Competitive intelligence organizations offer a slew of opportunities for positive exposure for your business. In addition to members of the competitive intelligence group who work within the industry in some capacity, you will have opportunities to be recognized by other competitive intelligence society members, including businesses and government organizations that support the society of competitive intelligence professionals.

Affiliation with a society of competitive intelligence professionals provides lobbying and networking opportunities that can be immensely helpful to your own business interests, while you support the industry. Membership in competitive intelligence organizations often means access to information and contacts that can be important to your own company. Local competitive intelligence organizations offer even more chances to network with local business and industry leaders in your community. Use your membership in councils for competitive intelligence to further your marketing efforts for your business and your own career in a number of different ways.

1. Expand your network through competitive intelligence associations

2. Support the industry by participating in a competitive intelligence society

3. Find a better job through competitive intelligence group connections

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

Develop business contacts in a competitive intelligence association

Competitive intelligence associations hold regular meetings, seminars and conventions for members and interested parties. At association for competitive intelligence events, as well as through various committees in which you can participate, you will have numerous occasions to socialize and network with other business people who support and work with the competitive intelligence industry. The business leaders you meet could offer a number of trade opportunities for you and your company.

I recommend: The Society for Competitive Intelligence Professionals is one of the leading competitive intelligence orgs for networking, education and advocacy. The Global Intelligence Alliance is a network of CI professionals and related business professionals who work together for furthering research in more than 100 countries.

Show your interest by joining competitive intelligence associations

If you hope to do business with any competitive intelligence companies in any kind of capacity, you will want to express your support as well as meet national and local leaders in the industry. You often can do this best by participating in a competitive intelligence group with both your presence and your financial support.

I recommend: BioPortfolio is a competitive intelligence organization that strives to further effective relationships for its members. CI is a division of the Special Libraries Association with a separate membership and priorities specifically geared toward the competitive intelligence group.

Show off your skills at competitive intelligence organizations

Whether you are just breaking into the CI field or you are looking to further your career through a move to another company, you can make some great contacts at an association for competitive intelligence. While working the group and building relationships, you can utilize the educational portions of most competitive intelligence association offerings as well as proving your mettle as a stable volunteer.

I recommend: The American Society for Information Science focuses primarily on education and networking, a great place to land a new gig. The American Marketing Association is one of the largest associations in the world, of which competitive intelligence is a growing subsidiary, recognized as vital to any real marketing efforts.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Join a committee in your competitive intelligence organization to develop closer relationships with others who could be helpful to your career in CI as well as those business leaders who can send additional business your way.