Chamber Events Produce Big Time Dollars

Every year the Clovis Chamber presents Big Hat Days and ClovisFest that we advertise as the largest 2 day events in the Central Valley. That was just ratified by the Clovis City Council on November 16 when a staff report quantified the monetary impact of those events.

And the Clovis Chamber came out on top. Between the 2 events, we bring over 200,000 people to Old Town Clovis and generate $4.6 million in tourist revenues. That’s based on the ripple effect of income – the waitress at the local café receives a larger tip, she spends the tip, and so on.

Proceeds from the events go back into Chamber programs. During the events we help non-profits by offering discounts on booths and giving them opportunities to sell Pepsi products. We hire a local Cub Scout group that spends the two days picking up trash.

Most importantly we help local businesses. Several Old Town merchants have their largest days during Big Hat Days and ClovisFest and other city businesses see an uptick. Hotel rooms are booked, gas stations pump more gas and restaurants feed more people.

Chamber events promote the city by advertising and through the internet. Participating vendors come from across the country and post a link to our event on their web sites. Links are also posted on community calendars and through social media.

The Clovis Chamber has always worked closely with the city of Clovis to provide adequate security and protection for our visitors. The Chamber appreciates the city’s partnership and recent decision to absorb the costs of police and fire for our events.

Networking Skills for Members of Alpha Zeta and Graduating College Students

On Saturday, November 14, Clovis Chamber Membership Director Beth Bridges will be a presenter at the Alpha Zeta Development Summit at Fresno State. Beth's topic: Networking. She'll use her experience as a Fresno State Ag Department Graduate to provide helpful information. Here's a summary of topics and links referred to in the presentation.

Beth will reveal her four secrets to success in life:

• Sustained effort
• Developing systems
• Good habits
• ... and not blowing up at people when you are annoyed with them.

The presentation will also cover the top benefits that college students get out of networking, the four steps in networking, and five places in Fresno and Clovis to network.

Here are links referred to in the presentation:

• Social skills are your most important asset on the job: http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2006/07/18/social-skills-matter-more-than-ever-so-heres-how-to-get-them/
• Find the hidden job market: http://money.cnn.com/2009/06/09/news/economy/hidden_jobs/index.htm
• Research potential employers: http://jobsearch.about.com/od/companyresearch/Company_Research.htm

Conduct an informational interview campaign:

• http://ezinearticles.com/?Why-You-Need-To-Ask-For-Informational-Interviews&id=1199705
• http://ezinearticles.com/?Discovering-the-Possibilities-With-Informational-Interviews&id=1293562

Ribbon Cutting, Nov 5 - Christopher J. Bundros, CPA

November 5

Christopher J. Bundros, C.P.A.
205 W. Bullard Ave. STE 4.
Clovis, CA 93612

(559) 765-0313

www.bundroscpa.com

Located in the buildings on the NW corner of Villa and Bullard.

Chris' business is new, but he isn't new to the business. He is a full service accounting firm. Visit his website for tax tips.

Ribbon Cutting, Nov. 3, 2009 - Dr. David Freeman DDS

Ribbon Cutting, November 3

David C. Freeman, D.D.S., M.S., Inc.
2127 Herndon Ave., Suite 101
Clovis, CA 93611

Phone:
(559) 299-7363
2127 Herndon Ave, #101 NW corner of Herndon and Armstrong.

Dr. Freeman is in a beautiful new office. You can watch traffic go by while you get your teeth cleaned. And there is an XBox console in the waiting room for the younger crowd.

Seminar Series: Using Facebook to Promote Your Business

This past Thursday, I conducted our monthly Seminar Series event at ITT Tech. The topic was Facebook. The turnout was tremendous. Obviously, this is an important tool for our members and they want to learn more about it.

If you attended the event, you probably have your handout, but I've posted it here as well. If you didn't have a chance to attend, we will be repeating the topic on Thursday, December 3, 12 to 1 p.m. at ITT Tech. This event is FREE to members and $35 for non-members.

Face it: You Need Facebook to Promote Your Business
Clovis Chamber of Commerce Seminar Series, November 5, 2009
by Beth Bridges, Membership Director, Clovis Chamber of Commerce
Do you have a group, workplace or organization that would like to see this presentation? Contact me at 299-7363 or beth@clovischamber.com


Social Media
• “Electronic and Internet tools for the purpose of sharing and discussing information and experiences with other human beings”

Social Networking
• Online communities of people who share interests and activities, or who are interested in exploring the interests and activities of others

Why Facebook?

• It is continuing to explode, growing by 276% in 35-54 year old users, with 1 in 4 of all page views on the internet.

• Despite the twittering over Twitter, Facebook is (by far) the fastest growing search term and it is the third most visited site on the internet, only behind Google and Yahoo.

• Users are getting older. (Median age is now 33, women over 55 is the fastest growing demographic.)

• Therefore, your clients and potential customers are on Facebook (or will be soon).

• The price is right: a business page is free.


Know What You are Going to Accomplish on Facebook

• Check everything that you are going to focus on. Now circle your #1 goal:
□ Get referrals
□ Make sales
□ Build awareness
□ Website traffic
□ Educate/inform
□ Newsletter sign ups
□ Event attendance
□ Reputation/brand development
□ Reputation/brand monitoring
□ Blog traffic
□ Establish leadership
□ Find volunteers
□ Other: _____________________________________________________


How to Make Money on Social Media
(Thank you to Peter Lang for putting this so well)

“In order to monetize, you must move people.”

Your strategy needs to include the places (i.e. website, events) you want them to go to, the actions (click, give, sign up) you want them to take, and the information you want them to have.

It also does not hurt to entertain people, once in a while!


It Will NOT Work If …

You do not invest at least 3 to 5 sessions per week (10 to 20 minutes will do).


What Will Success Look Like to You?
(and more importantly, to the boss)

• How will you track results:
□ # of referrals
□ # of sales
□ increased awareness
□ increased website traffic
□ amount of information provided
□ # of newsletter sign ups
□ increase in event attendance
□ awareness of your brand development
□ knowing of positive or negative brand comments (Google Alerts)
□ increased blog traffic (Google Analytics)
□ recognition of leadership
□ # of new volunteers
□ Other: _____________________________________________________

What Do You Post?

• Industry information
• Information about your customers area of interest
• Special offers
• Links to your website, blog, newsletter BUT with a purpose (info, offer, etc)
• Promote your business partners, community, promoters (people who promote YOU)
• Enough “personal” information to build relationships between your people/staff and your customers.

This presentation is available for your business, social, or personal groups. Contact me at beth@clovischamber.com. Feel free to connect with the Clovis Chamber on www.Twitter.com/ClovisChamber and on our Facebook fan page.

Chamber Lauds State Lawmakers

PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE ATTENTION

November 4, 2009

The Clovis Chamber of Commerce lauds the State Legislature for passing a comprehensive water package for California. It urges Governor Schwarzenegger to sign the bill into law.

The results of ignoring the water problem in California has come to fruition in the Central Valley as the area has been starved of water resources from the Delta that has created unnecessary unemployment and hardships.

The water bill will address increased storage that will make our water source more reliable year-to-year, improve local water conveyance to reduce water shortages, restore the Delta ecosystem to allow California to take control of its own water systems and will collect data on groundwater.

Of course, residents and businesses must continue to do their part by conserving our water supply and taking care of our valuable resources.

The Clovis Chamber of Commerce appreciates the hard work extended by our lawmakers and the governor to solve this critical issue.

Mark Blackney
President, CEO
CLOVIS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Networking Skills & Strategies for College Students

Membership Director, Beth Bridges, was the guest speaker on September 30 for 60 members of the Delta Sigma Pi international, co-educational professional business fraternity at CSU Fresno.

Here are the resources mentioned in the presentation:

• Social skills are your most important asset on the job: http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2006/07/18/social-skills-matter-more-than-ever-so-heres-how-to-get-them/
• Find the hidden job market: http://money.cnn.com/2009/06/09/news/economy/hidden_jobs/index.htm
• Research potential employers: http://jobsearch.about.com/od/companyresearch/Company_Research.htm

Conduct an informational interview campaign:

• http://ezinearticles.com/?Why-You-Need-To-Ask-For-Informational-Interviews&id=1199705
• http://ezinearticles.com/?Discovering-the-Possibilities-With-Informational-Interviews&id=1293562