Is Chamber of Commerce Membership Worth the Price?

If networking should be about developing relationships with others, is there any value in spending the money on local chamber of commerce memberships?  I believe the answer to that question is “YES.”  Chambers tend to provide many opportunities for you to get to know others.  They host seminars, ribbon cuttings for new businesses, after-hours events, and more.  And, they have many committees where you can likely plug in to add some value AND get to know your co-committee members.

The key is not to just go to the events to introduce yourself, hand out a business card, and ask for everyone’s business on the spot.  One of the leaders in our town, who is also an entrepreneur, shared a story about a lady who was running a new small business who came up to him at a chamber event, introduced herself and her business, and proceeded to tell him that he needed to switch from the company that he was currently using to her company.  She made such a poor impression on him by badmouthing her competition that he said he would never have done business with her.


While you should introduce yourself, your business, and hand out that business card, now’s your chance to start getting to know the person.  OK.  Don’t monopolize his time but do take a few minutes to find out something about the person and his business.   Take a moment soon afterwards to make a note on his business card so that you can remember something about him.  More than likely, you will run into each other again and have an opportunity to get to know one another a bit better.   Perhaps follow up with a lead for the other person or make an introduction. Find a way to add value to him instead of vice-versa.  Soon, you will have a new friend.

Chambers also advocate for small business through the local political and state legislative process, monitor what’s going on, and will help keep members aware of topics that apply to them.   So, plug in to your chamber of commerce.  Just keep in mind that you can’t just join and display the membership plaque.  You have to work it by attending events and getting involved.  The leads will follow.  Too busy to get involved?  What a great problem to have!  However, whether you own your own business or work for someone else, one of the keys to success is getting out there and building your network so don’t seek excuses not to get involved.  You can pick and choose which events to attend but you should be attending some.  Work the events into your schedule a few times a month.  While it may take some time, in the long run, your chamber membership will pay off.

 

 

 

Getting to Know You

“It’s all about relationships.”  That almost became a mantra at a church revival a few years back.  Although we laughed at the time about hearing it over and over that week, it did make sense, and I often think of it.  That message is also the focus of Jeffrey Gitomer’s oldie but goodie, The Little Black Book of Connections.  In the book Gitomer explains that it is much more important to develop relationships (get to know them) with people with whom you want to conduct business than just to introduce one’s self and hand out a business card.  After you get to know the person, determine how you can add value to that person’s life.  Once you have established a true level of friendship, the referrals and business connections automatically flow. Gitomer does warn that one should be sincere in developing those relationships.  Most people, except possibly the most naïve, can spot a phony a mile away!

Likewise, Jan Vermeirin author of How to REALLY use LinkedIn, suggests that you should connect and make recommendations for others that you know and like.  She uses something like an analogy of a neighbor who needed her house painted.  If you knew and liked a reputable painter, you would likely make a referral.  So, the same rule of thumb should be applied to your referrals in LinkedIn. Be careful who you recommend because your credibility is “linked” to that referral.

A few years ago, a dear friend retired.  He found and sent out a Powerpoint presentation about the dash on one’s footstone to those of us with whom he had worked and developed strong working relationships.  The little dash separates the date of birth and the date of death.  The point of the presentation was that the dash represents the years of a person’s life and all the relationships that have been developed over that time period.  He was thanking us for being a part of his dash.  OK, it may be a bit sappy, but it was also true.  We have one life to live, on this Earth, regardless of whether we are working or not.  The good relationships that we build enrich our lives.  A side effect is that they may also be beneficial to us professionally.  So, be real and develop relationships that matter. 

I value your thoughts and comments.