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