5 Key Ways Chamber Membership Can Support Your Business
By: Josh Cross, Interim CEO & President of the Atascadero Chamber of Commerce
Running your own business isn’t easy – throw a crisis into the mix like the COVID-19 pandemic, and you have a recipe for chaos. It can feel disheartening, isolating, and a whole conglomerate of other emotions. This recent experience with a global pandemic made it glaringly evident that we all need a sense of connection and community. Thankfully, you don’t have to go it alone. During times of plenty and times of scarcity, the team here at the Chamber and our membership community is here to support you. OUR community is stronger together. That’s why we believe in offering support to members that, at their core, help you stay connected to community. Here are the five ways we can help your business.
1. Connection
The first and arguably the most important of all of our benefits is that of connection. This is the most visible benefit to engaging with a community. Members of our Chamber maintain a strong connection with each other and with the larger community. As a member, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to meet other businesses, customers and build once-in-a-lifetime relationships. Even during a pandemic! We know how important community and connection are, especially during a time when everyone is more isolated. This is why we’ve been hosting virtual mixers, virtual workshops, and drive-through events for our members over the past couple of months. Our goal is to ensure that every business in our membership that wants to connect can. The relationships you can make through the Chamber may turn into life-long friendships, create loyal customers, connect you to mentors, and more.
2. Visibility
With the Chamber, you stay visible. Visibility, a positive side effect of the Chamber connection and community, can make all of the difference for your business. Putting aside the visibility you gain for your business just by showing up and connecting at mixers and events, there are other ways your Chamber ensures that your business is visible. As a member, you’re highlighted in our local online business directory. Your events can go up on our virtual community calendar. We’ll share your social media posts on our page and your flyers in our newsletters. Increased visibility matters, especially when it’s online. You probably already know that the amount customers are spending online is increasing. The pandemic has sped up the interest in online shopping and browsing1. You could have the best service, products, food in the world, but if you don’t have the visibility to help you spread that information, you’re closing the door on opportunity. (If you’re currently a member and would like to share your events and flyers with us, please email Vicki@AtascaderoChamber.org.)
3. Voice
When you’re a member, you’re connected, and your voice is louder in the community and local government. As a member, you have the opportunity to participate in councils that engage in all different facets of life here in Atascadero. We have a Diversity Council, Women in Business Council, Legislative Council, and an Ambassadors Council that you can join and contribute your ideas to regularly. Did you know that the Chamber advocates on behalf of members of their business community? We know that your voice matters, and as a member, we’ll help you share it.
4. Discounts
Who doesn’t love to save a little extra cash? When it comes to informative workshops, fun events, and more, our members always have access to discounts. That’s because we never want our members to be discouraged from participating in valuable experiences that can help benefit their business. Whether it’s a workshop, community-focused event, or more, we want to ensure that you can participate without the price as a deterrent. That means the extra money you save, you can put back into your business – or into that glass of wine.
5. Credibility
Last but certainly not least, as a Chamber member, you give your business credibility within the community. We live in a small town and a close and tight-night neighborhood here on the Central Coast. Being a Chamber member highlights to everyone that your business is serious about getting connected and involved in our Atasca-amazing community.
Here at the Chamber, our number one priority is that of OUR business community. The team and I work hard to ensure that your Chamber is a Catalyst for business, a Convenor of leaders, and a Champion for local business because what you do as a small business owner makes a positive difference in our community. As always, your Chamber team is here for you! If you’d like to learn more about membership or about the upcoming opportunities you have as a member, give us a call at (805) 466-2044 or email Vicki@AtascaderoChamber.org.
1 Charles Riley, CNN Business. (2020, October 13). Online shopping has been supercharged by the pandemic. There’s no going back. CNN. https://edition.cnn.com/2020/10/11/investing/stocks-week-ahead/index.html
Interim President & CEO of the Atascadero Chamber | Josh Cross
