Manalapan Business Association

Our Objectives

1. To enhance the relationship between businesses and the community of Manalapan

2. To provide new and existing businesses within Manalapan with the most conducive and supportive atmosphere to contribute to their potential success.

3. To represent Manalapan businesses and their owners in the best possible light to township residents and leadership.

4. To network with Manalapan entrepreneurs to create greater and more profitable business opportunities.

Mission Statement:

To join the Manalapan businesses in one voice for the common good. To promote, advocate, engage and maximize our collective resources while striving to enhance the business environment in Manalapan Township.

Executive Board

Ricardo Rivers

Treasurer

Gail Szeluga

Recording Secretary

JoAnna Siminerio

Corresponding Secretary

Jordan Maskowitz

First Vice President

Glen Mendez

PresidentSecond

Vice President

Barry Fisher

2017 Accomplishments

• Held 18 business networking events which provided the Manalapan business community the opportunity to get to know each other, put faces to the names and learn more about each other’s businesses, resulting in many new opportunities and relationships being created.

• Executed a successful golf outing fundraiser which supported the MERS Foundation as well as provided the capital needed to get the MBA off the ground.

• Executed a successful Shopping Center Spotlight event at the Galleria Shopping Center on Route 9; businesses reported a 50% increase in activity that day and increased their customer counts with new faces thereafter.

• Executed a successful cooperative advertising campaign in the centerfold of the News Transcript to highlight the Shopping Center Spotlight with 18 merchants participating.

And, our greatest accomplishment on top of all of these… we’re just getting started.

The MBA re-formed in March 7, 2017. Since then we have:

2018 Goals

• Have a base membership of 150 active members.

• Execute four Shopping Center Spotlight programs. One Spring, one prior to July 4th, one immediately post Labor Day and one late Fall.

• More networking events including our 2nd Annual Golf Outing and our 1st Annual family-themed event exclusively for MBA members and their families.

• Have active members participating in committees to make this truly a team effort and bring a diversity of ideas to the MBA.

• Create and disseminate to every household in Manalapan and nearby towns, the MBA website and Community App as THE resource for everything from diamonds to dishwashers all available right here in 07726!

• Create a ‘Dine Manalapan’ program and a ‘Doc Manalapan’ program for dining opportunities and our medical community.

Our 2018 goals are lofty but we are up for the challenge, including:

Welcome to MembershipWho can join?

Any business physically based in Manalapan or any local business based elsewhere where the owner is a Manalapan resident.

*Those who have been active participants in the 2017 MBA, who don’t meet the above criteria are still invited to join.

Structure

• There are two meetings each month:

• The 2nd Wednesday of the month is a breakfast at Battleground and the 4th Wednesday of the month is an evening Meet & Greet Business Mixer at a member’s place of business.

• Unlike other networking groups, attendance is NOT mandatory. In addition to networking, there are many other value-added aspects to joining the MBA.

Why Join?• Networking

Opportunities

• Maximize Consumer Confidence (Credibility)

• Giving Back

• Have a Voice

• Visibility

• Learning/Intelligence

• Member-to-Member Discounts

• www.MTNJMBA.org

• The Member APP

• The Community APP

• Social Media Presence

• Battleground Sports Membership Opportunity

• Cooperative Holiday Party

Networking Opportunities

• Morning Breakfast Meetings (FREE for members, $20 for non-members)

• Evening Meet & Greet Business Mixers

• Shopping Center Spotlight Events

• Spring Kick-Off Event

• Summer Family BBQ

• Fall Golf Outing and Dinner

• Winter Holiday Party

Networking allows our members to build new business relationships and generate business opportunities at the same time.

Maximize Consumer Confidence (Credibility)*

When consumers know that a restaurant is a member of a business association, they are 40% more likely to eat at that

restaurant in the next few months.

When consumers know that an insurance company is a member of a business

association, they are 43% more likely to considering buying insurance from them.

The impact of local business association membership on small businesses include:

44% increase in consumer favorability

51% increase in consumer awareness

57% increase in local reputation

63% increase in the likelihood of future patronage

* Source: The Real Value of Joining a Local Chamber of Commerce A Research Study by The Schapiro Group

Giving Back to the Community

• Joining the Manalapan Business Association lets consumers know that by supporting the business community you are directly supporting Manalapan Township.

• You will be a participant in the many fundraising endeavors organized by the MBA to support Manalapan-based charities and foundations.

• Consumers will go out of their way to frequent businesses that they perceive as “community friendly”.

Have a Voice

There is strength in numbers.

Your ability to influence public policy on common business problems becomes greater as more voices are added to advocate on behalf of businesses like yours.

Visibility

• Stand out and get noticed in Manalapan. Let the public know you are a proud member and supporter of the MBA.

• Proudly display the MBA Certificate of Membership and/or window cling at your place of business.

• Include the MBA Membership Badge on your website, reinforcing your commitment to the Manalapan community to any consumers visiting your website.

Learning/Intelligence

• The Manalapan Business Association provides a forum to keep your business informed on local, regional and state issues that can impact the ability of local businesses to thrive.

• Workshops and seminars to help you take your business to the next level

• Key speakers to engage, educate and enlighten

Member-to-Member Discounts

The Member-To-Member Discount Program encourages MBA members and their employees to prefer other MBA members when making buying decisions. The Program is a great way to attract customers, build relationships with customers and save money while strengthening our local economy.

The promotions should be over and above what non-members or the general public are receiving. Members would show their current, active membership card to receive the promotion.

Sample offers:

• A percentage off the purchase price, such as a 10% off car detailing or 10% off dry cleaning.

• A “Bonus”. For example, if you operate a restaurant, you may want to offer a “Free” dessert with a customer’s meal.

Web Presence

The MBA offers two distinct web experiences:

• Public or consumer facing website (MTNJMBA.org)

• Structured to attract the consumer by offering compelling content that keeps them coming back

• Consumers like the idea of supporting businesses that are Manalapan owned or Manalapan based. Especially when it is easy to find them.

• Members only website (Member Information Center)

• Private area where members can interact and network outside of the public eye

MTNJMBA.org

The MBA public website will be a credible resource the local consumer will come to rely upon.

A robust collaboration between the member and the administration, the website will provide consumers with a compelling collection of information, resources and most importantly, the promotion of member businesses.

www.MTNJMBA.org

Your Member ProfileYour membership profile is like your own mini website within the MBA website. Consumers can get a clear picture of what your business is all about.

Enhanced Features include:

• Links to your website, special offers page, contact information for your business including social media links

• Detailed business description

• Bullet point highlights of your business

• Media, including photos, advertising or videos

• News releases

• Contact information for your representatives

• Map to your location

Business Directory

• Consumers will use the Business Directory to find member businesses by category.

• They will also use the Directory to pull up contact information for businesses they already know by typing the business name or representative name in the search bar.

Hot Deals

• Hot Deals are where members can post offers for consumers.

• Offers can be $ or % off or they could be offering a bonus.

• Consumers will visit the site often to check out the offers.

• Consumers can sign up for the Hot Deals eNewsletter and have the deals sent directly to their inboxes.

• More traffic for the MBA website and more advertising exposure for members. #winwin

Job Postings

• Job Postings are where members can post employment opportunities.

• Consumers in the job market will visit the site often to check out the opportunities.

• More traffic for the MBA website and more exposure for the member’s employee search. #winwin

News Releases

• Members have the opportunity to share their announcements with local consumers.

• Grand Openings• New Hires• Employee Promotions• Business News• And More!

Events

• The Events Calendar will contain both Manalapan Business Association events as well as events submitted by members.

• Members, consumers or prospective members will have the opportunity to register online for events and pay by credit card.

Member submitted

event

MBAevent

Information Requests

• We have the ability to upload documents and links that consumers want. For example, information on Zoning or Construction Permits. Or information about Parks & Recreation. Perhaps local information for potential new residents. Consumers can come to the website, select the information they want to download, submit their contact information and it will be emailed to them.

• We drive more traffic to the website which increases the odds of a consumers finding your member profile listing.

Driving Traffic

How will we get consumers to our website?

• SEO (Search Engine Optimization):

⁻ Keywords and content built-in to have the website appear higher in the rankings when consumers search for relevant terms.

⁻ Backlinks provide importance to our website

• Social Media Exposure via our Facebook Business Page and Manalapan Facebook Groups

• Paid Advertising:

⁻ Exploring opportunities for paid advertising including Google, Facebook, Instagram and others

Backlinking

A backlink is a link one website gets from another website. Backlinks have a huge impact on a website’s prominence in search engine results. Simply put, the more quality backlinks to your site, the more important your site is seen by search engines like Google.

Members can download this badge to display on their own websites, creating numerous quality backlinks to the MBA website which makes our website show up higher in searches. For example, when a consumer searches for “electrician near Manalapan” our website will show up higher than other sites not only directing traffic to the electricians in our group but to all the members of the MBA as well.

The website will also create quality backlinks to YOUR website. #winwin

The Member Information Center

The Member Information Center (“MIC”) is the “MEMBERS ONLY” component of the MBA Website. It has all the functionality of the public website but affords members the ability to interact privately with each other.

• Members only social newsfeed. (Like Facebook just for us!)

• Member-to-Member deals

• Direct member-to-member contact

• Shared resources

The MIC also serves as the gateway with which a member will maintain their profile which feeds not only to the MIC, but also to the public MTNJMBA.org website.

Click to watch a short video to see what the MIC can do for you.

https://youtu.be/mtClWDf0rvw

Member AppAll the power of the Member Information Center in the palm of your hand!

Community App

The Community App is in the works!

We are entertaining proposals from vendors who would provide the integration between the MBA website and an App where consumers can go to find deals or search the member directory.

Battleground Country Club

Sports Membership Opportunity

Through the generosity of Ed Foley and our friends at Battleground Country Club, MBA members can take advantage of the opportunity to purchase a “Sports Membership” at more than 50% of regular price.

Join a Committee

• Special Events/Planning

• Community Outreach

• Membership

• Fundraising

• Social Media

• Technology

• Government Relations

• New Business Development

The best way to forge long-term business relationships is by working closely with people to accomplish goals that help the community. This is your opportunity to network face-to-face with local government officials, business owners and community leaders.

Choosing Your Membership Package

Gold and Silver memberships include one representative. Additional representatives may be added to the website at a cost of $75 per person

Non-profit memberships are available at discounted rates. Contact JoAnna (732) 598-6823 or Gail (732) 580-7893

Cost for Breakfast MeetingsGold & Silver Members and their representatives - FREECourtesy or Non-Business Guests - $10Non-Member Businesses - $20

Membership OptionsSearch Results

Basic Search Result Enhanced Search Result

Enhanced Search Result (with Banner Ad)

Membership Options

(Enhanced Profile)(Basic Profile)

Member Profile

Advertising Opportunities

• Information on Member advertising opportunities will be coming soon!

Premier Sponsorship OpportunitiesPremier Sponsors:

• Logo at the bottom of EVERY page

• Premier sponsors acknowledged at ALL MBA events

• Logo featured on Social Media outlets

Join Us!

To join the MBA go to www.MTNJMBA.org.

At the bottom of the home page you will see “Membership Application” or select “Join the MBA” from the “Join Us” tab.

Fill it out. It’s that simple.

Once you are approved, you will be given instructions on how to complete your profile. Don’t worry, we are here to help! Call JoAnna (732) 598-6823 or Gail (732) 580-7893.