Get Involved: Using Community Involvement as a Tool to Grow Your Business
Networking is a proven way to help grow your business at the Lake of the Ozarks. It is important to get out and mingle with fellow business owners and potential customers. This not only gets your business in front of others, but it's also a great way to build visibility. The more exposure you and your business get, the more people will start to easily recognize your business.
At the Lake West Chamber of Commerce, we have been building a stronger economy and a better business community since 1987. If you are new to the business world – maybe you are just starting a small business or have taken over a business that is rapidly growing – we would like to educate you on networking and why it is important for you and your business.
Community Participation Is a Form of Networking!
Volunteering and participating in events around your community is a great way to network and build relationships, as well as build brand awareness for your business. Volunteering and attending events out in the community gives a human face to your business. Customers prefer to purchase from companies they know, and community involvement leads to a sense of familiarity. According to a study done by conecomm.com, customers and employees notice if a business is involved in its community. This study also showed that 82% of consumers consider social responsibility/community involvement when deciding where to spend their money for a product or a service. These are just a few reasons that getting involved in community events at the Lake of the Ozarks is something that the Lake West Chamber supports and encourages. Luckily for you (and your business!), the Lake West Chamber offers many opportunities to get out and get involved in the community, as well.Taking part in community programs is a strong way to boost exposure and business visibility as you contribute your services and resources to meet community needs. Here are a few more reasons why we at the Lake of the Ozarks West Chamber believe that your business should be involved in the local community:
1. Your business can help the community grow – and when a community is strong, a business has a strong base of clients and customers to draw upon.
2. Community involvement is good for employee morale – employees tend to feel more positively toward their own company when the company fosters a strong sense of community involvement; this can lead to better employee retention for a business.
3. Getting involved can give you a leg up over the competition – it has been shown that community involvement is important to some customers, and this may be the deciding factor when a customer is deciding between two businesses.
4. Customers look for businesses to be accountable to the community they serve and look for businesses that promote similar values to their community - Community involvement can make your business a more favorable option over larger, impersonal competitors because customers like to deal with people they know and trust, and they will know you from attending community events. If you are a familiar fixture in the community, you establish yourself as the more trustworthy option.
5. Community involvement increases brand awareness – Of course, the most obvious reason why community involvement should be a priority for your growing business is that it puts a human face to your business and brings it out there, where it is most visible to consumers. Again, participating in community events and/or volunteering at events in your community IS A FORM OF NETWORKING.
Benefits of Participating in Community Events:
-Gain Business Opportunities AT EVENTS-Make Connections AT EVENTS
-Connect with other Chamber Members AT EVENTS
-Gain Exposure for Your Business AT EVENTS
Get Involved!
Our chamber offers a ton of opportunities to get involved in the community and we encourage all of our members to participate. Give back and assist in any number of the community events we participate in. Don't miss out on the unique ways you can support your community and gain exposure for your venture at the same time.Whether you're looking for a fun way to get involved or gain exposure for your business, our Lake of the Ozarks Chamber is here for you! Gear up for business exposure and community involvement at our August events. We look forward to seeing you and your business there!
The Lake of the Ozarks West Chamber of Commerce represents businesses along highway 5, and represents the cities of Laurie, Sunrise Beach, Gravois Mills, and the Greenview area. If you are a resident of the Lake of the Ozarks area and are interested in learning more about how a Lake West Chamber Membership can benefit your business, contact us at 573-374-5500.
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