Associations for Smarter Small Business Marketing
Marketing Associations
Direct Marketing Association (provides information, articles, resources, and service to direct marketing professionals)
Business Marketing Association (association for business-to-business marketers and communicators)
Associations (Relevant for Professional Speakers)
Meeting
Professionals International
The 17,200 members of MPI are meeting-industry professionals who plan and/or
manage meetings for corporations and associations. The group offers educational
programs to help members obtain the Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) designation.
Contact: 972.702.3000
National
Speakers Association
NSA, an association of more than 3,800 professional speakers and businesses
that serve the speaking industry, offers the Certified Speaking Professional
(CSP) program; it holds a convention and several regional training workshops
and labs each year. It produces Professional Speaker magazine, Who's Who in
Professional Speaking: A Meeting Planner's Guide, and the "Voices
of Experience" audiotape program. Members also have access to SpeakerLink, the association's
Web resource.
Contact: 480.968.2552
Toastmasters
International
Toastmasters is a not-for-profit educational organization devoted to helping
people improve their public-speaking skills. Internationally, nearly 190,000
members belong to 8,800 local clubs, which meet regularly to give members the
opportunity to learn and practice public-speaking techniques.
Contact: 949.858.8255
International
Society of Meeting Planners
ISMP includes professionals from more than 90 countries who plan or coordinate
meetings or represent meeting sites. The group offers three professional designations:
Registered Meeting Planner, Certified Event Planner and Certified Destination
Specialist.
Contact: 320.763.4919