Membership at your local Chamber of Commerce is usually filled with many benefits that are frequently underutilized. Most chambers offer opportunities to network, learn business tactics, and inexpensive marketing opportunities, and your Leander Chamber of Commerce is no different! The Leander Chamber of Commerce is filled with one-time and recurring meeting and classes that will inform and equip you for your growing business and over the next few weeks we will dive into some! This week we will look at marketing opportunities that are available through your Leander Chamber of Commerce.

You may want to start with Part One in this series, Networking.

An important part of any business is reaching your target audience in a way that will capture their attention and show what amazing services or products you offer. But with so many things competing for your potential clients and customers attention, how do you stand out? There are many schools of thought out there, but usually it involves 1. Identifying your target audience and 2. Finding the best way to reach them. There are so many gimmicks out there, and some of them work, but the truth is, finding local marketing opportunities are some of the most productive and efficient, and the deep reach of the Chamber of Commerce into the local community is one great way to reach the people who will be your repeat customers, and the tourists who will spread your name in travel guides. The Leander Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Center reaches both of those audiences.

Here are some great ways to use your limited marketing budget to reach the people you are trying to impact.

This one was mentioned in the Networking and the Learning blog, and now it is up again in the Marketing post, because it is a great opportunity! In addition to being a great chance to network and learn, the Monthly Lunch and Learns are filled with opportunities to promote your business and build relationships. For $150 you can be the sponsor of the lunch. Your name will be on signage through out the meeting and you have the option to have a table in the foyer and give a presentation of what your business offers to the meeting.

The July Lunch and Learn will be held on Tuesday, July 27, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Hill Country Bible Church Leander. More information and registration can be found here.

There are a plethora of opportunities for sponsorships through your membership at the Leander Chamber of Commerce. With six major events held annually, you can sponsor an event that is the right fit for your company and values.

The two major golf tournaments, typically held in the spring and the fall, are perfect for businesses looking to expand their brand while networking with other community partners and reach business to business. With the opportunity to sponsor everything from an individual hole to specific awards, the golf tournaments offer the most freedom for marketing creativity. You can use your own creative marketing strategy to do giveaways to fun games at their sponsored hole. Bring your innovative ideas and market b2b truly work for your unique business.

The Annual Gala and Awards Ceremony offers a fun and elegant chance for businesses to connect to other businesses in the area in a festive atmosphere for partnership. With unique sponsorship opportunities like the Signature Drink sponsor and Photo Booth sponsor, this is a way to put your business in front of others.

The Old Town Street Festival, typically held in the Spring, is the perfect sponsorship opportunity for anyone looking to reach the greatest audience. With attendance reaching the tens-of-thousands of both locals and visitors, choosing to sponsor something at the Old Town Street Festival will guarantee you to reach the most people.

Typical Sponsorship Opportunities Include

Benefits of sponsoring include being listed on the event bags, t-shirts, signage inside the event, and the possibility of being in blog posts and social media marketing during the months leading up to the festival as well as a premium booth.

The Living Leander Community Expo and Job Fair is a great opportunity to reach directly to your customers. With a large attendance in the thousands, not only can you market your services and products directly to the people you are most looking to reach, you can also find and recruit the best local talent. With multiple levels of sponsorship available, something will be available at the level you are looking for.

Sponsorship benefits include being listed on the reusable event bags, signage inside the event and on screens throughout the event, social media and blog posts leading up to the event and a premium booth at the event.

Donations are a big part of keeping a non-profit like the Chamber of Commerce serving the community, and they also present a fantastic opportunity for your company or business to support the community while marketing your product or services. Whether your donation is for the Gala auction or the giveaways at one of the festivals, you have the opportunity to not only put your product or service into  a new customers’ hands, but also have your name reach the hundreds or thousands of people in attendance. Businesses and organizations that donate to a chamber event are proudly and gratefully celebrated!

Here are some unique items that have been donated:

Here are some of the opportunities you can utilized to donate and get your business exposure:

This option is particularly useful if your business or service is used by visitors or newcomers to our city. The Chamber of Commerce is also the official Visitors Center for the city and is frequently visited by people from out of town or who plan to move to the city to get acquainted with all the city has to offer. Newcomers often come in looking for everything from real estate agents to lawn service to veterinary care and trust businesses and organizations that are Chamber members because it shows a commitment to the community and a pride in service. Your Chamber membership means that we not only know your name and the services you offer, but also that you can bring us coupons, flyers or logo swag that we will put into bags that every visitor to the Chamber gets! From stress balls to pens to magnets, the more useful the items the better, all going to newcomers and visitors to get your name out.

Visitors, newcomers and locals alike rely on the Living Leander Community and Business Directory. Members have the opportunity yearly to place an ad in the Guide that utilized by business and individuals all year. Being a member of the Chamber instills a level of trust within the community and shows your partnership with the growth and health of your fellows. Advertising in the Guide relays that same level of trustworthiness.