Meetup is a Great, (kind of) New Networking Tool

Like many others, I did not grow up in the area where I now live. I spent my first few years in this area as a college student enjoying the life of a student and socializing with my peers. I had signed up for Meetup on my arrival to LA, but found it void of groups that interested me. Ones that did had few members and few meetings that worked well with my schedule. At this time, it was not much of a loss anyway.

Once I finished my bachelors degree, I found myself in the business world trying to convince employers of the skill sets I had earned, while trying to take my education to the next level—a masters degree. Unfortunately I live in an area still in the initial stages of growth. Most local businesses are unsure of what technical writing is or what to do with a technical writer.  (See my previous post if you don’t either!) Guess who was at a loss on how to connect with other professionals who either A) could give me guidance, or B) were looking for people like me?

Ten points if you guessed yours truly!

A coworker and friend new to New Orleans was flourishing socially and professionally, and so I asked her secret. I was a bit surprised when she mentioned she had joined Meetup. A bit doubtful, I decided to give it another go.

After loading the app on my iPad, I discovered Meetup had grown tremendously. Not only were there significantly more groups that appealed to me, but there were also significant numbers of members which made the likelihood of planned events actually occurring much higher. And so I dove right in!

There are a number of technology related Meetups in the New Orleans area where I can meet other professionals. Freelancing has allowed me free time for pursuits such as reading, and I’ve found several Meetups for literary discussion. (Gotta keep my critical thinking skills sharp!) I have become so immersed in the many options for me to network, socialize, and discuss, that I have been considering the commitment of starting my own Meetup group locally!

Curious about joining other professionals in your industry? Here are some of the Meetup groups I have found in and around the Northshore/New Orleans area that may fit your interests as well:

• The Crescent City Business Referral Network - A networking group that will help you reach a broad range of professionals, this group regularly hosts a coffee and business card exchange. They also host speakers catering to varying business/professional interests.
• The New Orleans User Experience Group - Fellow tech writer? Have a hand in user experience at your company? Just want to learn more about the principles of UX? This group hosts discussions and speakers on topics related to UX such as:  Usability Testing, User Research, Visual Design, Information Architecture, and Interaction Design.
• Northshore Internet Sales & Marketing Meetup - Excited to announce I’ll be attending my first meeting with this group on Thursday! Great group to join if you are involved in online marketing or are seeking more knowledge in the area.
• New Orleans Intelligent Conversation & Culture Club - Each month NOICC has a book discussion. This month they will be discussing Eva Luna by Isabel Allende. They also gather for film festivals and viewings. Amazing group of individuals to join if you dig deep conversations on intellectual topics. Me, I’m all about the literary discussions!
• booze ‘n’ books - Northshore Edition - As suggested by the name, there is a New Orleans edition of this group as well. Each month they gather to discuss the book of the month at Barley Oak. Last month was a collection of short stories entitled, Writing That Risks. I’m looking forward to discussing this month’s selection, The Not Yet, a novel set in futuristic New Orleans.

Check out Meetup to find groups that fit your interests and location!