Mastering the Membership Maze with Glen Gould
Perhaps the best-connected people at the chamber of commerce are the staff members. Being top of mind with the chamber staff can be your secret weapon in success. Read on!
Have you ever noticed that there are some members of chambers of commerce and other business associations that just seem to get all the attention from staff? These special few seem to get all the accolades, all the recognition, and yes, all the referrals. How does this happen?
To be certain some of this attention goes to those members who have longevity; they have been members for a long time. Some attention goes to those who are new as well and some goes to those who have been the most active recently. There is one way that you can leap past all these peers and land in a class all your own. This is your secret weapon. It's the power of a referral.
Often times we forget that the chamber is a business not unlike ours in many ways. Every business has the same goal: Attract, convert and retain customers. Chambers call their customers members. And chambers are always looking for new members.
Chambers are subject to many of the challenges small businesses face. They need a steady stream of prospects in the pipeline, they need new customers coming on board, they need to retain their customers, and all the while they need to deliver an outstanding product. A great membership experience is their great product.
When you give the chamber staff a referral, you have given them the life-blood of their business. You've also given them a valuable vote of confidence in the service they are providing. What you may not consider is that you are also giving the company you referred an excellent opportunity to grow their business. When you refer clients you show them you are thinking of them and how you can bring more value to them.
If you put a plan in place to regularly provide qualified referrals to the chamber staff, you will find that you will always be on their mind when referral opportunities arise. Those members who enjoy the chamber and refer their business contacts, vendors, and associates to the chamber find that their success grows exponentially. Give the chamber referrals and watch your business grow!
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1 comments:
AJ,
As a Chamber Membership Director, I have to say you are right on!
We give referrals to all our members, but if you are referring to us, absolutely you come to mind first.
It's not just giving us new member referrals either; it's bringing a guest to events, passing on an invitation, and participating in our activities that will get our attention.
Thanks for reminding your readers about their Chamber of Commerce.
Regards,
Beth Bridges
Membership Director
Clovis, California
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