How Strangers on the Internet Became My Best Business Advisors: A Love Letter to Slack Communities
I don’t believe I have ever loved the power of the internet as much as I have this past month.
In the past 30 days, I have met fellow marketing professionals and business owners making magic happen in their part of the world.
And I do mean the world.
Sure, connecting with people in the age of the internet is easy and I have met and worked alongside people across the U.S. and in Canada (shout out to my publisher, Grammar Factory!).
But it wasn’t until early summer when a contact here in Charlotte asked me if I had been connected with Slack communities that I realized just how small my backyard was.
“Slack?” I responded, “Uh, you mean my team’s Slack channel?”
“Girl, not even close.” (She didn’t say that, but she should have).
She introduced me to a handful of communities that fit our shared niche of marketing professionals and women leaders in business. As I researched more, I realized that this might be exactly the type of networking I didn’t realize I was missing.
Maybe you already know about these communities. For Startups alone, I found a list of 400+ Slack communities, soooo they’ve been around for a while. However, if this sounds like new territory to you, here are my top takeaways:
Experience Where it Matters
It’s easy to go to Google (or ChatGPT) and ask questions about a new tool or sit at your desk and stare at your screen asking the void: “Why isn’t this strategy working?” OR you can ask a group of professionals who have a unique perspective on what’s ailing you. Recently, I had been hitting my head against the wall on why a specific client strategy wasn’t producing results. I shared the question with one of my Slack communities, and their responses brought clarity (and calm).
Like Yelp for Marketers
I feel like I’m rediscovering my industry all over again. And in the age of AI, it feels impossible to know every single tool out there - or to know which one you should focus your energy on. Most marketers are pummeled with news on this new SEO tool or that new LLM tool. While I love efficiency (thank you, Asana), some tools are just not the right fit. Now, I can ask these communities if they have tried said tool, what their thoughts were, and if it was worth a swing at bat. It’s the absolute best version of “try it before you buy it.”
Really Good People
Normally, I am hesitant to ask strangers on the internet for their advice (OK, I’m actually terrified), but these communities are vetted. You have to fill out an onboarding form, provide your LinkedIn profile (a highly verifiable source), pay a monthly fee AND the channels are moderated. So when I have business questions or just need a safe space to feel seen when a client acts like a jerk, I have it. The people here are good. They’re smart. They’re here to be connected. As far as “internet friends” go - I’d argue I trust them more than most people in my Facebook feed.
Byeee, Doomscrolling!
Each evening, instead of doomscrolling news, Reddit or Instagram, I have been scrolling through these communities and catching up with the posts from the day. Instead of feeling less-than through perfectly curated algorithms, I’m learning about new AI tools that are making business easier or providing support (and experience) as people build their own business. It reminds me that while I may not love social media or digital marketing every day, I love building a business. And more importantly, I love sharing my unpretty experience with others - especially women.
Originally, I joined these groups for business development. I hoped to find job postings and projects that would be a good fit for my team. I did not know (or could have guessed) what else I would have discovered. As I’m writing this, I have already had a dozen virtual coffees with people in New Hampshire, Massachusetts, New York, Virginia, California, France (2 actually!), Kenya and Czechia. What truly solidified the power of this community happened just a couple of weeks ago. In the span of 24 hours:
I discussed LinkedIn strategies with William in Kenya who is developing his own AI assistant (and who couldn’t believe I was 40 ha! Thanks, William!)
I laughed with Erin in the Bay Area while she shared the beginning of her entrepreneurial journey and we talked candidly about pricing for clients.
And I connected with Lucie in Czechia as she educated me on her work with YouTube, LLMs and influencer marketing - just before she picked up her son from daycare.
My experience with these communities - and the individuals who bring them alive - have reignited the spark that I have perhaps lost in the last few years. I am re-inspired about the work I do because of the work I see them doing, and I don’t feel quite as lost when I don’t know what I’m doing some days (or even why). These smart, like-minded - and just plain cool - people have pointed the way and ever so gently reminded me that the path I am on is indeed the right one.
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If you are in Marketing and are looking for a Slack Community, check out The Growth Tribe run by Silvi. You can thank me later. 💛