| Since the major part of a small business
| |
| | Commerce publish a monthly newsletter of
|
| typically comes from business to business
| |
| | what's going on around town and with
|
| services, it is essential to maintain a
| |
| | various business members. The more hot
|
| positive standing with the local business
| |
| | little hands these newsletters get into,
|
| community. It is of value to you to join
| |
| | the better it is for the advertisers and
|
| as many business type organizations as
| |
| | the better for you as a member. It's
|
| possible in your town. You should attend
| |
| | also great for chamber membership, the
|
| meetings when possible and introduce your
| |
| | more people who join the Chamber the more
|
| clients to each other.Most towns and all
| |
| | people in the club to buy from you and
|
| cities have chambers of commerce. The
| |
| | help all the businesses in the community.
|
| chamber offers many things to small
| |
| | If you have a mobile type business and
|
| businesses especially new ones and
| |
| | volunteer to deliver a chamber newsletter
|
| start-ups. Chambers provide a voice for
| |
| | to every business in your area, you will
|
| the business community, a bridge between
| |
| | surely be a chamber favorite. If you are
|
| government - small business -
| |
| | a retail or location based business, have
|
| corporations - volunteers - religious
| |
| | them on your counter for customers and
|
| organizations - schools - clubs -
| |
| | associates. Your customers will also be
|
| homeowners associations - corporations -
| |
| | glad to receive a copy and and your
|
| general public - etc. It's a monumental
| |
| | business customers will eventually join
|
| job, always changing. It takes money,
| |
| | the chamber if they haven't already. You
|
| lots of it. It takes coordination and a
| |
| | will be helping businesses everywhere in
|
| knack for small town politics. It takes
| |
| | town by doing this. This will be
|
| members who will volunteer, who care and
| |
| | recognized. It will also help you when
|
| are dedicated. Of course that's where
| |
| | the chamber does a story on you to put in
|
| you come in. Chambers of Commerce hold
| |
| | the newsletter. Of course, that month we
|
| various events such as:· Mixers·
| |
| | will print extra copies and direct mail
|
| Table Top Exhibits/Expos·
| |
| | them to every licensed business in your
|
| Seminars· Luncheons·
| |
| | town and all of our franchisees. Try to
|
| Committee Meetings· Installation
| |
| | refer fellow businesses to the chamber
|
| Dinners· Benefits·
| |
| | each month.Membership DrivesWhenever the
|
| Educational Exchanges· Home Based
| |
| | chamber has a membership drive, you
|
| Business Groups· Networking
| |
| | should volunteer to help. You have fax
|
| Breakfast Meetings· Membership
| |
| | data bases and distribution power "plus"
|
| DrivesIf you attend some of these events,
| |
| | you know personally many business owners
|
| you will make new friends, contacts and
| |
| | in town. Chamber membership is the life
|
| customers. Anyone can join the chamber.
| |
| | line of their existence. The more you,
|
| It usual costs $100-450. But you only
| |
| | we help them, the more they help you. It
|
| get out what you put in. Many small
| |
| | is okay to join many chambers or at least
|
| business owners may see it as a waste of
| |
| | all the ones where you want
|
| money. In actuality it is relatively
| |
| | customers.Logo On VehicleOffer to put a
|
| inexpensive depending how you chose to
| |
| | magnetic sign on your work vehicles with
|
| use your membership. It can be long
| |
| | the local Chamber of Commerce logo. This
|
| lasting advertising in the form of:·
| |
| | helps the chamber and legitimizes your
|
| Promotion· P.R.·
| |
| | business. If this is not possible, put
|
| Networking· Free Media Coverage·
| |
| | your Chamber of Commerce member plague on
|
| And FunJoining CommitteesIf you
| |
| | your dash board. If you have a location
|
| truly want to become involved, we suggest
| |
| | business, be sure to display your plaque
|
| you join various Chamber of Commerce
| |
| | where it can be seen by all
|
| committees. Committees need your input.
| |
| | visitorsMeeting With ChamberYou should be
|
| You probably talk to one hundred business
| |
| | on a first name basis with the Chamber of
|
| owners and residential customers per
| |
| | Commerce president. You probably already
|
| week. Five hundred per month. They know
| |
| | are. He or she needs your feedback.
|
| you, they trust you and they generally
| |
| | They need to know what's going on at the
|
| speak their mind to you. When these
| |
| | street level and no one knows better than
|
| associates, business customers and
| |
| | you. You will be the eyes and ears for
|
| business people talk to politicians, it's
| |
| | the chamber. You should set aside one
|
| a more tactful type conversation. When
| |
| | hour per month to discuss concerns you've
|
| they talk to Chamber of Commerce staff,
| |
| | heard on the street and possible
|
| they tend to also choose their words more
| |
| | solutions you've worked out. Try to make
|
| carefully. When they talk to you, it's
| |
| | it a regular meeting such as the first
|
| more point blank, to the point, blunt and
| |
| | Tuesday of the month at 8:00 am. This
|
| the reality of the way they really feel.
| |
| | meeting can be with the Chamber manager
|
| You'll never get a sugar coated answer to
| |
| | or even a Board Member you can relate
|
| a small business dilemma from an actual
| |
| | with. If you belong to a committee bring
|
| owner. They'll tell you how they feel.
| |
| | your information and observations
|
| Whether they are happy or mad as hell
| |
| | there.Network With Other GroupsYou should
|
| about an issue. You also are the eyes
| |
| | network with your service club whether it
|
| and ears of the community with it's
| |
| | be Elks, Lions, Optimists, Kiwanis,
|
| residences.When you come to these
| |
| | Rotary, Soroptimists, whatever. Bring
|
| committees you bring knowledge. You will
| |
| | those concerns with you. Help the
|
| soon find your ideas, observations and
| |
| | chamber co-sponsor events with your club
|
| personal opinion are paramount. You are
| |
| | and other clubs, making one big happy
|
| the most valuable tool a chamber
| |
| | united family town thanks to you. You
|
| committee could ever hope to have. You
| |
| | can also volunteer to help on the Boys
|
| need to ask yourself "Do you have the
| |
| | and Girls Club, United Way or other
|
| extra time?" If you don't, don't
| |
| | associated non-profit, which helps
|
| volunteer. There is nothing worse than
| |
| | people. By adding your Chamber
|
| a committee member who volunteers and
| |
| | Membership to a non-profit commitment,
|
| then doesn't pull through when he or she
| |
| | you will make a difference and
|
| is needed. If you have the time you be
| |
| | super-charge your business.Attending
|
| repaid in new business contacts and
| |
| | MeetingsYou should attend meetings
|
| customers and the feeling of knowing you
| |
| | sponsored by your Chamber of Commerce.
|
| made the difference.How do you join a
| |
| | As many as you can. Enough that you
|
| committee? Talk to the president of the
| |
| | don't need to wear a name tag because
|
| chamber. Tell them you want to
| |
| | everyone already knows you. You still
|
| volunteer. Find out which chamber
| |
| | should wear a name tag. However write on
|
| committees have openings. Many times
| |
| | it:· A New Friend·
|
| there is no limit to the number of
| |
| | Customer Service· Me·
|
| people, so try to pick one with a large
| |
| | Label· Name Tag· Just
|
| group of members. You will be able to do
| |
| | Me· I love meeting new people·
|
| more networking and big groups tend to
| |
| | Put name on upside downSounds funny
|
| divide sub-committee work loads more
| |
| | but it's a great ice breaker. It works
|
| evenly. Join a committee that interests
| |
| | every time. After all, there is bound to
|
| you. Don't join one you don't care
| |
| | be a new face popping up every once in a
|
| about. Just like in college, you always
| |
| | while. Many of these new members may
|
| got better grades in the classes you
| |
| | feel intimidated and you can help them
|
| enjoyed, didn't you? Make sure the
| |
| | and really make a new friend and business
|
| people in the group really want to get
| |
| | associate creating team work,
|
| something done and it's not just a who's
| |
| | co-marketing efforts and sharing of
|
| who social gathering. That kind of group
| |
| | customer lists with non-competing
|
| eventually fails to accomplish even the
| |
| | businesses.Trade ShowsTable top mixers
|
| most basic of mission statements. You
| |
| | and trade shows are very important.
|
| are a winner, so you should be in a
| |
| | Smaller shows - such as city fair, county
|
| winning group.Make sure once you have
| |
| | fair, Chamber of Commerce Business Fair,
|
| gone to a couple of meetings, the
| |
| | etc. - you can do for relatively low
|
| turnover is low and that no one person's
| |
| | cost. Pretty good statistics. Trade
|
| ego stands out in the group, especially
| |
| | fairs and shows are good.One of the major
|
| if it's the chairman. If this happens,
| |
| | advantages of exhibiting in a show is the
|
| go to one more meeting and dismiss
| |
| | tremendous impact that you can deliver
|
| yourself. "Business is so good, I don't
| |
| | and direct to a preconditioned group of
|
| have any time left." Then volunteer to
| |
| | prospects. Through your exhibit, these
|
| with flyer distribution by leaving
| |
| | prospects can see how they can benefit
|
| information on your counter or delivering
| |
| | from your services and/or products.
|
| this vital information to your customers
| |
| | Exhibiting in various types of shows
|
| and business clients. Tell everyone you
| |
| | offers you both short and long range
|
| are more than happy to be of assistance.
| |
| | benefits.As with any of your sales
|
| Then give everyone in the group your
| |
| | promotion programs, the success of your
|
| card. You can still help without
| |
| | show participation depends largely on
|
| battling personalities. Remember
| |
| | proper planning. Before you enter a
|
| everyone there is volunteering and it is
| |
| | show, analyze all the factors involved
|
| better to be a friend than an enemy.Board
| |
| | and determine if the show will attract
|
| Of DirectorsBeing on the board of
| |
| | prospects who will require your services.
|
| directors of a Chamber of Commerce is
| |
| | Your final decision should be based upon
|
| extremely important. It's an easy job
| |
| | the estimate of value you will receive
|
| and very prestigious. It's also great
| |
| | for the money, time and effort put
|
| for business. You will receive notice
| |
| | forth.To get information on the shows
|
| when board seats come up for election.
| |
| | scheduled for your area, contact your
|
| Usually chambers ask their members
| |
| | local Chamber of Commerce. If you are
|
| through direct mail if anyone would like
| |
| | considering entering an annual show, ask
|
| to run for a board seat. Fill out the
| |
| | for a list of regular exhibitors from
|
| form with a brief resume. Make sure not
| |
| | past years. Then check with these
|
| to go over the maximum word count. Try
| |
| | exhibitors for their opinions as to the
|
| to shave off ten percent if possible
| |
| | value of the show.Referrals - Word Of
|
| because people tend to read the short
| |
| | MouthNo matter what you do at a Chamber
|
| ones more. Don't exaggerate your
| |
| | of Commerce meeting, remember to bring
|
| accomplishments. If you need help with
| |
| | cards. Chamber mixers draw about fifty
|
| this, call one of the current board
| |
| | people or more, grand openings twenty,
|
| members you know who is not re-running
| |
| | committee meetings ten. Always say when
|
| for the same position. Find out from the
| |
| | handing out cards, "If you do not need
|
| chamber what day they will be mailing the
| |
| | our service/products please take this
|
| ballots and call everyone in the chamber
| |
| | card and give it to someone who might be
|
| two days before. It's important not only
| |
| | interested. Thanks." This will make the
|
| to win, but to win by a margin. It
| |
| | person happy that you are not pressuring
|
| gives you clout with the chamber members
| |
| | them and they will be glad to pass it
|
| and staff. When you win, make sure to
| |
| | on.Letters To The EditorYou should rifle
|
| attend as many meetings as possible.
| |
| | off at least one letter a month to the
|
| Usually meetings are only one time per
| |
| | local paper praising a small business,
|
| month.Grand OpeningsWhen you are privy to
| |
| | the Chamber of Commerce or how happy you
|
| information about a new business opening
| |
| | are to have a business here. If you have
|
| or a grand opening ribbon cutting event,
| |
| | a reason to praise more than one person,
|
| you should visit the business:· To sign
| |
| | type the letter and have a co-worker sign
|
| them up as new customers· To offer to
| |
| | it.Conclusion:Your success in your
|
| give free products or service coupons for
| |
| | business is up to you, we live in the
|
| grand opening goers· To help them meet
| |
| | greatest country in the world. You are
|
| potential buyers, namely all your
| |
| | allowed to unlimited success, but with
|
| customers· To say hi and let them know
| |
| | that incredible gift you are also allowed
|
| you are all in the same boat and wish
| |
| | to fail. The ball is in your court, your
|
| them many years of successInternet
| |
| | chamber membership can be one of your
|
| ProgramsAlways try to get your company
| |
| | greatest assets, but you only get out
|
| listed in the Chambers on-line directory.
| |
| | what you put in. Stay involved, do not
|
| There may be an additional charges for
| |
| | ever give up and use your chamber to help
|
| this, but it is worth it.Distribution Of
| |
| | you win.
|
| Monthly NewslettersMost Chambers of
| |
| |
|
