Congratulations to Chris Bonney, the lucky winner of the Cruisin’ Cuisine grand prize, Apple I-pad. Chris was one of the tasters that took part in the pedestrian “cruise” Friday May 18 that had more than 120 guests visiting 10 local restaurants, test tasting epicurean delights culminating in a drawing for the grand prize at the end of the evening. Chris a 10^th grade student at Grove High School inRedlands said he enjoyed the event and would return again. “There was more than enough food to fill up a 16 year old and that’s really saying something.” said Chris’s dad, Geoff Bonney.

            “This was the second annual Cruisin’ Cuisine event.” said Chamber President, Paul Barich, “We launched the program last year and it was such a success that we brought it back again this year. This plays into our Shop Redlands program by showcasing our fabulous restaurants.  There’s no better way to spend a balmy Friday evening in Redlands then wandering from restaurant to restaurant tasting the amazing food selections that are available to us right here in town.”

            “This is the first time I’ve ever won anything”. Reported Chris who was going to take it home and start to play games on it immediately.

            Barich indicated that there would be another Cruisin’ Cuisine in Redlands next year with even more restaurants once again highlighting the varied cuisines and dining opportunities in Redlands.

       The Redlands Chamber of Commerce Government Review Committee met with city staff to discuss changes in the Sign Code that will allow all businesses in commercial zones and specific plan areas the opportunity to use portable signs.

       The current code does not allow businesses outside the downtown area the use of portable signs. In an effort to be fair and equitable to all businesses the Chamber has recommended an amendment to the code that will the sign but include size restriction and location limits.

        With agreed upon language changes the amendment will be submitted to the City Council for approval in July.

       The Chamber of Commerce will always be an advocate and a supportive voice for the business community. The Chamber may not always fall in line with every member’s personal political view, but we will be your voice when it comes to business issues.  This is one of the best reasons to be a member of the Redlands Chamber of Commerce.

            Shop Redlands First posters are in!  If you want one to display in your window or place of business, a member of our staff will deliver one to you or I’d be happy to deliver one personally.  Please call the Chamber at 793-2546 to make arrangements.

            Wednesday, July 11th at the Orton Center, University of Redlands, the State of the Community Luncheon will take place, sponsored by First California Bank. Mayor Pete Aguilar will address the audience and take questions from the floor. For reservations call the Chamber office. This event sells out every year so call in early.

            The City of Redlands has engaged the services of a consulting firm that has reviewed City fees and is recommending increases across the board. The Chamber has put together a task force that is reviewing the affect of the recommendations. We don’t know the complete impact yet but I guarantee that we will watch it closely and if needed, we will go into action to prevent any excess charges that will deter economic development, discourage job development or business growth, stayed tuned.

         For many small businesses entering into the world of social media marketing the journey is not unlike an expedition of the uncharted explorations of Lewis and Clark. But the navigation can be simplified and the fear removed with common sense steps that most business professionals have been using for years within different mediums.

            Make sure you know the basics when it comes to the tools you use like social media marketing. A successful business plan should still begin with a press release and should always be backed by relevant market research. Social media marketing is as effective as it is because it uses both traditional methods and new methods of advertising.

     Create enticing headlines. Due to the fast nature of social media surfing, many people will see only the headline before dashing off to another site or tweet. You want your headline to be so interesting that people feel they need to find out more. Without a catchy and informative headline, you may not be able to attract your target audience.

            To begin with proofread everything you write for social media sites, like Facebook and Twitter, with extreme care. Keep in mind that it is always important to remain professional. The character limit on Twitter makes using some abbreviations fine, but be careful not to overdo it. Go out of your way to publish content that reflects well on your business.           

            Look into what other businesses are doing on Facebook and see what you like about how they promote their businesses and use that towards creating your page. A little opposition research will give you a better handle on what works, and what doesn’t, and what has already been done. After you have researched what others are doing, and what works incorporate these ideas into your page along with a few new things to make your page interesting and unique.

            Promote product giveaways using your social media presence. People love getting things for free, and offering free items is a great way to bring new customers to your profile. Decide on what you are going to give away, then visit the popular freebie sites and post the link to where readers can get their freebie.

            Running contests with incentives on social media sites, like Twitter and Facebook, is a valuable way to produce good publicity for your company. Once customers become interested in your contest, they’ll share its existence with their friends and you will get lots of people involved. That’s how social media works. The contest should be fun, and related to what you sell.

            If you are using Facebook to engage your customers, go for quality of information rather than quantity. Don’t share just anything, just to share. If you find something that you find really interesting, or holds some serious truth, don’t hesitate to share it with others around you. However, it should be of interest to others. Avoid meaningless quizzes and surveys about irrelevant topics that mean nothing to customers.

     Use Facebook or Twitter to advertise limited offers. Make sure to give them enough advanced warning to be able to take advantage of the offer! If a customer realizes that they missed a great bargain, they are going to be far more mindful of future updates.   Social media sites are a great way to build interest in new products or to get pointed feedback on past products. People love to give their opinions on products, so they’ll likely oblige you if you ask them. They will let you know what they have been looking for, and the best thing about this is that it’s free.

            While marketing through social media can be rewarding, it has it’s own set of challenges that are unique to the forum. Start implementing these hints and tips into your plan for social media marketing to see how lucrative and successful these strategies can be. If done right, your social media marketing can even turn out to be fun!