Rick,

I network through 3 separate Chambers of Commerce, and used to be in a fourth one. Each is in a different Parish (Counties to those unfortunates who don't live in Louisiana. LOL) and being self-employed, I'm the one who pays for all those memberships. One Chamber is local with the other two being 50 miles East and 75 miles North of my home-based business.

In addition, I'm a member and attend regular meetings of other local groups, SW Louisiana Fishing Club, Profit and Loss Luncheon, Republican Roundtable, NAIFA/LAIFA, and the Louisiana Chemical Industry Alliance. These memberships represent a wide spread mix of contacts for geography, industry, etc.

With the one local Chamber I serve on 2 different committes (down from 3), and attend seminars, lunch meetings, business after hours and lots of open houses. When 90% of the attendees are exchanging business cards (or nothing but words), I'm passing out custom imprinted ink pens, screwdrivers, pocket memo books, letter openers, pocket-size mirror/compacts, small self-stick vinyl calendars, business card magnets, or other specialty items.

Just this past week, I received an order from a new customer who I passed a catalog to at a June meeting. She bought 150 pocket FM radios with her employers logo imprinted on them. Her hotel will give them as gifts to top customers during the year.

The Chambers of Commerce memberships and various events I attend give me and my business products a lot of visibility that I wouldn't have otherwise. It also helps to make me a local business for my more distant markets where I sell face-to-face.

My memberships might not be as valuable if I was in retail, but in b2b sales, the advantages I gain are well worth the few hundred dollars I spend annually.

And I have recovered some of my dues in sales that I have made to all 4 Chambers. Some have bought custom molded membership plaques while others have bought ink pens, decals, stadium cups, coffee mugs, and plastic convention bags.

I have gain additional customers from every organization that I have named above, whether direct of from another member or contact made at one of the meetings.

I doubt I'd have gotten have the business I have from those events if I passed out the same paper business cards as everyone else.

By using the products I sell, I demonstrate the real value to the recipients, as well as showing my belief in my media.

It also demonstrates that my media is the best targeted media that money can buy. All of the mass media use a shotgun approach, putting a message out there for everyone to see or hear, when the seller is trying to reach only 1% to 90% of the audience, depending on their product or service. My media can be directed using a rifle approach to achieve a one on one connection to prospects and customers with no waste.

Fortunately, with my products and personal service, 90% or more of these Chamber memberships are potential customers for me. Depending on your product or service, the same membership may only have 10% or less who need it.

As they say in automobile lingo, your mileage may vary!

Dennis Bevers


My b2b promotional advertising bizopp - Additional dealers needed - I can't reach them all!