If you own a company in the mergers and acquisitions industry, you would do well to partner with mergers and acquisitions associations to strengthen your business expertise and credibility. Industry organizations bring together professionals with similar goals and challenges. Members of industry organizations come from across company divisions, but all share the same objective of expanding their knowledge.

Becoming a member of the right organization opens the door to a wealth of expertise. You will be exposed to many networking opportunities, information and resources. Additionally, merger and association groups may also provide invaluable services that include new products, education opportunities and industry support. When looking for membership with a merger and association group, remember the following:

1. Make sure the association you're interested in is credible. Check the Better Business Bureau or other industry accreditations.

2. Many organizations don’t stipulate membership for certification.

3. If you are considering a M&A association for its online resources, look for one with a current forum where you can discuss issues with industry experts in real time.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Join M&A associations that offer a full schedule of events and conferences

Events and conferences are a boon to any business. They give you an opportunity to network and share issues with industry peers. More importantly, they give your company exposure within the industry, and provide you an opportunity to further your relationships with other businesses. Try and pick organizations with nationally-recognized events.

I recommend: The Association for Corporate Growth provides a substantial calendar of events for networking opportunities. The International Business Brokers Association offers information on future and past conferences.

Take advantage of certification opportunities provided by M&A organizations

Progress stops for no one, and you need to advance as a professional by keeping your industry skills sharp and current. Take advantage of educational programs and tools to assist you and your employees in knowledge development and career advancement. Many organizations offer information on upcoming seminars, conferences, business development courses and other industry-related programs,

I recommend: The Alliance of Merger & Acquisition Advisers and The Institute of Business Appraisers both offer a variety of educational programs, including Certified Merger & Acquisition Adviser (CM&AA) Credentialing and corporate education.

Find online merger and acquisition associations that maintain active web forums

The forum on an industry organization's website can be a great source of support. Forums are a real-time communication opportunity. Any business with a question or concern can raise it in a forum and receive up-to-date responses from a variety of experts. Check to see that forum discussions have current activity before you join.

I recommend: Association of Professional Merger and Acquisition Advisors offers a forum for live discussions. The Human Capital Institute provides corporate social networking so you can discuss issues pertaining to mergers and acquisitions.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Networking is a great business tool. Make sure you are stocked with business cards so you can market yourself and your company to councils for M&A.