JUNE 2017 – How to make the most out of your chamber membership
To grow your business you need to get the word out about whom you are and what you do. The Chamber of Commerce not only provides a platform for you to do that, but your fellow Chamber members join your team in building your business profile in the community. Chamber events provide you with an active role in community happenings and it is a great place to build rapport with fellow business men and women in and around St Joseph.
It’s up to you to get the most out of your Chamber membership.
Your participation in Chamber events allows you the chance to meet many other like-minded business people in the community and build the sorts of relationships that can be mutually beneficial.
Each new business connection actually opens the door to a whole new group of potential business contacts and partnerships. This is the power of networking. A single connection extends your reach to everyone around that single point.
The Chamber presents events through-out the year to give you multiple opportunities to make those important connections and many of the events are free of charge.
Making Connections
Membership allows you to make innumerable personal connections but it also places you in an important database. Community members and visitors use the website to find specific service and products, yours will be the one they find first.
You can patronize Chamber businesses with confidence because you know them personally along with their commitment to excellence and community involvement. The great thing is that your fellow Chamber members know all the same things about you.
Getting and Giving Referrals
Recommending businesses highlights another benefit to be gained from your Chamber membership – referrals. Each time you visit a member’s place of business, let them know that you are prepared to refer others to them. Many Chamber members choose only to work with other members of the Chamber to show solidarity in support of the development of the community. Part of Chamber dues go to economic development efforts to help bring new businesses to town and help current businesses expand. This helps grow the number of people using local businesses. By being a Chamber member, you support those efforts.
The Chamber business directory and office will only refer members. When people move to town and go to the Chamber for business referrals, you will be on the list of providers mentioned. Again, this provides you with an exponential reach.
A Great Way to Advertise
Making personal connections and gaining respected referrals are critical in growing your business base, but most businesses also need to advertise. Advertising is expensive. But your Chamber membership offers you a number of outlets for pushing out promotions. You can become a website sponsor which will give you prominence on Chamber web pages. You can become a featured sponsor of Rise ‘n Shine Redlands. Members can also choose to sponsor events, which give them the opportunity to advertise in association with positive civic efforts. Some Chamber advertising avenues cost, but some are free. Either way, membership allows you to reach a wide and targeted audience through precision distribution.
The Chamber supports members by celebrating landmark events in business like grand openings and business expansions. Since the Chamber is there to promote St Redlands economic growth, members are invited to share in ribbon-cutting ceremonies for all new and growing businesses in town.
Your Chamber of Commerce membership is more valuable than you realize. It helps you keep your finger on the pulse of business trends and opportunities, but it does so much more than that. Membership means you will be involved with any number of forums for meeting new business partners and potential business customers. Fun events, professional development events and preferential advertising and referrals are just some of the benefits you should be collecting from your membership.