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The Chamber Weekly Blog
A collection of articles that we believe will add value to you and your business!Christina Metcalf and Edited by Julie CarrollThursday, December 15, 2022Businesses with e-commerce options are quickly counting down deadlines for Christmas deliveries. This is the perfect time for local small business to shine because you can promise customers holiday smiles quicker than they can be delivered in online purchases. However, there may still be things holding the average customer back. Read moreChristina Metcalf and Edited by Julie CarrollThursday, December 8, 2022It's a noisy world out there and there's lots of competition. If you want to stand out, you must provide excellent value and persuasive copy. Without these two things the holiday season will not be the boon you are hoping for. Luckily, creating copy that drives your audience to action is very easy during the holiday season. While many people have a strict budget this year, they want to provide a nice holiday for their friends and family. That means they are looking to buy. Here's how you can help them decide to buy from you. Read moreChristina Metcalf and Edited by Julie CarrollThursday, December 1, 2022Bonus offers are a great way to drive sales without discounting your products or services. It makes people feel like they are getting extra value—and these days, with inflation—that can make a reticent customer buy quicker. Read moreChristina Metcalf and Edited by Julie CarrollTuesday, November 22, 2022It's small business season and if you're part of a small business you're probably looking for ways to make the most of your Q4. While mega retailers and big business are slashing prices, that's not the best way for you to be competitive. Small businesses often operate on smaller reserves and slashing prices to the point of taking a loss decreases the revenue you're bringing in. You need something that builds on connections. That’s the small business superpower. Read moreChristina Metcalf and Edited by Julie CarrollThursday, November 3, 2022By now you’ve likely seen the statistics that shopping small/local keeps roughly $68 out of every $100 in our community, whereas shopping at a national chain means about $43 remains here. Why is that important and what does it mean to you and your family? A lot more than you may think. Read moreChristina Metcalf and Edited by Julie CarrollFriday, October 28, 2022Most people research online before they purchase. That could take the form of looking up prices, options, or educating themselves on the product or service they’re in the market for. Many buyers also use a business website to verify hours, availability, make reservations, etc. During the holiday season people are busier than ever and it’s common to check things out online before getting in a car. If your website isn’t easy to navigate, with important information front and center, you may be missing out on a host of customers. Here’s how you can ensure it’s in good shape. Read moreChristina Metcalf and Edited by Julie CarrollThursday, October 20, 2022The holidays are right around the corner and that can be a big spend time whether you’re in retail, hospitality, or services. It can also be a lucrative time for your employees as many people generously tip at the end of the year. But good tippers want a great experience and if your business isn’t ready for the holidays, it won’t just hurt your revenue. It could affect your employees’ earning potential as well. Here are a few suggestions to help your business get ready and have the best holiday season yet. Read moreChristina Metcalf and Edited by Julie CarrollMonday, October 17, 2022COVID and labor shortages have caused a lot of businesses to reevaluate offerings and pivot how they did business. But if you’re like many business owners, while adapting to customer needs was a critical component to staying in business, you may now realize that you are off track. It’s important to provide value to customers but veering too far away from your true business can cause you to take on too much too soon. Read moreChristina Metcalf and Edited by Julie CarrollThursday, October 6, 2022Customer loyalty is essential to strong sales. After all, it’s easier to get repeat sales than it is to convince a new consumer to buy from you. But customer loyalty is something grown and nurtured, not bought or ordered. It takes time. However, just because someone has been buying from you (or donating to you if you’re a non-profit) does not mean they are loyal. It may just mean that they tend to do the same things over and over until they don’t. If you want a strong customer (or donor) base, you need to cultivate loyalty. The methods to do so require consistent tending and upkeep. Read moreChristina Metcalf and Edited by Julie CarrollWednesday, September 21, 2022Telling your business story is a compelling way to get your audience more invested in you and to help build know, like, and trust. Your business story is a lasso that draws people in and holds them there. Read more