www.sdchamber.org

Membership Update

By Doug Holman, Vice President of Membership

It is hard to believe that we are already two months into 2008. Your Chamber has already hosted seven great networking events, and you can rest assured that there are many more to follow. We continue to be blessed with motivated members who participate regularly in order to grow their circle of influence. Of course, there is almost always room for more of our members to attend. Therefore, for March, I thought it might be helpful to provide some networking tips for those who struggle to place events on their calendars.

Chamber events are a time-tested way to network. And, they are an excellent way to stay in contact with or reconnect with key customers. There is a good amount of planning that should accompany any decision to attend an event, and inviting guests to Chamber events has a number of benefits. 

1. By offering an invitation, you demonstrate to your key contacts that they are top-of-mind. They appreciate your generosity whether they take you up on your offer or not.
2. Meeting guests at events makes your commitment to attend that much stronger. In essence, you have held yourself accountable by making a promise to a valued person in your network.
3. Working alongside trusted people makes networking easier. Messaging is always more powerful when delivered by another party.
4. The act of giving (an invitation) is the first step toward successful networking. In doing so, you are setting a great example.

There is virtually no risk to inviting guests to the Business After Five or Get Connected Breakfasts, because you know exactly what to expect. Both programs are very consistent in attendance and structure. Financially, the risk is minimal because in most cases your Chamber will provide a guest pass at no charge. We simply ask that you not bring the same guest every month.

Other events are also great opportunities to build relationships. However, at first glance the reasons may not be as clear. Planning requires a bit more strategy but the extra effort can be extremely rewarding. Some helpful suggestions follow:

1. Watch for event topics that address concerns of your prospects and clients. Staying informed on issues that impact your key clients is a great way to better demonstrate your understanding of their needs.
2. Invite prospects or clients to events that cover key information for their business. This too is a great way to demonstrate that you are keeping your key contacts top-of-mind.
3. Think about who will most likely attend each event.

a.) Your key clients or prospects – an obvious must attend and be seen situation.

b.) Your clients’ prospective customers – a must invite opportunity.

Having realistic and measurable goals is much easier when working from a plan. We believe that Chamber events can provide numerous opportunities for our members. Please, as always, utilize your Chamber staff to help. Feel free to call my direct line at (619) 544-1391 with questions or suggestions on how to network more effectively.

I look forward to seeing you at any of our upcoming March events.