Happy Fall!
Where on earth did the year go? We are now entering the fourth quarter, and we’re all beginning our budget planning for 2020.
You might not realize the Durango Chamber of Commerce offers numerous options to help market your business for the new year.
Think of the chamber as an ancillary business marketing machine. We often have to clarify that we’re not just an entity in “name” only (and we’re well aware that people sometimes have pre-conceived notions of what a chamber does or can do). Take another look at your chamber and select from our proverbial offerings of membership levels and opportunities that can help meet your business objectives. I often say, “Google can’t do that.”
The chamber offers tiered enhanced membership levels. These are a step above the membership benefit levels with which you might be familiar. As always, we want to provide value for your membership dollar.
enhanced membership levels, coupled with our new Chamber building on North Main, offer co-working space and use of the fully-equipped boardroom. This is great for small businesses that sometimes need professional meeting space but don’t actually have the space at their location.
Direct marketing opportunities include publication in our weekly Business Facts, an e-blast distributed to 1,500, with typically a 35% open and click-through rate. Plus, we offer banner web ads on the chamber website, with over 100,000 annual page views we can reach qualified, targeted customers.
One of my favorite marketing amenities is data mining. The businesses that have taken advantage of the service have secured enough new customers/clients to more than pay for their chamber membership several times over. We have access to local and national data for businesses and consumers.
Your chamber board and staff also stay actively involved with a variety of entities to be in a position to advocate for, provide information to and support our local businesses. The latest endeavor is the budding creative district, which you will undoubtedly be hearing more about in coming months. Being designated as a creative district opens up a variety of funding opportunities that lead to new and exciting marketing prospects for our town and our businesses. Stay tuned on that one.
And as a last note, the fourth quarter is also when your chamber starts planning our “Academy Awards” – Durango Rocks! And we need your nominations. Our nominating committee is diligent in reviewing all nominations. (I do not have a vote in selecting the recipients.) This is completely a chamber member-driven endeavor, so who do you know – an individual or business – that deserves to receive kudos and be honored (and be noticed)?
Many times, those who receive the awards aren’t “the names” or folks widely known, but they are indeed businesses and individuals that you “should” know. Being a recipient of a Durango Rocks! award is one more way your chamber helps support our local businesses and economy. Go to www.durangobusiness.org to view the categories and nominate a deserving candidate. And while you’re there, check out the many, many more benefits offered to you as a member of the Durango Chamber of Commerce.
Jack Llewellyn is executive director of the Durango Chamber of Commerce. Contact him at jack@durangobusiness.org.
