Where do you go to spread the word about your business?
There are tons of options, but a lot of businesses choose to join their local Chamber of Commerce.
Joining a Chamber of Commerce can come with opportunities that could benefit your self storage business, but there are some important factors you should consider.
Before joining your local Chamber of Commerce as a self storage operator, you should ask yourself: Is it worth it?
A Chamber of Commerce is an organization that is designed to protect the interests of local businesses and support economic growth.
It's often made up by a group of business owners who hold networking events, charity events, educational opportunities, and mentorship.
Each Chamber of Commerce is different depending on where you live, so it's best to research your own local chamber and see what kind of benefits they offer.
As a self storage operator, joining your local Chamber of Commerce could open you up to new opportunities. You can network with other business owners, connect with new resources, and stay informed about news affecting local businesses.
Depending on how engaged you are, you could make lots of connections and participate in many community events through your Chamber of Commerce.
There's often an opportunity to be featured in social media, too.
When a new member joins a Chamber of Commerce, the organization often makes an announcement through social media and on their website - giving your business more exposure.
Some chambers even provide yearly awards to members for meeting certain business goals, opening new locations, or for community involvement, which could also result in online exposure.
Plus, joining your local Chamber of Commerce could make your self storage business feel more trustworthy as you're now part of a well-known and active community organization.
With so much potential exposure, becoming a member of your local Chamber of Commerce could help you market your self storage business to new customers.
While all of this sounds like a great opportunity, it'll only work if you participate.
If you simply become a member without joining the networking events, attending the luncheons, or taking advantage of the business resources, then you're not going to get much out of it.
When you become a member of your local Chamber of Commerce, you should take full advantage of your status.
Here are some ways that you can best use your membership:
These are just a few ways that you can use your membership to connect with your community and market your self storage business.
So, how do you become a member of your local Chamber of Commerce?
Before you join your local chamber, you have to choose which membership tier you want.
There are typically three to four tiers of membership in a Chamber of Commerce. The fees can range from $300 - $2,000 a year and each tier comes with different benefits.
If you aren't ready to invest financially, your chamber might offer some free events for the public so you can have a chance to meet other members without being a member yourself.
You can also call your Chamber of Commerce to get more information and even check their calendar to see how active they are and if they hold events that you'd be interested in.
If you choose to join your local chamber, you'll most likely need to send in an online application and commit to paying the yearly membership fee.
Once approved, it's time to network!
Now that you know what a local Chamber of Commerce does, how it can help your business, and what it takes to become a member, you might be wondering - is it worth it?
Well, there are two answers.
Yes, if you plan to participate in the networking opportunities, take advantage of the business resources, and engage with your community through the chamber.
No, if you plan to simply become a member and put a sticker on your window without actually participating in the organization.
If your local chamber is an active organization with many resources, it could be a great avenue to meet other professionals and expose your business to new customers.
However, you have to actually participate to get the most out of your membership.
Your local Chamber of Commerce could benefit your self storage business, but you have to be willing to invest the time and effort first.
