Why entrepreneurs and small business owners need community

Rand Fishkin, CEO & Co-Founder of SEOmoz once said,

“Don’t build links. Build relationships.”

There is no truer statement when it comes to becoming an entrepreneur, and building a successful business. A community of entrepreneurs and a community for small business owners not only provides the opportunity to network with like-minded individuals; it creates the atmosphere where we can gain the knowledge of experienced professionals who have come before us.

Networking | Support

Joining a community for small business owners, people who share your goals and aspirations opens up a range of benefits to your business. Being able to bounce ideas off of one another is invaluable, especially for those of us just starting out. Often times, the support we find within a community cannot be found at home or among our friends, because they simply do not understand our vision. A community is there to share our success stories with and encourage us through our failures. Not to get religious here, but a community is there to lift you up when no one else will.

It goes without saying, that a community goes both ways. What we put into it, is in direct comparison to what we get out of it. Giving back to the community is as important as learning from it. Be engaging, and participate. Become a mentor, or simply a listening ear to someone whose shoes you were once in. Help to build the community by sharing your experiences.

“Don’t build links. Build relationships.” – Rand Fishkin @SEOmoz

Click To Tweet

Knowledge | Resources

One of the biggest deterrents of entrepreneurship is not understanding that mistakes help you grow. A community provides a roadmap that bypasses many of the common pitfalls each of us will face. In other words, it allows us to learn from each other’s mistakes before we commit them ourselves. Sharing best practices, tips, and suggestions, and resources are what community is all about. It’s having the desire to help others succeed and trusting they will do the same for you.

This is vital for entrepreneurs just starting out. Depending on your niche, deciding which software to use can be an overwhelming task. Being able to ask questions in an open forum, receive suggestions, and specific tools of the trade are priceless advantages to growing your business.

Inspiration | Motivation

When we think about a community for entrepreneurs, it is easy to acknowledge the business advantages they provide. What can be harder to recognize, is the mental and emotional nourishment a community offers us, such as the continuous optimism on days of uncertainty. A community is a steady source of encouragement, that every entrepreneur needs in order to get up the next day and try again.

We need communities for entrepreneurs and communities for small businesses to push us past our fears, support our perseverance, and applaud our accomplishments.

COMMUNITY + RESOURCES + ACCOUNTABILITY

FOR ENTREPRENEURS AND BUSINESS OWNERS

Join the Savvy Entrepreneur Private Facebook Community for community, accountability, support, and resources.