So You Joined The Chamber... Now
What?
In speaking with Chamber members who rarely, if
ever, attend events such as our monthly dinners, quarterly
Business After Hours networking, special annual events such as
the First Citizens’ Banquet in February, Trader Day the
first Saturday in June, or Gathering of Artists in July, or
committee meetings, we often are asked: "What has the Chamber
done for me lately?"
If you’ve ever wondered, we’d like to take this
opportunity to explore with you how to use your membership in the
Winston-Dillard Area Chamber of Commerce so it will be one of the
most powerful marketing tools your business has!
It’s all about networking, or "Why should I go?"
In some cases, people join the Chamber and then sit back and wait
for Chamber members to come knocking on the door to do business
with them. After a couple of months with no Chamber members
beating down the door to buy their products or services, they
fold their arms and say, "Well, this Chamber sure hasn’t
done anything for me!"
An important fact to remember is that people do business with
people. You must first let people get a chance to know you and
what your product or service is. This is especially true in a
more rural environment like ours.
Many of the most successful members of our Chamber feel that a
large percentage of their business success can be attributed in
some way to the contacts and relationships developed within the
Chamber. These people continue to "work" the Chamber and use it
to develop new customers or clients or patients. They don’t
attend Business After Hours or other Chamber events and meetings
just for fun.
Each Chamber event is designed to allow you to get to know other
people in your business community, and to begin to develop
relationships with them. You need to leave your place of business
a few minutes early, with your pockets or purse crammed with your
business cards and get there early so you can meet new
people!
Why? Because, they will ultimately become some of your best and
most faithful customers.
At Chamber events, make it a point to sit with or stand and talk
with someone you don’t knowÑexchange business cards,
ask them about their business and tell them about yours.
Don’t be shy. Remember, everyone else in the room was once
in the same position as you.
Making the best of networking takes thought, time and creativity.
Those who are skilled at networking can’t say enough about
the value and volume of business they can generate at Chamber
events.
Remember, business is a "full contact sport." If you are not
willing to use every advantage and opportunity available to you
to assure the success of your business, then the real question is
not "What has the Chamber done for me?"
The real question is "Have I taken full advantage of what the
Chamber can do for me?"
(Borrowed and adapted from the Brookings-Harbor and several other
Chambers.)
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Winston, Oregon