On Friday, I returned to the Lakeland Chamber of Commerce to turn in my membership form and fee. I only had to pay half the yearly fee upfront, which helps cash-flow and makes it easy to do. Since my account exec, Amy Wiggins email her, wasn’t there, Terry Ottinger, Vice President of Membership Development, took my application and we chatted for awhile. Apparently, Amy had already briefed him on my business, which was a nice surprise.

Anyway, I told him one of the reasons I am joining is because I learned about chamber membership results from Milburn Drysdale . He was a member of the Beverly Hills Chamber of Commerce and landed the multi-million-dollar Clampett account. That’s my earliest memory of chamber identity and it’s stuck with me.

Seriously, membership has its advantages. Through my involvement in several chambers during my more than twenty years as a businessman, I’ve learned firsthand how it can help build your business. Here are a few reasons I join and participate:

1. Chamber membership brings creditability. Studies show that consumers place more trust in chamber partners and are more likely to buy if they know a company is in the local chamber of commerce.
2. The Chamber offers networking opportunities to gain clients. Radiance Road Marketing serves Lakeland businesses. There are regular and special events designed specifically for b2b contacts.  As a local company providing internet marketing for local companies, it only makes sense to look for clients in the chamber because that’s where most of the successful business will be involved..
3. The Chamber offers unique advertising and promotion opportunities. I get my business listed on their online and print directories I can place ads in them, as well. I can also sponsor and leverage their local events.
4. The Chamber is an advocate for local businesses. Politically, the more small businesses that band together, the more power we have. It’s important to protect the interests of entrepreneurs like myself!
5. The Chamber provides opportunities for professional development. We learn from the experience of our fellow small and medium businesspersons as we interact and at specially-designed events. It’s important for me to learn to grow my business.
6. I have always advised my clients to join and participate in the local chamber of commerce. That’s hard to do if I am not a member myself. I advise them to do it because it works. My clients’ success is my success.
7. It strengthens our community. Since chambers build businesses and business hire workers and everybody pays taxes (ok – everybody with an income is supposed to pay taxes) – we all win. Lakeland businesses success is in my personal and professional best interest.

Joining is the first step. It’s an investment. I add my willingness to participate, eagerness to help the chamber and my fellow chamber members, and devotion to building our community. I know from my experience that my business will grow and profit. I will probably build some personal relationships, as well. And, I know that I will continue to grow as a person from doing the right thing for the right reason at the right time.

If you have a chamber success story, let me know by leaving a comment here or call me at 863 669-1086 to share. Thanks