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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