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The Chamber Weekly Blog
A collection of articles that we believe will add value to you and your business!Thursday, December 5, 2024Public relations (PR) is just for big companies with tons of connections and celebrity endorsements, right? It can feel like a luxury for those of us with small businesses. Hiring a dedicated PR firm is often financially out of reach. But who has the time to learn the ropes of good PR while juggling everything else? It takes years or deep wallets to make those kinds of connections, doesn’t it? Not exactly. You don't need a fancy PR background or a hefty budget to generate buzz. With a little creativity and the internet, you can score big media wins. Read moreTuesday, November 26, 2024Black Friday is this week! Is panic setting in? If you haven't planned a single promotion, and the thought of missing out on the biggest shopping weekend of the year is making your stomach churn, don't worry, you're not alone! Plenty of small businesses find themselves in this situation. But this is no time to sit in a corner worrying. This article can help. Read moreFriday, November 22, 2024If you’re the typical small business owner, you began your business with an exciting idea, a passion. No one goes into business thinking, “I can’t wait to work on cash flow challenges.” And yet, cash flow is one of the top reasons businesses close their doors. It’s not that they aren’t making money. It’s that managing it is not everyone’s skill set. Money management challenges are one of the most critical areas you need to master to be successful. This article is here to provide general information. Consult a financial planner or tax professional for more long-term solutions. Read moreTuesday, November 12, 2024Veterans Day is Monday, November 11th, and it is the ideal time to express thanks to those who have protected our freedoms and way of life. While you don’t have much time to pull it all together, honoring Veterans Day in a meaningful, non-commercial way can strengthen connections between your business and the community while showing genuine appreciation for veterans' service. And you don’t have to stop there. You can extend the relationship year-round. Read moreThursday, October 24, 2024If you ask anyone over the age of 20 what the date is, after telling you, they will probably say you how quickly time flies. How it seems like only yesterday it was _____. This is especially true when you own a business. There never seems to be enough time in the day to do what you need to do. And you no sooner pay one bill than it’s due again. Making the most of the time you have is essential to business success. But how do you beat the clock? Read moreThursday, October 17, 2024If you want more views on your business content, you don’t have to be a celebrity (although that makes things a lot easier). All you have to do is help your audience get to know you, and by doing so, humanize your business. Some people are gifted engagers. They naturally know how to get people interested in their stuff. But for most of us, it’s a learned activity. If you’re not a born engager, here are five things you can do to improve your business content. Read moreThursday, October 10, 2024If you’re like many of us, you may have decided that watching the news is not in your mental health’s best interest. From angry rants to misinformation, it’s difficult to understand the benefits these days. That’s why focusing on positivity and feel-good stories can help your business stand out and create a sense of connection with your audience. But what kind of “feel good” content can you provide? Read moreThursday, September 26, 2024If you’re like most businesspeople, finding ways to get names on your emailing list can be exhausting. We all want tons of fans and followers. There’s value behind a list of people who are interested in what you offer. Most businesses start their list with people they know. But if you want to turn your email list into marketing gold, you need to get strangers (who will become potential customers) interested in you. That’s no easy task. It’s the kind of activity that most of us avoid because the thought of it seems so overwhelming. Read moreFriday, September 13, 2024No, this isn’t another article about how you can turn your hobby into a side hustle. But having a hobby can be great for your existing business. It may not feel like you have enough time for a hobby, but here’s why you should prioritize hobby time (or time spent cultivating one). Read moreFriday, September 6, 2024Social media is becoming more and more frustrating, right? If you have used it to connect with your audience for ten years or so, you undoubtedly have seen crazy changes in your reach. If you’re new to the social media for business scene, reaching 2% of your audience probably feels pretty normal. But if you’re not reaching your audience, how are they going to know who you are and all the wonderful things your business can bring them? When it comes to building a loyal following, there are several things you can do. Ultimately, reach is still dependent on the platform’s algorithm, but every social media channel claims to respond to value. To reach more people, you need them to see you as providing valuable content they want to interact with. Here’s how you can start doing that. Read more