Chairman's Message

The Enforcers
Sometimes marketers and communicators are not always the most loved people within the organization. Why is that? Is it because we have great new ideas? Is it because we like to implement changes to the way we currently do things? Perhaps it’s the instituting of new style and editorial guidelines that now everyone has to follow—from the president to the intern. I would compare it to going back to school and learning how to write again.

So what happens after the staff has their “new” freshly printed booklets filled with all the official language for your chamber’s name, address designations, abbreviations, time of day, punctuation, dates, logo usage, etc.? Well, I can tell you what happens. It’s like being a teacher where you constantly need to remind and reinforce – in a nice way – the right way to do it.
Here are some tips that I find to be useful:

• Email your guidelines to a member who publishes or prints any material for you.
• Email new board members a copy so when they talk about your organization they are using the right language.
• Make sure Ambassadors know about it.
• Reward staff when they get it right.

Eventually, it’s simply a matter of everyone’s responsibility to adhere to the guidelines. But, until that day comes, keep your red pens nearby.

Would you like a copy of our Editorial Style and Identity Manual? Email  me at heine@yorkchamber.com, and I’ll be happy to share it with you.

Louise Heine
Director of Marketing & Member Relations
BUSINESSvoice Editor
York County Chamber of Commerce
www.YorkChamber.com | 717.771.4581

Social Media Corner

Want to get started on social media but not sure where to begin?

Social Media can be overwhelming, especially when you are just getting started. With so many different sites out there, chamber professionals often wonder where to begin. The good news is, there are tools out there that can help take the fear out of getting started. So stop procrastinating, rip off the band aid and start connecting with your members. We are going to hold your hand through the process and give you a guide that will make social media a breeze.

Ripping off the band aid: So here it is…  a 60-day plan to help you get started using social media. The 60-Day Plan is  broken into baby steps and asks that users commit 15 minutes a day, for 60 days. After the 60 days (and having completed one task per day), you will find yourself set up on all of the main social networking sites. Click the 60 Day Plan

This article sponsored by: Social Media Leaps

Network Development

ACCE is on Facebook! ACCE is expanding its social media presence and is now on Facebook.  Connect with ACCE on its Facebook Fan page today!

LinkedIn

Text Messaging Chamber Members
We are looking to add opt-in text messaging of event reminders in 2011. If your Chamber offers this communication option, what company / system are you using? If you have cost or start-up information, that would be greatly appreciated as well!

Looking for ideas on how to celebrate 30th Anniversary of our membership directory and what other Chambers have done to commemorate their...
Our membership directory is still very popular with our members and our Chamber wanted to do something to make it a keepsake.

Links to Member to Member Discount program requested.
I am going to fast track my marketing plan for our Member to Member discount program and would love to see other chamber web pages for listing and marketing your program. Please comment with a link to your discount page.

Has anyone published a regional map for economic development purposes and if so do you have a vendor (or approach) to recommend?

Blogs

Blogging Regularly Is Like Eating Spinach: You Know It's Good for You But It's Hard to Do Consistently
Patrick Galvin

Blogging regularly is like eating spinach. You know it's the right thing to do to build visibility and credibility but it's so easy to find excuses not to do so on a regular basis. Read more

Book Review: Patrick Recommends...

Bella the Boxer: Secrets of a Working Dog: Unleash Your Potential and Create Success
Bella, a boxer dog and my company's director of goodwill (D.O.G.), teaches overworked and overstressed humans how to live successful and meaningful lives by thinking like a dog. Bella has improved our family's life so much since we brought her home five years ago. Read this book and you'll wonder why it has taken you so long to listen to the wisdom of dogs.