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The Chamber Weekly Blog
A collection of articles that we believe will add value to you and your business!Thursday, November 2, 2023Whether it’s coming from mounting pressure from your city or state or requests from customers, the call for sustainability is growing louder. Small businesses, just like their larger counterparts, have a crucial role to play in reducing their ecological footprint. But for small businesses operating on tight budgets, embracing eco-friendly practices might seem like a daunting challenge. Sustainability doesn't have to break the bank. In fact, there are numerous creative ways in which you can make eco-friendly choices without draining your resources. And since part of sustainability is reducing waste, let’s not waste any time and get right to ways you can start making a change today. Read moreThursday, October 19, 2023As the leaves turn golden and the air gets crisp, Halloween offers businesses a bewitching opportunity to embrace the spirit of the season and boost customer engagement. With a little creativity and a dash of spooky flair, you can draw crowds and appeal to your ideal customers. Here are some spooktacular Halloween-inspired ideas to help your small business shine during this spine-tingling season. Read moreFriday, October 13, 2023As costs rise and drive up the costs of goods, your customers are looking for value. Providing quality products or services is no longer enough. To truly stand out and succeed, you need to deliver unforgettable, engaging, and emotionally resonating experiences to your customers. This shift toward experiential selling has become increasingly vital, particularly in crowded and competitive niches. So, let’s delve into the concept of experiential selling and explore how you can refocus your business plan to prioritize it to capture the attention and loyalty of your audience. Read moreTuesday, October 10, 2023Do you have a limited marketing budget? Do you think what you can accomplish with your budget is less than ideal because you don’t have the money of a large company? While that may seem true, there is one thing you can do to really move the dial and maximize your small marketing budget. Sure, there are many ways to get “free” marketing through social media and growing your referral network but using funds in a targeted way can have a huge impact on obtaining more customers and showing the community who you are. Read moreThursday, September 28, 2023While the MetLife and U.S. Chamber of Commerce Small Business Index reached its highest level of confidence since COVID in Q3 of 2023, there are still many businesses that are battling rising costs and trying to make every dollar count. According to the report, 33% of small businesses are saying the U.S. economy is in good health (up 9% points from Q2). The report read, “Small businesses also feel better about their own business health and cash flow: Two in three (66%) report that their business is in good health and roughly seven in ten (72%) say they are comfortable with their cash flow.” But “comfortable with cash flow” doesn’t mean you can’t use some business savings tips. Read moreThursday, September 21, 2023Content marketing has been around for a while now. It began when search engines like Google started ranking sites by—among other things—the quality of the content as perceived by the audience. This caused many marketers to increase the quality of their content. But if you’re still wondering if you have the right kind of content for your business, you should check out this idea from Mark Schaefer. It’s one of the easiest ways to decide if you have a strong mix that will help drive sales. Read moreThursday, September 7, 2023Ever notice how some offers are irresistible? You didn’t even know you needed the product or service. Then you saw the offer, and BANG!, you’re whipping out your credit card. This isn’t by accident. Someone down the line carefully created the offer that caused you to act with wild abandon. And you can do it too for your business. It just takes a little forethought. Read moreTuesday, September 5, 2023If you walked into a crowded room and asked the question in the title of this article, what would you expect to hear? The chamber of commerce is like the government, right? No, it keeps track of business complaints. No, they’re like greeters for the community. Like the Welcome Wagon. They’re a country club for businesspeople. They’re the people with the big scissors. Right? Read moreThursday, August 24, 2023Have you ever attended a chamber event? If you’re not a member, you’re missing out. Before you think you don’t have the time to attend events, it’s important you know chamber life is not just mixers and ribbon cuttings. Chamber membership is one of the best-kept secrets for free or nearly free business resources like webinars, lunch & learns, and written collateral. Plus, a whole lot more. Chamber membership is one of the best business investments you can make for the money and return. Read moreFriday, August 18, 2023In the bustling world of small business, as entrepreneurs and professionals, we often find ourselves caught in the whirlwind of routines, habits, and attachments that no longer serve our growth, personally or professionally. In the pursuit of success, we accumulate emotional baggage, physical clutter, mental burdens, and antiquated processes that hinder us from experiencing the success we truly desire. These things are familiar, and thus, safe. They seem harmless enough. But when you look more closely, you’ll see they are holding you back. Perhaps it’s time to make room for things that will serve you—and your company—better. Read more