As 2013 draws to a close, I want to take a moment to thank our Chamber members for giving us the opportunity to serve your business or organization and our communities through your membership in the Lake Gaston Regional Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber has undergone many changes in the past few years, primarily moving into a new Visitors Center and hiring a new director. This growth would not have been possible without your support. The Lake Gaston Regional Chamber of Commerce is ready to extend our reach, letting more and more people know that the Lake Gaston region is THE place to live, visit, retire, work, do business and play. To spread our message far and wide, the Chamber will need your continued support and the addition of new members in the region.
In just the last month, the Chamber has changed our name to better represent the region that we serve and the businesses and organizations located throughout our five counties and two states. Our message is one of being better and stronger by working together and reaching across county and state lines. One of the initial efforts that the Chamber has undertaken has been to re-design the Chamber website in order to make the site more user-friendly and to better showcase our members. Your website listing now includes a Google map to your business, your contact information, up to 4 photos of your business or organization (for a standard listing), your logo, a 250-word description of your business and a QR code for your website. We will be adding information and images, as they are received from each member. A link from the Chamber website to your business or organization website greatly increases your Search Engine Optimization (SEO) on such search engines as Google. In fact, the website is one of the primary benefits of your Chamber membership with more than 25,000 unique visitors annually!
What benefits do you get from your investment as a member of the Lake Gaston Regional Chamber of Commerce? Your Chamber membership is a very inexpensive way to promote your business or organization and to serve the community. You get the detailed listing on the Chamber’s website detailed above. Participation in the Chamber’s weekly email specials that currently reach more than 500 subscribers is a wonderful means of direct marketing. If you only participate in one of these email specials each month, your cost to reach the customers in the Lake Gaston region is less than .02 per email! You get to have your business cards and brochures at the Lake Gaston Regional Chamber office. You are listed in the Lake Gaston Regional Chamber directory, a publication with a year-long shelf life that is distributed to all those inquiring about visiting or relocating to the Lake Gaston region. The Chamber staff refers your business or organization when inquiries are made in person, on the phone or via email for goods and services in the Lake Gaston region. You and your employees can attend all Chamber events, including networking at Business After Hours. Not to mention that the Chamber is your voice for regional issues. If there is an issue that affects Lake Gaston regional businesses and organizations, the Chamber represents our 300+ members and helps make a difference. Don’t forget that your dues are a tax-deductible business expense and can be billed annually, bi-annually or quarterly!
The Lake Gaston Regional Chamber of Commerce is also spear-heading the year-round Shop Lake Gaston First campaign with our partners here at the Lake Gaston Gazette-Observer to encourage everyone to spend their money within the Lake Gaston region with Lake Gaston Regional Chamber members! This campaign is well underway, beginning with a contest to Shop Lake Gaston First for the Holidays that lasts until December 18. We have already seen a lot of excitement from this campaign and a great deal of participation by the residents of the Lake Gaston region.
How else do we promote our Chamber members? Another very visible method is via social media marketing. The Lake Gaston Regional Chamber of Commerce has a very active Facebook page, now with more than 500 fans, who regularly engage with our posts and promotion of regional events and businesses. We also have a You Tube Channel, where we promote videos of various businesses and activities around Lake Gaston. The Chamber utilizes Pinterest and Google+ to showcase the Lake Gaston region as well. Be certain to let us know if you are using social media to promote your business.
We look forward to serving your business or organization and the Lake Gaston region throughout the upcoming year. Please keep us updated about your business or organization and how the Chamber can best serve you. Share your ideas with me or members of our board of directors at any time. Good communication is key to any successful partnership!
