“THE VOICE OF BUSINESS” Chelsey Larson

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ALWAYS A STRATEGY Use LinkedIn as a Membership Retention Tool Promote the Chamber’s LinkedIn Group as a members-only benefit EXCLUSIVE -Done through promotion in member-only newsletters “expand your Chamber network in a members-only professional group” ADD VALUE –Monthly new-member updates When a new member joins, send an announcement to the group with the company name, primary contact name, and website if applicable --Event updates Send a weekly Monday update/announcement to members of the group with all events happening that week. Link to the event’s page on the website calendar. --Opportunity to network with other members online Our logo on members’ profile pages (visibility)

How to Handle Requests based on Member Status IDEA- each time there is a request to join, the administrator should be checking the group roster to ensure non-members are not present. If non-members are present, take them off the list and message the non-member wording. Non-Members The St. Cloud Area Chamber of Commerce LinkedIn Group is a members-only benefit, representing the best of the St. Cloud business community. We provide places and spaces for our members to do business as part of our mission to create, enhance, and support a healthy business environment. Contact Membership Specialist Wendy F*#()*#&* for an introduction to your St. Cloud Area Chamber of Commerce. We look forward to welcoming you as a new Chamber member whenever the time is right for you. Members Welcome to the St. Cloud Area Chamber of Commerce LinkedIn Group. Here you will find members representing the best of the St. Cloud business community. We provide places and spaces for our members to do business as part of our mission to create, enhance, and support a healthy business environment.

HAVE A GOAL Example: Increase and maintain attendance for LTL and NEXT HAVE A STRATEGY Example: Increase awareness of upcoming topics and speakers TACTICS Regularly post topics or photos on Facebook Invite NEXT and LTL new members, attendees, speakers and sponsors to “like” us on Facebook Use 1-3 memorable moments or information bits to post on Facebook Use icons in my signature to link to promote NEXT on Facebook Timing: A day after each LTL or NEXT meeting thank the speaker and sponsor, also give a preview to next month’s meeting topics

Encourage members to “check out page” at events Continue to keep page updated and fresh for people to see Acknowledge members who “like” Post new members and events Use action verbs when posting events Example: Join us each Friday for Chamber Connection…

Follow only the two other Chamber sites (Sauk Rapids and Waite Park) Post events FRESH – do no use TweetDeck, because it does not seem as urgent or “special” to announce Announce events, speakers, and new members

Used to help with marketing campaigns…. Testimonials of being a chamber member Used a way to feature a “teaser” for speakers Introduction of what the St. Cloud Area Chamber is…

As a voice on behalf of other businesses (members) there are more people to go through to post things and more hesitancy on doing it right. News Media posts stories on other people because it is the news and the truth (sometimes), but with the Chamber they are posting things on behalf of their members…. Need to second guess how it will make their members and the Chamber look. There is an urgency to keep up and implement these social networks as best they can. It would be foolish to not take advantage of these free marketing tools, it’s just a matter of using them correctly and seeing which strategies have the best retention.