Network With The Chamber Of Commerce

Author: C. Hope Clark

A Chamber of Commerce exists in every town in the United States. I’m sure a similar entity exists in other countries. Chambers represent all the businesses in a given geographic region. They provide members with business development programs, valuable resources, effective marketing and visibility opportunities, and business advocacy.

Never thought of yourself as a business? Think again. Writers that join and mesh with their Chamber of Commerce avail themselves to opportunities that can propel careers.

Now’s the time to set aside your writer’s cap and don your business hat. Here are some examples of writing gigs that can result from membership:

You learn of new businesses in town and offer your advertising and newsletter writing services.
You know first about business growth, business closings and business impact on the community for newspaper and magazine features.
You can offer a package deal to businesses that might incorporate your book in one of their promotional offers.
Businesses might purchase your book for their employees.
Offer a discount purchase for Chamber members whether for books or writing services and garner more jobs.
Connect with store owners about consignment of your work or books.
Piggy back on chamber community ventures with schools, libraries or community events.

The word-of-mouth you gain from membership is worth the cost in itself.

Chambers have luncheons and dinners where they have guest speakers. You can offer to be one of those speakers. Someone knows someone who knows someone else and suddenly you have three gigs to present your work. Chambers are rich with networking opportunities. Members do their best to support each other.

Chambers publish directories. Who knows when an organization may flip through that directory, or peruse it online, and realize it might like to have a mystery writer at a function, or a copywriter create promotional material, or a self-help writer motivate employees at a retreat?

They also offer special events like tradeshows. You have the chance to post your services and work at any event they sponsor to include meeting with leaders, schools and potential newcomers to the community. As a member, you are entitled to the advertising.

Personal development is a big perk of chambers. Chambers often hold forums, classes and seminars for members to better their knowledge of business practices. Learn how to better present yourself, learn how to speak, learn how to draw customers. Some even ask authors to present those seminars, which could present a grand opportunity for you.

Additionally, chambers offer benefits to members. Benefits such as:

401(K) retirement plans
Group health insurance
Member-to-member discounts on office supplies, furniture and services like tax preparation.

To find your chamber, do a simple search of “chamber of commerce” AND “your town”. Study the benefits. Note the fee. Analyze the current members. Don’t see any writers? Great! That’s more fodder for you.

Also, go to http://www.uschamber.com/chambers/directory/default and click on your state. Note the long list of chambers in your state.

You don’t have to belong to only the one where you live. Savvy business people belong to several to include wherever they do business. Just because you live in Phoenix, doesn’t mean you can’t belong to the Glendale, Mesa, Chandler or Ahwatukee chambers as well. Those little outskirt communities have business potential, too.

Chambers are a way for you to take your writing seriously and propel it to a professional level. Become recognized as a serious writer, and your community peers will respect you as well. Respect and word-of-mouth will do great things for your writing career. Take your writing seriously. Join a chamber of commerce.