved with other industry professionals?
No matter what your niche is, you’re likely to find a place for it on Meetup. And if you don’t, you can always….
4. Start Your Own Meetup Group & Create Events
Some of the groups you’ll find on Meetup, you’ll probably have seen somewhere else. However, some of them are completely unique to the platform, started by a single person or a few individuals coming together. If you’re having trouble finding your niche or you have an idea for an event or want to put together group of like-minded people, you can take the initiative and start your own Meetup group.
5. Find Personal Events
Meetup isn’t just for professional events. You can meet up with like-minded people to talk about parenting, walk your dogs, go for trail runs, and plan game nights.
As busy professionals, we don’t get a lot of time to connect with people outside business hours. Plus, studies have shown that work-from-home entrepreneurs often feel very isolated. Meeting people on a personal level to pursue some of the hobbies you love is a great way to combat isolation and loneliness, de-stress, and create a better work-life balance.
Upcoming Meetup Events in Edmonton
Here are just a few of the great meetups we found for small businesses over the next couple of months:
LinkedIn for Professionals #YEG
St. Albert Business Strategy Meetup Group
Tuesday, November 5th at 7pm
1928 74 St. SW Edmonton, AB
How to Support Your Startup Community (Webinar)
StartupBlink Global Map
Tuesday, November 12 at 3pm
Boost Your Business with Instagram
Edmonton Business Networking Group
Thursday, November 28 at 10am
#202, 10626 Jasper Ave Edmonton, AB
(11 spots left)
Google and YouTube Advertising Pop-Up
ATB Entrepreneur Centre (event located at the ATB Advisory Centre in West Edmonton)
Tuesday, Dec 3 at 12pm
17107 Stony Plain Road, Edmonton AB
Storytelling for Public Speaking, Connection & Visibility
Powerful Women Unite – Women’s Empowerment Network
Saturday, Dec 14 at 9am
10977 127 St. NW, Edmonton, AB
