Return On Your Investment: Chamber membership is essential to any marketing strategy for a business, It is truly the best value for your marketing dollar because your membership gives you full access to everything the Chamber has to offer for a full year. When you join the Chamber, be sure to utilize these opportunities to maximize the return on your membership investment and to complement your existing marketing strategy.

Ribbon Cuttings may be the first and most obvious advertising opportunity. When you join the Chamber, the Chamber can help you organize a ribbon cutting to promote your business. The Chamber will work with you to set a date and encourage Chamber Ambassadors to attend. The Chamber can also provide ribbon and scissors and photograph the ribbon cutting. All ribbon cuttings are featured in the Chamber’s monthly Pinnacle newsletter are often posted in other local media outlets.

The Membership Directory is one way that Chamber membership works for you 24/7 to provide a return on your investment. The printed Membership Directory is distributed each January and lists Chamber members by business name and business category. After you join, make sure to keep your membership current to ensure that you are included in the directory each year. There are additional print advertising opportunities in the directory as well. When printed, the directory is distributed to the entire Chamber membership. Copies are also made available for purchase at the Chamber office.

The Business Directory at www.romega.com, the Chamber website, is another way your membership works for you 24/7 by providing referrals. All members are listed on the Business Directory, which is searchable by business name or category. Chamber members can be listed in up to 5 business categories, expanding your exposure to customers who are searching for your products & services. You can also include a business description and include a web coupon with your listing. Many Chamber members report increased business from the exposure they receive from the Business Directory.

Business After Hours provides a great opportunity for Chamber member business owners to network, promote their companies, and make new business contacts. Each month, a different Chamber member hosts this event at their office or a location of their choice. These events feature a great cross-sampling of business people from varying industries and types of businesses in the community, expanding your brand awareness to a wider audience. When you join the Chamber, be sure to attend these events regularly to expand your contacts and meet potential clients. Hosting a Business After Hours event also serves as a great promotional strategy to get people through your doors.

Business Before Hours provides a similar networking opportunity for Chamber member business owners to network, in a more relaxed environment. Each quarter, a different Chamber member hosts this event at their office or a location of their choice. These events feature a cross-sampling of business people. Business Before Hours provides exposure to new and different contacts than Business After Hours as certain Chamber members are more likely to attend a networking event before Hours. Hosting Business Before Hours is another great opportunity to promote your business to a different audience.

SpeedLeads is a quarterly networking event held at the Chamber. This fast-paced networking opportunity allows Chamber members to meet each other and share leads in a casual environment. During the course of a SpeedLeads event, you will have the opportunity to meet every other attendee and tell them about your business.

The Pinnacle Newsletter is the monthly newsletter distributed to all Chamber members. Advertising opportunities in the newsletter include printed advertisements and flyer inserts. Ribbon cuttings are featured in this newsletter.

Directions Magazine is the bi-monthly publication distributed community-wide, providing information for newcomers, visitors, and residents of Floyd County. Advertising opportunities include print advertisements within this publication.

Chamber Advantage, a discount card program offered exclusively for Chamber members, provides a no-cost marketing opportunity for participating vendors. Participating businesses simply provide a discount offer to be redeemed at their place of business by card-carrying Chamber members. Vendors are listed at www.romega.com and on printed material. New vendors are featured one time on the Chamber’s “Friday Facts” e-newsletter that is distributed to all Chamber members. Check out the link to view an up-to-date list of participating vendors. If you would like to be a participating vendor, submit your completed Merchant Agreement form to the Chamber.

Chamber Connect, a new business-focused online social network, is offered as an exclusive free benefit for Chamber members. Simply log on, create a profile, and start making friends! Use your Chamber Connect profile to make announcements about your business, post promotions, pursue leads, or follow up with another member you met at Business After Hours. Check out the link to learn more, or visit www.romechamberconnect.com to sign up today!

Marketplace is an online market forum that allows consumers to post projects and enables Chamber members to respond with bids for products and services.  Anyone from the community can “Create a Project” on Marketplace to submit a request for goods for services.  Any Chamber member in the corresponding business category can “Place a Bid.”  Check out  the link to learn more, or www.romechambermarketplace.com to sign up today!

Business EXPO held each November allows over 80 Floyd County businesses to meet the public and network with other business owners. This two-day event features an exclusive, members-only Business After Hours (the largest networking event of the year) and then an all-day, open-to-the-public exhibition the following day. The event is self-funding, with proceeds benefiting the ShopRomeSM Campaign for the following year.

Operation Membership Directory, held each February, provides additional networking and advertising opportunities. In the course of one day, Chamber member volunteers deliver the new addition of the printed Membership Directory to every Chamber member. Each volunteer delivers a new directory to approximately 10 Chamber members while also taking the opportunity to meet new potential clients.

Operation Thank You, held each August, is a similar opportunity in which volunteers deliver a thank you gift to every Chamber member as a token of appreciate for their membership.

Chamber Committees, meet on a monthly basis and are open to all Chamber members. There is not time commitment for committees, so feel free to sit in on any committee meeting that interests you. Topics and speakers vary month to month, but every committee meeting provides an opportunity for you to promote your business and network with other Chamber members. Check the Chamber Calendar for upcoming committee meetings and contact the Chamber to be placed on an email list for any committee that interests you.

The Small Business Action Council works to assist small businesses and entrepreneurs through advocacy, education, and promotions. All Chamber members are welcome to attend any SBAC meetings which usually occur on the second Tuesday of each month at 8:30am in Chamber boardroom.  In addition to having a voice in planning small business programming, many SBAC attendees have found the meetings to be an excellent opportunity for making contacts and building additional business relationships.

Young Professionals of Rome, designed specifically for businesspeople in their 20s and 30s, provides many of the same opportunities as Business After Hours in a younger, more relaxed environment. YP Rome also features a wide variety of programming, from trivia to leadership panels to volunteer opportunities.

The ShopRomeSM Campaign is a continuous year-round effort to market Rome and Floyd County businesses to local citizens and outlying communities through various media outlets such as radio spots, billboard displays, direct mailings, print media, and electronic media. Advertising for ShopRomeSM intensifies during the holiday shopping season to encourage Romans to “Shop RomeSM,” and “Keep Your Dollars at Home!” The ShopRomeSM Campaign is a fine example of how your Chamber serves as an advocate for small business in the community.

The Small Business of the Year Award is presented each January at the chamber Annual Meeting to an outstanding nominee. The award recipient is selected from a pool of nominees for exemplary qualifications in the criteria set by the Small Business Action Council. Criteria generally stipulate that the business have 50 or less employees, be an active member of Chamber, and have been in business for at least five years.

Attend Events & Network! Many Chamber events occur throughout the year. As a Chamber member, you can attend these events, which not only promote Chamber programs but also provide a great networking opportunity for the attendees to meet each other. Some of these events include: Annual Meeting, Mid-Year Celebration for Excellence in Education, and the Pre- and Post-Legislative Breakfasts. Always check the Chamber Calendar at www.romega.com for upcoming events! Attend & Network!!!

Watch for Chamber Publications: The Chamber issues other publications on less frequent basis, which provide additional opportunities for print advertisements. Such publications include the Quality of Life Magazine and the Rome/Floyd County Map. When you join the Chamber, watch for notifications when these publications are being revised so that you can take advantage of these additional marketing opportunities.