Industry communities
Running a business can be a lonely job, and the open internet is a poor place to ask a specific question. A community of people in your own industry is where the useful answers are.
The short answer
An industry community is a group of business owners in the same sector who ask and answer each other's questions. It works because the people replying have the same problems you do. On GrowthSync, communities are organised by industry and interest, and every member, free included, can join, post and comment.
Why your own industry gives better answers
Nearly half (44%) of smaller business owners in the UK say they have felt lonely or isolated while running their business, according to research by the British Business Bank and YouGov. Part of the answer is simply having people to ask who understand the question.
A general forum gives you general answers. Ask a room of people in your sector about pricing, suppliers, regulation or a difficult client and the replies come from experience, often with the detail you actually needed.
How communities work on GrowthSync
- Organised by industry and interest. Find them by name or by category.
- Open to every member. Free members can join, post and comment, the same as paid ones.
- Verified posting. Posting needs a verified account and a verified phone number, and commenting needs a verified account. That is what keeps them usable.
- Safety built in. Members can block and report, with moderation behind it.
A small number of communities are for Elite members; they are listed for everyone so you can see what is there.
Getting value from a community
Ask specific questions, answer one for every one you ask, and move good conversations into a direct chat once both of you want to. Communities are a good way to get to know someone before you ask anything bigger of them, which is how a lot of partnerships start.
Sources
Common questions
Are GrowthSync communities free?
Yes. Every member, including those on the free plan, can join communities, post and comment. A small number of communities are reserved for Elite members.
Why do I need to verify my phone number to post?
Verification is what keeps communities free of throwaway accounts. Posting needs a verified account and a verified phone number; commenting needs a verified account.
What is an industry community?
A group of business owners in the same sector who ask and answer each other's questions, share suppliers and compare notes, so the answers come from people with the same problems.
Meet the business owners who fit what you are building.
Joining is free, your profile takes a few minutes, and the free plan is permanent.