Chamber of Commerce

[Good Word]

I recently joined my local Chamber of Commerce. They were doing a promo and telemarketed me, so I joined. Still have to get with the program and go to a meeting or two, and do all the promo stuff that comes with the membership (a few local radio ads, ads in a local paper, etc.) I plan on plugging Stories of Strength along with it.

Anyone do anything with their local Chambers?

[theengel]

Anyone do anything with their local Chambers?

Here I am making money as a copywriter...I don't even know what a chamber 0f commerce is!

Does every city have one????

[kohuether]

I looked into joining my local chamber of commerce. I perused the directory and I was the only writer!

In the end, I couldn't justify the fee.

The Chamber of Commerce is a way for local businesses to network, etc. A lot of people get quality leads from joining.

[rtilryarms]

I belong to my local COC. I do breakfasts and network with the others. I try to do business with as many as I can. I don't do any writing related stuff with them. I am everyone's customer so I am popular.

[JuliePgh]

I looked into joining my local chamber of commerce. I perused the directory and I was the only writer!

In the end, I couldn't justify the fee.



I had the same experience.

[Dominique]

Here's my experience with a couple of local Chambers FWIW.

I joined a Chamber of Commerce through my "day job" (family business/non writing job). I'll call it Chamber #1.

They had a "monthly newsletter" that appeared about two times each year, so I volunteered to take it over. In the course of a couple of years, I got the newsletter on a monthly schedule and moved it into the computer age (we started off doing it on a typewriter with a little press type and paper clip art and photocopying it--we were eventually able to get a deal from one of our printer members to do the layout and printing).

A few years later, I used clips from the Chamber #1's newsletter to land a steady freelance gig as a business writer for a local newspaper (there was a method to my madness in taking on the first thing as a volunteer gig--besides, being a Chamber #1 member was part of my "day job" duties).
Writing for the newspaper was a part-time gig that job lasted nine years. The newspaper eventually expanded to a little chain of five weeklies, and I wrote articles for all five papers.

The publisher of the newspaper knew of my prior experience writing for a local Chamber. He was also on the board of a neighboring Chamber (Chamber #2 <g>). When Chamber #2 lost the person writing their newsletter...he recommended me.
That one was a paying job, and I wrote for Chamber #2 for several years.

Currently, I'm a still a member of Chamber #1 (I'm still with the familly biz)...and I joined Chamber #2 (which happens to be in the town where I live)with my freelance writing biz.
I go to some of the after-work mixers (I was a Chamber board member for Chamber #1 for about 10 years...time-consuming, so I've pretty much just stuck to going to "networking" events with Chamber #2).

I've gotten a couple of referrals for one-shot press release jobs from Chamber #2. There are several other writers in Chamber #2, and there really isn't a lot of work in the Chamber for any of us.
I did get some decent story leads by going to mixers and meeting people when I was still with the weekly newspaper. I also did a front-of-the-book type piece for a national market for young business owners about joining the Chamber.
I write for a monthly glossy now (mostly advertorial fodder, which pays the freelance biz bills) and do press work for a local dinner theater...so I don't really get many useful leads at mixers these days).

Working directly for Chambers isn't particularly lucrative in my experience, either. Like a lot of smaller non-profits, the pay is on the lower end of the scale (when they're not trying to get volunteer word), leadership sometimes changes frequently and they struggle trying to do more in-house or with volunteers when finances get thin.
I've kept the membership in Chamber #2 primarily to keep up on what's going on around town. I put it on my resume as well.

Bottom line--I'd say my experience was mixed. I've made a bit of money and gotten a few leads through my Chamber associations, but not always enough to justify the cost every year. Overall, I've still made a little more money than I've spent on memberships over the years. I like knowing what's going on around town and keep the Chamber #2 membership primarily as a point of pride right now.


YMMV

[Fern]

Here I am making money as a copywriter...I don't even know what a chamber 0f commerce is!

Does every city have one????

Most cities of any size have a Chamber of Commerce and many smaller ones too. There are several small towns close to me. . .one of about 6500 people. They have a Chamber. There is also one with probably no more than 1200 and they have one, albeit not much of a membership. Another of about 1200 does not have a Chamber of Commerce.

Like someone else said, it is a way for businesses to network. However, they are an excellent information center (about their town/businesses)for individuals also. I've contacted the Chamber of Commerce in various towns. . .once when we were planning to visit a city and didn't know what all they had to offer travelers to their area. I wrote for a street map (days pre-internet for me) of their town. They sent the map and all kinds of brochures, etc. for the places they had of interest to visitors, along with coupons for $ off the regular prices of several places.

Other times I've needed street maps of towns when I planned to spend a few days somewhere and needed to know how to get around and they always sent one. Some charged $1; others nothing.

People moving to new places can contact that town's Chamber to find out what the town has in way of schools, job opportunities (read list of businesses/manufacturers, etc--not job openings), medical facilities, activity centers, etc.

I don't think you have to be a member to be mentioned when folks ask, but you might get more exposure if you are a member. Either way, it wouldn't hurt to let the Chamber you are in town and are doing a business of whatever. Perhaps they'd even let you leave some of your brochures with them in case of interest.

[GeorgieGirl]

The Chamber is a great way to get new gigs! Most creative types don't join figuring it is too stuffy. So when businesses need new brochures, newsletters, press releases, etc or want to get their business profiled in the local paper, who do you think that they call! Thats right, the only writer that they know!

My local Chamber has all sorts of meetings and conferences and talks with interesting people. It's a great way to meet folks and it keeps you up to date on pending industry changes. My local also has special rates for small businesses or professionals so it is not so much. It really is win/win!

[James D. Macdonald]

The Chamber is a great way to get new gigs! Most creative types don't join figuring it is too stuffy. So when businesses need new brochures, newsletters, press releases, etc or want to get their business profiled in the local paper, who do you think that they call! Thats right, the only writer that they know!

My local Chamber has all sorts of meetings and conferences and talks with interesting people. It's a great way to meet folks and it keeps you up to date on pending industry changes. My local also has special rates for small businesses or professionals so it is not so much. It really is win/win!

GeorgieGirl is a convicted con artist and a liar. See http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showpost.php?p=585601&postcount=66 for details. I wonder if the Chamber of Commerce (if there is such a thing by that name) in Edinburgh, Scotland, knows about her?

[Good Word]

I was wondering what to do about that post, Jim. Thanks!

OUTED!

[Dollywagon]

Yep, there's a Chamber in Edinburgh, James.