The Ideal Chamber - January 2010

Welcome to the Ideal Chamber -- This is a newsletter written by former Chamber Executive, Mary Kurek, for Chamber of Commerce leaders. Issues contain advice for solving staff, member, and board problems, ideas for producing/retaining income, and boosting membership. If you'd like to be e-mailed when fresh issues are available, contact mary@marykurek.com with name, Chamber name, and e-mail address. Thanks. Mary

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This is going to be a "rip-roaring" issue, starting off with quotes from an e-mail I received recently from someone who has a thing or two on his mind about what he feels isn't being done by community leaders and the chamber of commerce to support local business. Here we go:

"I am tired of seeing businesses in this county wanting high end services for $2.12 an hr and other counties running massive campaigns to buy local. When I find 7 businesses in ONE day spending $10,000 a month with outside companies, there is a problem."

The e-mail went on and included some chamber bashing, but, I think you get the point. So, how do you respond to that? Some of you wouldn't respond. You'd dismiss it...but that would be a big mistake on lots of levels. If he thinks it - so do others. And, if he's upset to the point of writing an e-mail, he's probably discussing it with others. In this particular case, our angry business owner is a tenant in a building with lots of Chamber members. His job has him working online a good bit - blogs, social media, message boards, and so forth. Turning a deaf ear on him would be "watched" by others who feel the same.

Let's back up and try to get in front of the big issue here. If you could predict this was coming, what could you have done to prevent it?

I see two issues he's pointing up here: the first one is that businesses that have money are spending it out of the area. Second, businesses that spend local are thinking they can get away with paying little.

I'm going to try to respond to all of this below - but writing it to your members, so you can reprint it for your newsletter.

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What Will Make an Immediate Difference to Your Small Business (and How the Chamber Can Help)

by Mary Kurek, Visibility Consultant
http://www.marykurek.com

Okay - admit it. Over the holidays, you found yourself moaning and groaning through your cocktails about how bad business has been this year. You probably even pointed the finger of blame at local organizations whose job you feel it is to look after business.

It's natural, but it's not useful. Your most proactive position right now is to get rid of the whining and blaming - and get "real" with what you need to do. You have a few questions to ask yourself now.

1. Have I been conscious of the ROI I need to get from good business decision-making, or have I been making decisions based on something else?

2. Do I have clear operational guides (job descriptions, budget, personnel policies, evaluations contracts, processes)?

3. Have I practiced "deal-making" and seeking "collaborative promotional arrangements" with fellow local businesses?

4. Have I "sought" educational opportunities available locally that boost my technological and online intelligence?

5. Have I surveyed my customer base to keep up with how they receive marketing messages and what they want?

6. Have I participated in events and activities to make a difference for fellow business owners where I could?

My experience tells me that most of you are going to respond with a "who has the time" defense. Here's my response: no matter what amount of money you spend with another person/entity to help you improve your business, ultimately it's up to you to ensure you are getting your ROI.

I knew a business owner who paid $800 a month to a firm that was supposed to be writing and placing blog postings online. After a period of time, it was evident by the business owner that he really was paying for nothing. He couldn't find the postings -- hadn't checked for months until it crossed his mind. Thousands of dollars wasted.

Where you spend money that is intended to benefit your business -- it is your business to make sure you get what you pay for. Chamber of Commerce included. Talk to the staff - find out how to make the most of your membership.

Your Chamber is producing free or low-cost workshops. If they aren't the ones you need, tell them what's important to you.

A Chamber always endeavors first to spend money with its members - but it's up to you to put a proposal in front of them. They are a business, just like you.

If you need help spreading the word about an event or would like Chamber representation, inform them.

And,if your Chamber thinks social media is important enough to produce a workshop on it and charge you $75 to attend, tell them you better find them on Twitter and Facebook, too.

Hopefully, at the end of this year, you'll be bragging about business and your Chamber over cocktails. But, if you aren't, vent to the people that can make improvements.

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How to Get the Most From Institute

After your second year at Institute, you'll have developed some relationships that you feel are useful and supportive. Instead of waiting for another year to pass to connect, why not form a "Mastermind" group. It doesn't have to be formal - just connect via Skypefor a conference call once every 2-3 months and tap brains.

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ChamberFix

Q: How do we better manage our office volunteer staff?

A: Most every Chamber I know makes use of volunteers to augment their office staff, but not many treat them like true staff. If you don't keep some basics in place for volunteers, you could find yourself in a mess.
Here are some tips to help you out:

-Create a volunteer job application
-Have job descriptions
-Outline a clear line of authority and supervision
-Conduct regular evaluations (just like paid staff)
-Recruit good volunteers
-Don't put responsibility on a volunteer that is outside of their legal boundaries: money transactions, their own office keys, etc.
-Conduct orientation/training
-Make available basic policies (such as smoking, dress code, etc.)
-Create volunteer nametags, so visitors will know they are volunteers
-Honor volunteers at special events
-Create a benefits package just for them - like free events tickets, staff shirts, lifetime Chamber membership, or arrange some discounts with Chamber members.

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Chamber Resources

Chamber Launches Wellness Program for Area Companies (Champaign Chamber)

Snohomish County Businesses Share Ins and Outs of Success Online (Snohomish Co. Business Dev. Center)

New Initiative to Help Disabled Entrepreneurs (British Chambers of Commerce)

The Business of Innovation: The Execution Plan-video (Rogers Park Chamber)

Office Depot Discount Program (Greater Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce)

Green Street Institute: Green Business 101 (Greater Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce) AWESOME effort, guys!

First Year in Review (Social Media Campaign) Salt Lake Valley Health Dept. (video - just a good example)

Social Media Meets the Employee Handbook - (Pittsburgh Business Times)

Change Your Plan, But Don't Change Your Vision-video(Small Business Rules on American Express Open Forum)

If You Were an Innovator, What Would You Be Doing Right Now? (Mary Kurek Article)