| How well do you know your community? As business | | | | clubs and groups consist of most all the people who |
| owners it is essential that we know our communities | | | | care and love their city. You can come to club |
| intimately. Have you ever made the effort to learn | | | | meetings as a guest and perhaps a door prize. Maybe |
| more about your town; Do you even know where to | | | | donate a coupon for a wash and wax as a raffle |
| look. Lets discuss some ways to gather intel for your | | | | prize. This promotes good will for your small business. |
| community based marketing efforts.First you need to | | | | Youth clubs are great for public relations. When |
| put on a fresh perspective. You need to think like a | | | | approaching a Chamber of Commerce of a given city, |
| person who knows nothing about your town to be | | | | we should remember to offer assistance to help them |
| able to see it from a totally unbiased perspective. Think | | | | with membership, public relations or advertising. You as |
| of yourself a scout. Here are some of the first areas | | | | a business also have the personal contacts a chamber |
| the scout will hit:Chamber Of CommerceCity HallPublic | | | | needs to succeed and potentially new members for |
| or County LibraryThe Chamber of Commerce is a | | | | them as well.You need to be thinking here as you |
| great source of information. In their directory of | | | | develop a community based marketing strategy. It |
| membership you will find lists of board members and | | | | must be a win/win for you and your community. |
| directors. Usually these people are the movers and | | | | Community based marketing is important because it |
| shakers of the town. The Chamber of Commerce will | | | | means more dollars are spent within the community |
| also give you information with regard to civic | | | | maintaining the flow and circulation. It also helps |
| organizations such as:Rotary ClubKiwanis | | | | customers and potential customer know you care. |
| ClubSoroptimists ClubOptimists ClubElks ClubLions | | | | This invites more referrals and more loyalty to your |
| ClubBoys And Girls ClubsAYSOLittle LeagueBoy | | | | small business. Think about it. |
| ScoutsRoller HockeyHigh School ASB ClubsThese | | | | |