Find a list of associations for your industry

No matter how esoteric, chances are there's a trade organization for your profession. An Internet search for "trade association" or "professional organization" plus your industry or profession should yield what you need.

I recommend: Google's Business Directory features an "Associations" category with a listing by industry and also a directory of Professional Organizations.

Choose the best group for your interests

There may be dozens of local, national, and international organizations geared toward your industry. Often simply talking with colleagues will clue you in on the better ones to join, or sometimes a little digging is needed to find the right fit.

I recommend: Scan alumni and trade magazines for mentions of key professional organizations. Talk to others in your field who can suggest a good group based on first-hand experience. The Trade Show News Network and AllConferences.com allow you to search for trade shows based on industry – a good "back door" way to determine what groups are sponsoring the best shows and conferences.

Find the best benefits

Different associations provide differing levels of member benefits, with everything from member discounts with select vendors to monthly newsletters to online discussion forums for virtual networking. It's up to you to weigh the cost of joining against the benefits.

I recommend: Many trade associations offer worthwhile insurance benefits to their self-employed members – including the National Association for the Self-Employed, which among other things offers a hard-to-find pre-tax medical spending plan.