Your Chamber as a Partner
By Erin M. Al-Salman
Smart
business owners look at all different types of marketing opportunities.
Partnership with the local Chamber of Commerce is often overlooked.
However, the benefits of a chamber membership should not be underestimated.
A Chamber of Commerce assists business owners in five critical areas:
representation, relationship development, information warehouse/referrals,
leadership development and revenue generation. Have you thought about
the benefits of a partner-advocate that specializes in these areas?
The Chamber of Commerce, through its many volunteer committees, represents the interests of businesses to local, state and federal decision-makers. Oftentimes, the Chamber’s voice, representing a large number of businesses, is louder and receives more attention than the voices of individuals and their businesses. For example, an Education Committee can work with local school districts to insure an entry-level workforce with the necessary skills. Legislative and Transportation Committees can evaluate community needs and lobby for proposed legislation or road development. Economic development initiatives market the geographical area to prospective businesses. Progress in each of these areas creates a positive business climate for Chamber members and the community as a whole. Your business will no doubt benefit from this type of representation.
Relationship building is another benefit the Chamber of Commerce offers. There are unlimited networking opportunities available. Each breakfast, lunch, ribbon cutting and business after hours allows members time to interact and get to know each other. Committee meetings offer an opportunity to become acquainted and to work together on issues that are important to individual members and their businesses. Building relationships is a key component to building your business – after all, wouldn’t we all rather do business with someone we know?
The local Chamber receives dozens of phone calls each day asking for information about its service area and the businesses in it. The Chamber recommends its members to those callers. In addition, the Chamber provides all kinds of information to its members and the community – MUD contacts, demographic information, and directions. Do you need to know what agency is building the road in front of your business? The Chamber knows. Also, the Chamber is your source for cost-effective educational seminars and workshops. Oftentimes, CEO Roundtables and Sales Lead Exchange Clubs are available to the members.
Do you realize that the Chamber helps develop the skills of your employees? Members can work on committees or have their employees work on committees and serve in increasingly responsible positions. They learn how to run meetings, get along with people, set goals, motivate volunteers (and employees) and complete projects. Committee work is a great place for employers and employees to develop leadership skills away from the office – and let’s face it, those skills can prove to be very useful in your place of business.
It is easy to see that if you have a strong partner-advocate in the four previous areas that increased revenues will result. In addition, the Chamber of Commerce does some specific things to increase members’ revenues. We encourage our members to use their membership directory as a first resource for products and services - always “dial-a-member”. Additionally, we offer many economical and efficient ways to advertise to our membership…directory ads, newsletter ads, special event sponsorships and blast fax sponsorships. All are inexpensive and all put your business in front of fellow members.
Think about enlisting the support of your local Chamber of Commerce. You can’t find a better business partner. The Chamber will represent your business interests, provide networking opportunities to develop mutually beneficial relationships, serve as an information resource/warehouse and funnel business leads to your company, develop your leadership skills and those of your employees and finally, help you generate more income. Check out your local Chamber of Commerce, the benefits are unlimited.