SalesHQ

Interesting Luke!  You are actually the first person I have talked to that has networked at the chamber of commerce.  I would imagine that each group has a slightly different culture...  it just like schools or any other public service.  Its good you went to another place.  Have you explored the Small Business Association and their resouces?

smile says ...

I have been members of several community clubs, etc.  The Chamber of Commerce was the more glorified one.  Although the contacts are good, sometimes people in this "group" like to take more than give.  Yes, they do the annual golf torney and get their names in the news paper, but I never really saw any significant wealth.  It just gives you an opportunity to get your name in the paper (which you may want if you own your own business), get your bank account debited (you are expected to donate/plus pay for late fees when late for meetings).  I don't know, you do have access to benefits thru the Chamber you belong to, but alot of times you are just pre-paying for your drugs etc. as the cost monthly is too high.  So I can't really say I found it appealing.  I don't go anymore.  I found networking once a month with others in my community worked better.  We would refer more of each others trades to each other and to prospects.  This, over time really worked the best for me.  I found that the more selection in the networking group you have, the more information you get back.  More selection, more vision, more "you scratch my back; I'll scratch yours".  If I were you, I would start my own network.  Ask some people to meet at lunch, and that will later turn into full blown meetings for sure.

I agree with this 100%.  I was just curious if the chambers in this area were different, or if it was pretty much the same everywhere.  From what you've said, it's pretty much the same.

As far as networking groups, that also depends on what you are doing and where your target clients are.  The company I was working for provided a national service and we had very few prospects in the area, so networking groups really weren't going to be a benefit.  My consulting business should have been a perfect fit, but people in the groups tried to focus too much on the service I provide and ignored the simple prospect descriptions I gave them.  They wanted to try to pre-sell for me, and usually ended up just confusing whoever they were talking to and blowing things up before I ever got in front of them.  I was a member of one group that was much more business savy across the board.  I joined knowing that it would take 6+ months of relationship building before I would be trusted enough to start getting referrals, but it was worth the investment.  Unfortuneatly, I started with the other company and no longer had time to attend that group. 

My experience with networking groups is they fall into 3 categories, even though they all claim to be the first:

Good business groups - These take longer to get referrals, but the referrals are stronger.  If you can find this type of group, it is well worth the investment of both time and money.

Social gatherings - I've been a member of 2 of these.  You can get referrals here, but for the most part you are getting to know other professionals in your area.  I was a member of 2 of this type.  One was a waste of time the other was beneficial.....I just remembered I need to stop by and visit one of my contacts from this group and let him know I'm on the market.

Bunch of dang solicitors - I visited a number of these and this is where I put the chamber.  You end up with a bunch of people trying to sell you whatever it is they sell.  You will probably get the most leads from these groups, but they will tend to be less than desireable most of the time.  I never joined one of these, but had a good friend who regretted his membership after about the first 3 meetings.

Luke

I'll start this off as honest as possible. I am biased against the chamber of commerce because of my connection to the Minnesota State Democratic Party (I know I broke a bunch of rules right there, but honesty is a priority). With that being said I am a member of the local chamber of commerce through the membership dues paid for by the newspaper that employs me. The rep that I have replaced was a member of the chamber, and sat on the board. Apparantly she found it very helpful.

My experience has been more like what you all have shared. I have put all of my politics aside and gone to chamber meetings and events and have found the leads to be garbage. The big problem is that this chamber has started to pamper their larger members. Those members tend to be the town factories and captains of industry. These are also the people in town that are least likely to advertise and most likely to be bombarded with solicitors.

The upside to this swing in the chamber focus is that I am now trying to start an association of downtown retail and restaraunt business owners. The focs will be how do we promote ourselves when the chamber does not feel the urge to do it anymore. That is where I swoop to the rescue with advertising packages, posters, web advertising... your all out multimedia promotion package. What do you guys think?

I think that Chambers are personal time waster.     I cut my exposure with them very early.  I found the best networking opportunities to be within my own time.   Instead of trying to gain referrals for myself, I found that I actually have a much better income by introducing clients to clients that may be good to do business with.   I will usually take two different customers to lunch at the same time - and ask each of them to bring someone for me.  The balance is great because I can meet people from different organizations, and it stays at the top level.  Presidents and C-LEVEL..

Personal experience has also taught me to be very instrumental in after hour functions for clients; especially non-profit organizations.  Currently am in the process of joinig the board for a mid = level non profit.  There are 3 boards of 15 people each...Everyone one of them holds a high ranking position in a major corp in my region.....Where else can you build a relationship with 44 people that has nothing to do with business????

slst says ...

I'll start this off as honest as possible. I am biased against the chamber of commerce because of my connection to the Minnesota State Democratic Party (I know I broke a bunch of rules right there, but honesty is a priority). With that being said I am a member of the local chamber of commerce through the membership dues paid for by the newspaper that employs me. The rep that I have replaced was a member of the chamber, and sat on the board. Apparantly she found it very helpful.

My experience has been more like what you all have shared. I have put all of my politics aside and gone to chamber meetings and events and have found the leads to be garbage. The big problem is that this chamber has started to pamper their larger members. Those members tend to be the town factories and captains of industry. These are also the people in town that are least likely to advertise and most likely to be bombarded with solicitors.

The upside to this swing in the chamber focus is that I am now trying to start an association of downtown retail and restaraunt business owners. The focs will be how do we promote ourselves when the chamber does not feel the urge to do it anymore. That is where I swoop to the rescue with advertising packages, posters, web advertising... your all out multimedia promotion package. What do you guys think?

That sounds like a good idea, but be careful.  While you have a solution for the people you are targeting, if it comes across like your main goal is to generate busines for yourself, the group disappear quickly.  If you demonstrate that your objective and the groups objective is to generate more business for them and the focus remains on them, the fact that you offer a solution will not be seen as the driving reason for starting the group.  Something you might want to think about is inviting in selected other advertising/marketing/media types that can all provide a different, but beneficial product.  As with the chamber meetings, you want to make sure that these are limited in number, so the business owners you are trying to help don't end up feeling bombarded by salesmen when they come to a meeting.

Luke

Same experience here. And we deployed multiple methods to proliferate. Now I only join association if I can copy the data base of members.

Using alternative methods I can pull 31% viewership and qualify to a gross 5% potential, closing ratio is anywhere from 41% to 87.4% (gotta squeekin the .4).

I am however evaluating the cost of all this niche marketing / creatibve verses simple telemarketing.

That sounds like a good idea, but be careful. While you have a solution for the people you are targeting, if it comes across like your main goal is to generate busines for yourself, the group disappear quickly. If you demonstrate that your objective and the groups objective is to generate more business for them and the focus remains on them, the fact that you offer a solution will not be seen as the driving reason for starting the group. Something you might want to think about is inviting in selected other advertising/marketing/media types that can all provide a different, but beneficial product. As with the chamber meetings, you want to make sure that these are limited in number, so the business owners you are trying to help don't end up feeling bombarded by salesmen when they come to a meeting.

Luke

Luke that is an excellent point. My plan is to allign with downtown businesses first. My newspaper is a downtown business so it makes sense for me to be there. The radio station, which also sells advertising, is also downtown so I can invite them. I also had thought that if the focus of the group is how can downtown businesses better themselves and promote themselves then because the newspaper falls into the downtown business category I can solicit info and feedback from other business owners.

Slst

sell - what type of associations??

What has your sucess been in getting copies of the membership??? 

What % of assoc's allow open access to that?   Seems like strong and solid method - interested in learning more already steaming w./ some ideas!!!!!

iam5050 says ...

sell - what type of associations?

What has your sucess been in getting copies of the membership??? 

What % of assoc's allow open access to that?   Seems like strong and solid method - interested in learning more already steaming w./ some ideas!!!!!

Mainly professional associations

Most offer access to their membership list (question the cost of importing list)

Those that don't I create a unique method of acquiring the list:

I use my wizwebpro.ca (web build tool)  and offer it as a fundraiser for the association if they give me front banner space. I pay them 10% of licenses sold to their membership. Note that professional associations have chapters. These chapters have their own sites. The main association is always concerned with branding and the lack of at the chapter level. This tool provides solution

So…….

If they expect to get remunerated from sales to members they need to send me the list right…

Works all the time.

If you have internal contacts to an association we pay hot reseller fees.

PS I share these sales ideas freely with my new SalesHQ friends, paid a price to learn these things, use them wisely if you wish but don’t give them away.

We are sales people; we drive the economy, so hold your cards close to your chest, AND MAKE THEM PAY FOR IT

 chambers of commerce are like any other networking organization.

some are great, some are good ... and some are awful.

as for ROI, there is more to the interaction than just the sales generated.  did you learn anything from the chamber functions? did you find a business resource that made your job easier? did you meet someone who can mentor you or offer advice?  if the ROI is ZERO, i would have to guess at least some of the blame falls squarely on your shoulders.