Pivot Your Career by Starting a Business on Meetup

Find out how small businesses, consultants, and creatives are already using Meetup to launch independent careers or take part in the booming side hustle economy.

By Kathryn J. Schaub

Reviewed by Mary Garcia

The pandemic caused a fundamental shift in the way people approach work. Between layoffs, parents who left their jobs to care for kids, and “the Great Resignation,” workers are using this moment as an opportunity to make more intentional choices about their careers.

More and more people are turning to Meetup as a place to strike out on their own. No matter your passion and skills, Meetup can help you find a community, and in turn, your customers. Whether you’re an artist looking to monetize your passion, a small business owner looking to expand your customer base, or a tour guide looking to build an audience, there’s no better time than now to harness the power of Meetup to make your dreams a reality. Here are some ways to get started.

Learn by example

One of the best ways to figure out how to structure your Meetup group and events is to learn from organizers who have already found success on the platform. Consider this an incubation phase where you can find inspiration and learn about resources. After attending some events hosted by successful Meetup groups ask yourself:

What are some things you particularly like about the structure?
What are some things you’d definitely do differently?
What are some potential obstacles you’ll need to plan for?
How did the organizer make attendees feel instantly welcome?
What tools were used to keep everyone engaged?
In what ways did the organizer promote and nourish their community?

Meetup organizers are natural helpers, so feel free to see if an organizer you find especially inspirational would be willing to do an informational session or virtual coffee chat. Ask them what they did to become successful on the platform and what roadblocks you should be prepared to troubleshoot. Who knows, you might even end up finding the perfect business partner on Meetup just like the CEO of Dame, Alexandra Fine.

Customize the look and feel of your group

Make sure you’re branding your group appropriately. Branding applies to everything from the images used for the group and events, language in a description, to the name of the group itself. Good branding is essential as it helps create a consistent, coherent experience for customers and makes your group stand out by looking more polished and professional. Put your best foot forward by selecting the perfect name for your group and pairing it with a well-crafted description. Make sure the name is accurate, descriptive, and neither too broad nor too specific.

If you’re focusing on a niche topic or activity, be sure to mention it in the title to make it easier for your target audience to find you. When it comes to the description, it’s best to keep it short and sweet while still hitting all the relevant details and buzzwords. Make sure both the name and the description are unique and authentic to you and the business you’re launching, as this will not only help people find you but will ensure your group is branded appropriately.

For a great example of how to accomplish this, look no further than Meetup group Street Art Tour Paris. The group’s title perfectly explains everything you need to know about the group and what you can expect from an event. The description goes into more specific details and introduces members to the organizer. To learn more about how the organizer of this group made leading art tours her full-time occupation, check out this Q&A from April 2021.

Find your audience (and your customers!)

Part of the magic of Meetup is that if you build it, they will come! By “they,” we mean Meetup members looking for a fun, community-centered experience. When you start a new group, Meetup automatically promotes it to members who have an interest in your group’s topics. With that said, it never hurts to promote your Meetup group (and by extension your brand) on other social media channels including Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and LinkedIn. Learn more about getting your new group off the ground from Shakayra Stern, organizer of Mixed Girl Meetup.

How and when to charge

There are so many ways to monetize your group, from charging membership fees within our platform, arranging payment through Venmo or CashApp. Just be sure to make your fees clear in the event description and set up a method for ensuring people can’t attend without paying the fee. Check out this guide for setting up dues in a Meetup group.

It’s also always a great business practice to have some freebies, whether it’s special sessions simply for advertising purposes or an intro, or arranging for people to try out a few events for free as a test run. Luc Bouchard, Career Coach and Organizer of the Bare Bones Communications Network gives great advice for when to charge and when not to in this Community Matters blog post.

Never forget Meetup’s mission (or yours)

Meetup’s mission is straightforward: “help people grow and achieve their goals through real-life, human connections.” The platform tends to attract members and organizers who are mission-driven and community-oriented, which means that when using the platform to do business, you need to be authentically yourself to be successful. Avoid overly self-promotional overtures, covert sales pitches, or MLM-style business tactics. If your product is great and your personality shining, you’ll have no problem finding plenty of customers. Just make sure you’re making group members feel enriched and empowered rather than swindled and duped. Hear Meetup CEO David Siegel’s insights on growing a professional network and customer base on this episode of The Art of Charm podcast.

Just get started

What’s our top tip for succeeding with your new business venture or side hustle? It seems easy in theory, but is probably the step people struggle with most: just get started!

Every successful business under the sun had a day one at some point, a time when the founder took a risk to pursue their dream. Sometimes that first step can feel like the hardest, and it’s hard not to overthink the uncertainty, but there’s no use in building a plan you never end up executing. Stop delaying your dreams and start your group on Meetup today.