Join organisations whose meetings you enjoy (or you will find reasons not to participate) and then get actively involved. Volunteer for projects that have high visibility within the organisation, and treat these positions as you would any other professional obligation.
Here are some specific steps to take with your own trade association and with the organisations your customers belong to:
- Read the association’s publications
- Call the editors and pitch article ideas
- Write and submit articles
- Distribute reprints of any articles you write to your entire database
- Write letters to the editors
- Join their online forums and answer questions
- Provide comments on their blogs
- Go to meetings and conferences
- Get on a committee
- Volunteer to speak (or find a speaker)