In this guest writer feature, Fiona Broomfield, content editor at RBD Community (RBDC), talks about how to harness the power of business community
I’ve been part of a community – in many different guises – for as long as I can remember. From school clubs and university alumni to musical fan groups and professional communities with work. And I know I’m not alone, we’ve all been part of communities at some point in our lives, and the majority of us still are. Although we might not put a ‘community’ label on them as such, we are all part of communities where we feel a sense of belonging and benefit.
Community is in fact a valuable and intrinsic part of life, and of business. The latter of which can be an incredibly powerful force. Because when we build business communities where people feel a sense of belonging, benefit and mutual common interest, we can unlock extraordinary competitive advantages.
The rail community
The RBD Community is really coming into its own. In the six years since it was created it has attracted a diverse and expanding membership. It’s growing fast and is the go-to rail business platform for people to make high quality connections, raise their business profiles, access the latest market intelligence and discover new opportunities to win business.
RBD is the driving force behind it, providing members with a carefully selected package of profile enhancing, intelligence and networking benefits that are worth thousands to businesses every year – for less than £1 membership a day.
These benefits were enhanced earlier this year and now include:
- Brand-boosting news stories seen by thousands of rail decision-makers and influencers daily.
- Advertising in Rail Director magazine.
- Microsite hosted on RBD with 23 million views a year and valuable backlinks and Google search visibility.
- Promotion in the Rail Business Daily 7am newsletter.
- Marketing and website review.
- Annual magazine subscriptions and newsletters.
- Access to bids, tenders, grants, funding, insights, reports, new to rail resources and more all easily accessible in the community portal One Place.
- Free access to The UK Rail Report – a must read for everyone in rail – and other business building and marketing network intelligence and events to help people get ahead in the industry.
Everything in one place
And that’s just the beginning, we’ve revamped the community’s portal One Place which is where members go to for all the information, analysis and help that they need to grow in the rail industry. From bids and tenders, grants and funding to marketing opportunities and business and industry insights and reports. As well as the latest events, webinars and networking opportunities. Making it easier for members to get up to date information in one place in just a few clicks.
The community is also here to help members to turn meetings into meaningful relationships so they can do business with partners here in the UK and abroad. And introducing members to new partners who can help them enter new markets. The Danish Rail Report within One Place is a great example of this. Several UK businesses are now speaking to Danish authorities in rail as a direct result. And the team is on hand to help to answer any rail related questions RBDC members have.
There are so many growth opportunities available to companies working in rail, which is why we’re so committed to helping members maximise their potential.
Being a part of a growing a rail community that benefits, empowers and brings together the whole rail community to unlock competitive advantages. Giving you a membership experience where profiles are enhanced to increase visibility and credibility in the sector and members can make connections and collaborate.
Together with members, the community is also addressing challenges, for example working with other rail organisations to help SMEs win more work in rail, overcome traditional entry barriers, bring innovations into the sector, and navigate tendering and procurement processes.
More resources and benefits are being added to the community membership, including free access to The UK Rail Report which is £500 to non-members, making it an exciting time to be part of this valuable business community.
You can find out more, or sign up to join RBD Community, by contacting me at [email protected]
