leveraging chambers' email lists for business development
TRANSCRIPT
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIESLEVERAGING THE EMAIL LISTS OF LOCAL CHAMBERS
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIESLEVERAGING THE EMAIL LISTS OF LOCAL CHAMBERS
WHY TO UTILIZE BUSINESS CHAMBERS?
Business Chambers are supported by countless small and large companies and becoming involved in these various organizations can help facilitate business development opportunities.
HOW DOES IT ASSIST WITH BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT?
If you run into key people (your target market) every other week or even just once a month they then start to get to know you. Unless you are a major introvert or have nothing of value to offer, it’s almost impossible not to develop new business.
DOES IT REALLY WORK THAT EASILY?
Getting involved in a Chamber is not a sprint. You are there to build long-term relationships. People really need to get to know you before they consider doing business with you. After all, their reputation is on the line as well.
WHAT’S GOING TO DRIVE MEMBERS TO DO BUSINESS WITH ME?
Being likable certainly plays a factor but the key deciding factor is having something of value to offer. Perhaps there is something that differentiates your business from your competitors even if it’s just your certifications.
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIESLEVERAGING THE EMAIL LISTS OF LOCAL CHAMBERS
DO I HAVE TO JOIN EACH CHAMBER?
You should not join every Chamber but it’s worth “becoming an insider” by at the least becoming a part of their email list which will inform you about their upcoming events (event sponsors/potential clients) and much more.
HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO BE INVOLVED?
Every Chamber is different but usually you are looking at an annual membership fee between $100-$500 and costs associated with attending events which might be free or cost up to $2,500 if you buy a table for 10 at a special annual event.
HOW CAN I CHOOSE THE RIGHT CHAMBER TO JOIN?
There are many factors that go into joining the right Chamber. This includes but is not limited to:
• The chamber’s membership needs to be highly reflective of your target market.
• The chamber’s activity level i.e. how many networking events, workshops and other programs they have.
• How supportive the Chamber’s leadership team is in match making you with its current members.
There is only so much time in a day so you need to pick the Chambers that are going to yield the highest ROI.
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIESLEVERAGING THE EMAIL LISTS OF LOCAL CHAMBERS
HOW SHOULD I GET STARTED?
Find all the “Local Chambers” in your target market. In our example we chose LA County. On the following two slides we have a partial list of the LA County’s City Chambers.
Your next step is to go on their website and subscribe to their newsletter or contact them directly to be added to their email list if they don’t have a subscription form.
You then want to evaluate which chambers seem to have a membership base most reflective of your target market. Don’t be afraid to ask questions (or email them).
Unsubscribe from the Chambers that don’t seem valuable to you. Start getting active in those Chambers that do seem worth your time.
Los Angeles County has the most city chambers in the state (57), probably in the United States.
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIESEMAIL+WEBSITE OF FEATURED LA COUNTY CHAMBERS
Alhambra Chamber of Commercewww.alhambrachamber.org
Azusa Chamber of Commercewww.azusachamber.org
Beverly Hills Chamber of Commercewww.beverlyhillschamber.com
Burbank Chamber of Commercewww.burbankchamber.org
Calabasas Chamber of Commercewww.calabasaschamber.com
Carson Chamber of Commercewww.carsonchamber.com
Catalina Island Chamber & Visitors Bureauwww.catalinachamber.com
Century City Chamber of Commercewww.centurycitycc.com
Cerritos Regional Chamber of Commercewww.cerritos.org
Chatsworth/Porter Ranch Chamber of Commercewww.chatsworthchamber.com
Claremont Chamber of Commercewww.claremontchamber.org
Commerce Indus. Council Chamber of Commercewww.industrialcouncil.org
Compton Business Chamber www.comptonbusinesschamber.org
Covina Chamber of Commercewww.covina.org
Crescenta Valley Chamber of Commercewww.lacrescenta.org
Culver City Chamber of Commercewww.culvercitychamber.com
Downey Chamber of Commercewww.downeychamber.com
Duarte Chamber of Commercewww.duartechamber.com
El Monte/South El Monte Chamber of Commercewww.emsem.biz
El Segundo Chamber of Commercewww.elsegundochamber.com
Encino Chamber of Commercewww.encinochamber.org
Glendale Chamber of Commercewww.glendalechamber.com
Glendora Chamber of Commercewww.glendora-chamber.org
Greater San Fernando Valley Chamber of Commercewww.sanfernandovalleychamber.com
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIESEMAIL+WEBSITE OF FEATURED LA COUNTY CHAMBERS
Hermosa Beach Chamber of Commerce www.hbchamber.net
Hollywood Chamber of Commercewww.hollywoodchamber.net
Industry Manufacturers Councilwww.industrychamber.org
Irwindale Chamber of Commercewww.irwindalechamber.org
La Canada Flintridge Chamber of Commercewww.lacanadaflintridge.com
Lancaster Chamber of Commercewww.lancasterchamber.org
LAX Coastal Area Chamber of Commercewww.laxcoastal.com
Long Beach Area Chamber of Commercewww.lbchamber.com
Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commercewww.lachamber.com
Manhattan Beach Chamber of Commercewww.manhattanbeachchamber.com
Monrovia Chamber of Commercewww.monroviacc.com
Montebello Chamber of Commercewww.montebellochamber.org
Northridge Chamber of Commercewww.nvrcc.com
Norwalk Chamber of Commercewww.norwalkchamber.com
Palmdale Chamber of Commercewww.palmdalechamber.org
Palos Verdes Peninsula Chamber of Commercewww.palosverdeschamber.com
Redondo Beach Chamber of Commerce www.redondochamber.org
Regional Chamber of Commerce – San Gabriel Valleywww.regionalchambersgv.com
San Dimas Chamber of Commercewww.sandimaschamber.com
Santa Clarita Valley Chamber of Commercewww.scvchamber.com
Santa Fe Springs Chamber of Commercewww.sfschamber.com
Santa Monica Chamber of Commercewww.smchamber.com
South Pasadena Chamber of Commercewww.southpaschamber.com
Torrance Area Chamber of Commercewww.torrancechamber.com
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIESLEVERAGING THE EMAIL LISTS OF LOCAL CHAMBERS
HOW ARE THE EMAIL LISTS BEING LEVERAGED?
The Chambers are in the business of providing value to its members which they do by informing their members of business opportunities including upcoming bids as well as networking opportunities. With all this research being done by multiple Chambers opportunities will start coming your way at an accelerated pace putting pressure on you to keep up.
WHAT’S THE RESULT OF THIS WORK?
If you are staying on top of your emails you should be able to quickly respond to opportunities. More importantly, in being an active member of the Chamber people will start to recognize who you are and what you do and that will even bring more business your way.
WHAT DO I DO WITH ALL THIS INFORMATION?
The Chambers will certainly inform you about opportunities that might not be a fit for your business and all that information can feel useless if you can’t make money of it. But if it’s useless for you then can you provide/forward this to someone who this information is useful for? Use information that is useless for you to build and strengthen relationships in your network. You would be surprised how often these favors are returned.
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIESLEVERAGING THE EMAIL LISTS OF LOCAL CHAMBERS
WHAT IS MY NEXT STEP?
Follow the same process again this time looking for the local chapters of Trade Associations/Chambers related to your industry or profession. Examples include:
• Chinese Chamber of Commerce• Swedish American Chamber of Commerce• Regional Hispanic Chamber of Commerce• Latin Business Association• Asian Business Association • Association for Corporate Growth • American Marketing Association • German American Business Association• American Public Power Association
• Los Angeles Venture Association • California Small Business Association • California Fashion Association • Women in International Trade Association • American Institute of Architects • Building Industry Association• National Association of Minority Contractors • American Subcontractor Association• American Society of Civil Engineers
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIESLEVERAGING THE EMAIL LISTS OF LOCAL CHAMBERS
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Markus Biegel is an entrepreneur and management consultant who has worked with hundreds of CEOs and business owners across the United States, Europe, South America and Asia. Markus is currently the Business Development Advisor at Allied Protection Services; a security firm that provides armed and unarmed guard services to major construction firms, as well as the Department of Justice.
Markus is currently a City Commissioner in the City of Carson, Councilmember of the L.A.U.S.D. Small Business Advisory Council, and Board Member of the Regional Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Markus has two bachelors in Marketing and International Business from the California State University, Dominguez Hills and two MBAs in Human Resource Management and Finance from the California State University, Long Beach.