Joining IEEE for potential clients? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: mrburnzie
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 08, 2021, 02:43:40 pm
content: I'm looking to expand my network of engineers and potential customers.I do PCB design and embedded software. My current and past clients had me deliver a prototype and later a real product that they can take to certification (FCC, CE) and mass produce it. I guide them through the whole process.I'm thinking of joining IEEE, so that I meet engineers, but my goal is to meet potential clients.Is IEEE good to find potential customers?What other tools are people using to reach customers?

author: mawyatt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 08, 2021, 02:59:37 pm
content: I've been an IEEE member for a long time and soon will be Life member, so speaking from experience. This is a great resource for all sorts of engineers/scientists, not only technically but socially as well. The conferences are a great opportunity to meet folks and potential new customers, although COVID has put a hamper on this for now.Don't expect instant results though, you need to spend quite a few years to become "known" before you can expect any positive results. We probably generated over $100M in total research & developement revenue directly or indirectly because of the IEEE connections we've made over the years. Many smart companies will pay for the employee's IEEE membership if they realize it benefits the bottom lineBest of luck,

author: Bud
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 08, 2021, 04:22:25 pm
content: Have you decided which IEEE society you want to join? I found IEEE being ridiculous in its division to tiny very very very specialized tribes. It is a closed source groups and you only have access to materials within the society you are a member of. Yes you pay separately for membership in each African style tribe. IEEE is a money sucker just like any other entity of this kind. I dropped my membership years ago because did not see any practical benefit of it. I invite you to read publications from any recent IEEE gathering if you can get hold of them and see for yourself if you understand 1% of that gibberish.

author: bob91343
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 08, 2021, 06:14:42 pm
content: I spent my entire engineering career without joining IEEE (not counting the short term membership as an undergraduate) and never regretted it. Others may disagree but I think it's a waste of money for most.In fact my two memberships were not IEEE. They were IRE and IEE, which later merged.

author: jonpaul
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 09, 2021, 03:15:47 pm
content: Bonjour mrburnzie, very fine post.As EE since 1960s, amnd consultant in 1970s..1990s, I can make a few points.IEEE has many facets, including standards groups, quarterly proceedings of various groups and the monthly magazine IEEE Spectrum.(full disclosur: I have authored articles for IEEE Spectrum in Feb 2019 and just now Sept 2021)The cost for just the magazine or just member are reasonable, the groups are super specialized and at highest level, with may new developments years ahead of commercial deployment.Examples: Microwaves, Power Electronics, Industrial electronics, Network theory, etc.Finally IEEE has some yearly conferences that can be interesting for personal connections.You could of course place an adv in the IEEE website or Spectrum.Nowadays PCB and embedded SW are commodity work, available from offshore at very low cost, I do not think the 450 000 IEEE members will provide you a lot of leads.At least the IEEE Spectrum will expand your horizons and is a super EE magazine! The online free link is here:https://spectrum.ieee.org/magazine/2021/september/BON CHANCE with your business and IEEE connections,Jon