Groups for social media enthusiasts and practitioners are popping up, and that’s a great thing. Whether you’re a lone soldier looking to network, or a large corporation that needs to take social media beyond the basics, there’s a group for you. Here, just a few that I’ve come across in my travels (and feel free to share yours in the comments!):

Free Memberships

Marketing 2.0

Marketing 2.0 is a burgeoning community that, in their own words, “is a community of passionate marketers sharing ideas, insights, advice, stories, and occasional rants and raves about how to operationalize Web 2.0. In other words, how to bake things like social media, conversational marketing, and online communities into the foundation of marketing.”

I personally love this approach and am encouraged by the potential of their membership. I’m particularly fond of the companion community that has a bevy of great information on the blog and through the member forum. Just reading can teach you a lil’ something new. (Note: I’m a member).

Society for Word of Mouth

Billed as the place to be for those who seek word of mouth enlightenment, SWOM is a fun community with some great personalities at the helm – BenMcConnell and Jackie Huba. (You might know them from their awesome Church of the Customer Blog or their book Citizen Marketers). It’s purpose is to be a free social network for those immersed (or just interested) in word of mouth, and to be a premium educational resource so it’s community can bring word of mouth to their own organization. I’m big fans of theirs, so I hurried to join when I learned about it.

There are local groups for SWOMies, as well as a discussion forum, a library of resources, and some great videos. With just shy of 1,000 members, I’m eager to see where Jackie, Ben, and the community take this.

Paid Memberships

Social Media Club

You may have been hearing the buzz around Twitter, Plurk, or the Blogosphere about the SMC’s announcement of their 42 board members. Founded by Chris Heuer, Howard Greenstein and Kristie Wells, the SMC says this about their reason for being: “Social Media Club is being organized for the purpose of sharing best practices, establishing ethics and standards, and promoting media literacy around the emerging area of Social Media.”

Chapters are getting off the ground across the globe, and promise to deliver some great events and networking opportunities for us social media type people. Membership is truly a steal: Just $100 for a professional membership up to $2,500 for a corporate membership of 10. They even offer a free “open” membership if the hundred bucks is just too much for you right but you’d like to somehow be involved.

There doesn’t appear to be a Chicago chapter alive and kicking yet, but maybe I’ll kick off an email…

Word of Mouth Marketing Association

According to their website, WOMMA is the official trade association for the word of mouth marketing industry. WOMMA’s mission is to promote and improve word of mouth marketing by:

* Promoting “best practices” to ensure more effective marketing
* Protecting consumers and the industry with strong ethical guidelines
* Evangelizing word of mouth as an effective marketing tool
* Setting standards to encourage its use

Membership includes networking opportunities, access to research, and event discounts. Members include marketing and advertising agencies, PR firms, educational institutions, consumer products companies, and more. Membership fees start at $1,000 per year for small businesses up through $10,000 per year for governing members.

International Blogger and New Media Association

From the IBNMA site: The IBNMA has been formed to serve as a single voice representing members of the industry and as an advocate to promote its growth. The Association’s mission is four-fold, to provide: Research, information, education and advocacy to bloggers, podcasters, social media consultants and others related to the industry in any way.

My buddy Paul Chaney has been talking about the recent relaunch of this org, for which he serves as President. For $25, I think it’s worth checking out. They’re talking about an intranet for members, and continuing their current benefits that include discounted registration to BlogWorld and New Media Expo. It’s still a little new, but I’m all for giving us students of social media more places to gather, share, and learn.

Society for New Communications Research

SNCR is a non-profit think tank that’s “dedicated to the advanced study of the latest developments in new media and communications, and their effect on traditional media and business models, communications, culture and society.”

With several publications and educational events, including the well-regarded New Communications Forum, SNCR is the academic arm of the marketing 2.0 world. Membership starts at a mere $250 per year for students, and range from $495 for associate membership all the way to $25,000 to be a corporate partner.

Blog Council

If you’re part of a large company that’s already gone through the growing pains of integrating social media and blogging, the Blog Council might be a great fit for you. It’s intended to bring together senior executives to explore issues and share best practices with one another in a private, productive environment.

The member list is impressive; I think it’s a valuable place for the “big kids” that are looking to take their social media efforts to the next level. It’s also designed to be intensely respectful of demanding executive schedules; events are based on rapid-fire phone calls between members and online forums, and just three live one-day meetings per year that are about peer-to-peer discussions and networking. Hop on over to their website if you are (or know of) a senior corporate executive that ought to be part of this.

I’m sure this is just the start of what’s to come in our industry. And don’t forget to check out some of the other larger industry organizations like the American Marketing Association, a local Interactive Marketing Association group, or Media Bistro’s AvantGuild association. Please let me know what groups I’ve missed!

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