I was curious how many of you actually are members of your local, or non-local Chamber of Commerce? If you are, can you tell me if you found clients by being a member? Or do you do a lot of networking through Chamber events and are they worth going to?
I'm thinking about joining the local regular Chamber of Commerce here in Nashville. And also a German/American Chamber of Commerce, located in Atlanta with a TN Chapter, where I would be listed on the ATL list and TN list for $200/year. Just wondering if the cost would be worth it.

Thanks for your feedback.

__________________
Tanja
http://www.englishgermanvs.com

I was just checking into the very same thing, with the same questions. I am starting from scratch, no network at all. So, I'm very curious for some of the responses as well.

__________________
Charlotte

I belonged to the local COC in a previous city some years ago. It gained me nothing but I was working a full time job at the time and could hardly ever attend events. I plan to join the local COC in my new city and attend every event there is. I suspect it's rather like putting yourself on Facebook, LinkedIn or Twitter and just sitting there. Participation gets your name out there and if the people you meet don't need your services right now they may do down the road, and who knows who they know who might need you?

Lynne

__________________
The Wordpro Wizard
www.wordprowizard.com

Lynne, I have the same problem now. I still have my full time job and it's hard to go to those networking events they seem to have all around, because my lunch break is not long enough :-) - I hate it that I can't just go to which ever one I want and don't have to worry about justifying where I've been. I can't wait to do this full time. Thanks for your time to reply.

__________________
Tanja
http://www.englishgermanvs.com

My local chamber membership fees are pretty costly. Would love to join, but I am just in the beginning stages of my business, operating part time, and maintaining a 9 to 5. They have a free networking event each month, but it is during business hours, so I am unable to attend. I am reluctant to shell out the $$$ for membership at this point, as my schedule does not permit me to take advantage of the benefits of membership.

I have been a Chamber of Commerce member for a couple of months now. While I haven't gotten any clients from it (yet), I was just asked to do a presentation to a joint meeting of three local Chambers!

__________________
Kathy
www.theofficevirtuoso.com

Kathy, YOU GO GIRL !!! Sometimes God works in mysterious ways !! lol. You never know what that will get you further on down the road. It's one good way to get noticed by others, that's for sure. I would love to hear how that turns out. Would you keep in touch with an update?
Thanks

__________________
Tanja
http://www.englishgermanvs.com

Just throwing my two cents in for the Nashville Chamber, I have been a member for several years, and always feel I get a ton of value out of mine. It is a couple hundred bucks a year, but to me that is minimal vs. the amount of value I receive.

I get at least a couple clients per year from all the networking you can do (more than pays for it there), but the recognition and branding value pays for it ten fold.

Anthony, iDesign Inc.

Thanks Anthony for your feedback. I figured it can only be to my advantage to join ASAP. Just like with the GACC South & TN Chapter, since they have German Co. members as well. I just wish I could take advantage of the networking and not have to go to my full time job every day. I hate that I miss out on those. Are you a VA full time?

__________________
Tanja
http://www.englishgermanvs.com

In my humble opinion, it is important to be able to attend the events.

I totally get where you're coming from, I was in the same predicament before lunch time isn't enough to go anywhere, and some after-hour mixers went pretty good, but I was stuck with unable to follow-up afterward. If anything, they lead to frustration, wondering coulda, shoulda, woulda.

I understand when you were doing this PT, and your FT job felt like it's in the way. However, from what I've told by the other members, if I can't be active, can't go network and start building relationship with prospects..I would better off throwing that $300 into trash yes that's what they said.

So I took their advice. I went to as many after-hour events as I could, just start talking to people, getting to know them (not offering my service just yet, until they asked for it), and now I'm finally PT with my day J.O.B. I already knew some people. I will start attending my first Ribbon Cutting tomorrow, and already have most of networking events scheduled in place. Hopefully the former prospects still have the opportunity open, now that I can (read: have the time to) actually do the work.

Just my two-cents

__________________
-Jean
Simplify it, delegate it.