Last week I discussed what creative masterminds are & why they’re important.

Mastermind groups are freaking fantastic because you’ll get support and feedback from people that really get what you’re going through. And that’s really important because freelancing can get lonely especially if you’re a one-person, kitchen table office dwelling, PJ wearing operation.

Mastermind groups can be time-consuming, but they’re also one of the most worthwhile things you can possibly be part of on Facebook.

Are you interested in joining your first mastermind group? Here’s something that you need to keep in mind: all mastermind groups are invite-only; however, it’s a system that’s in place for a reason.

Mastermind groups are invite-only and have strict rules in order to keep the trolls, spam, and mean-spirited behavior out of the group.

I totally get it. You’re probably worried that you won’t get accepted. But don’t worry, because you don’t have to be someone famous, or any other kind of VIP to get accepted.

If you’re interested in joining a mastermind group, keep on reading; today I’m going to share a wide variety of tips on how to get your invite accepted.

I’m also going to show you how to do something equally as important: find a Mastermind Facebook group that suits your interests and long-term goals. So let’s get started!

1) Start With Masterminds by Bloggers You Respect

You’d be surprised how many creative professional have started masterminds.

Often creative people create an online community of other creative people that have gone through similar ups and downs so that they can fill the void of not having a co-worker sitting beside them.

For example, I read Leah Kalamakis’ Freelance To Freedom Project blog on an ongoing basis, and follow her on social media.

On a quiet Sunday, I found out about and registered for her Get Clients Fast Challenge, and joined my first mastermind group.  

My invite was accepted by day one of the challenge, which allowed me to meet a lot of talented, bright, creative people.

But why was my invite accepted? Because Leah had context. Not only am I former participant in her pitching challenge, but I also share a lot of Freelance to Freedom Project’s content on social media.

If you want to be part of a mastermind group, start by being a regular and active participant in the admin’s online community. This step is extremely important because it guarantees your acceptance.

2) Pay close attention to the call to action of websites you respect

Recently I was browsing a website that I read a lot called Wanderful World.

The truth is, I only read Wanderful World when there’s new content, or I just want a refresher on the business side of freelancing. Because that’s the case I don’t really pay much attention to any other aspect of the website.

And then, one day, I actually bothered to read the call to action, and here’s what I found:

Notice how the option in the center of the image asks you to join the creative community on Facebook? That, my friends, is a classic example of a mastermind group.

I was super ecstatic when I saw that call to action because I always enjoy Lizzie (the founder of the website’s) take on the freelance lifestyle. Within seconds, I clicked the green button and requested an invite.

Ten minutes later Lizzie accepted my invite.

Once again this was a classic case of context. I share Lizzie’s content a lot on social media, and she’s done the same for me so she knew exactly who I was, and clicked accept.

3) When in Doubt, Facebook Search

Chances are, you’ve likely found at least one site about your niche before that you think is the freaking greatest.

If you actively engage with a specific site’s content, then you’re in luck, if there’s also a relevant mastermind group, of course!

So what do you if you’re not sure if a site that you respect has its own mastermind group? All you have to do is go to Facebook and do a quick search. Not sure how to find what you’re looking for? Fortunately, I’m about to talk you through it.

Step one, sign in to Facebook. Then, type the name of the site. See below for an example:

Although the mastermind for the group that I’m looking for is already showing up in the search bar, I’m going to see what other results are available. To do that, all I have to do is click the “see all results for Millo option,” see below:

Notice how it’s set to “anyone, anywhere,anytime?”

That’s not what I want at all! So, to solve that, and only focus on relevant results, I’m going to select “groups” at the top of the page:

And here’s what happens when I do that:

Before you request an invite, read the summary, located in the right-hand corner of the screen so that you know that it’s the correct one:

I’m a member so the “request an invite” tab is no longer showing but right where it says “add members,” there’s always a  “request an invite” button for non-members.

For example, if i wanted to join the mastermind, shown below, I’d press the white button:

4) Make your website and specialty public

I get it. Facebook can be a very personal platform.

You’re encouraged to share everything from who your family is, to your relationship status, interests, and life events,  so of course, it’s personal!

This is exactly why I have both a Facebook page, for sharing updates on what I’m working on and a Facebook profile where I deliberately put everything on private. But why do I do that?

Well..the answer is simple: I’m an extremely private person, so both online and offline, I never let my personal life and professional life overlap.

However, I also have access to a variety of mastermind groups through my Facebook profile. As a result, my name, photo, freelance specialty, and website URL are the only parts of my Facebook profile that are public.

I strongly encourage you to do the same thing. This is a great way to prove to Mastermind admins that you’re not a bot and that you also have a relevant specialty.

Although masterminds are technically closed groups, you can squeeze your way in there, if you make sure that the admin knows you, and is familiar with your work, before you request an invite.

Most importantly, if you want to get something valuable out of a mastermind group do your research.

If you do your research you’ll know, with 100% certainty, what you want to get out of it, and if your goals align with the structure and values of the group. And knowing what you want to get out of it is important so that you know that you’re not wasting your time.

Got any questions about joining your first mastermind facebook group? Ask away in the comments section below.

Stay tuned next week for part three of the mastermind group series, where I show you what Mastermind options are available if you don’t have a Facebook account.