One Example of Why You Should Join Your Chamber of Commerce

Lately we've had a lot of people contacting us asking what to do to keep their cleaning business afloat during the recession. One cleaning business owner is a firm believer that joining the local Chamber of Commerce is helping them keep their business going.

"The goods news is, business is out there. We are working our tails off getting known in our community and especially the business community.

Join your local Chamber of Commerce first. Depending on where you live the Chamber could potentially provide you with literally thousands of leads. Our local Chamber has just over 1000 members.

Second, plan on spending many nights attending networking events i.e. classes, after hours, morning classes, new member orientation and ribbon cuttings of new businesses. Over the past three weeks I have already met and collected business cards of fifty to one hundred people and created an email list from that. I attended my first ribbon cutting yesterday and it was a blast and I also got free pizza. I am going to another one today at a Tapas Restaurant. When you go to these, if your Chamber has them, they take pictures and place them in the newsletter and your face is in there and that equals visibility.

 

One other thing. A friend of mine owns a marketing consultation company and when I told her we were starting a cleaning business she said "yeah you and a thousand other people". Then she went on to tell us to look at differentiating ourselves from the competition. Do something unique that no other cleaning service is doing. This will take some work and research on your part, but if you identify what separates you from the current vendor or other bidders, you will have have something different to offer when you cold call or submit a bid.

 

I will give you an easy one to start with -- the Chamber of Commerce. Out of all of the people I have met, not one of them are in the cleaning business! So when you go, have your niche ready, tell them about it and get their contact info!

 

You won't believe this. As I am typing this message the phone rings and it is the Chamber office wanting me to come over and look at some work! No lie. Gotta go!"

Comments

[David Caldwell]

I've been a member of my local chamber for 11 years. when I first joined I worked it real hard. I landed a couple of good accounts some I still have. I got to busy to attend and business started to fall off. I recently got active again. Guess what happened I landed to chamber office its self!! I also join the chamber is the city to yhe north of us back in November 2008 didn't do much with it. But it was an investment I made so I had to take advantage of it. I went to a network meeting a few weeks ago run in to an old prospect I have not talk to for a while. Well needly to say I won him over and got his construction clean up. Its a small investment to make that can pay big. I've learned something from my past real estate career. YOU HAVE TO BE THERE TO BE SEEN! When I came across this blog it reminded me of what I already knew worked. Being there is the key, Networking is a must and you dont have to spend big money to make money. You are your best promotional tool you have. Dress sucessfull and present a professional attitude.

[Jean Hanson]

David - wow, another great story! You absolutely have to be there to be seen. Thanks for sharing.
Jean

[Mike Ashley]

This is really good info for me in my start up! I'm also curious about the members experience with using companies like Cleanbid for estimating jobs.
Mike

[frank haven]

I joined the chamber when i started my business, five yrs ago, to date I receive 25% of my referrals from the chamber. I have found that more and more businesses are asking for chamber members for there service. But remember you have to be active to get the business, too many cleaning companies join and expect the business to come rolling in to them. I always tell the new cleaning companies they have to attend functions, not all to build a relationship. Most don't listen and end failing, blaming the chamber for mot giving them business.

[Jean Hanson]

That's right. You can't blame the Chamber for not giving you business - it's up to you to take advantage of your membership and participate!