Convention and Visitors Bureau « The Business View

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Feb

5 Hotel Rooms Left In Block for Austin Legislative Trip

By Longview Chamber of Commerce 2 Comments

Categories: Advocacy, Chamber of Commerce and Promoting Longview
Tags: Austin, business solutions, Business Success, Chamber of Commerce, East Texas Coalition, legislative, longview chamber of commerce, Longview Tyler, representation, Sm business representation, texas association of business, us chamber

East Texas Legislative Coalition
Gladewater, Kilgore, Longview, Tyler & White Oak

(Gregg County) More than 70 Gregg County Community leaders are combining forces with Tyler/Smith County to gear up for the 2011 East Texas Coalition trip to Austin. The Longview Chamber’s Business Advocacy Committee has expanded its scope for the 2011 event in the hopes of impacting specific pieces of Legislation and creating a greater awareness among residents of how strong “our” voice can be. The trip is scheduled for Monday, February 28^th and Tuesday, March 1^st.

“The Trip will be an excellent opportunity to lobby for our community and engage in the political process,” says business advocacy co chair Tim Vaughn.

Our attendees will have the opportunity to meet with appointed and elected officials in conjunction with the current state legislative session. A Legislative Reception has also been scheduled for attendees and key legislative representatives on the night of February 28th. This event will also allow Gregg County business leaders the opportunity to meet and discuss issues, face to face, with our state’s elected officials.

If you are interested in participating limited space is available. Be sure and register online at www.longviewchamber.com or call (903) 237-4000.

Oct

Chairman’s Letter to Chamber Membership

By Longview Chamber of Commerce Leave a Comment

Dear Chamber Member,

As your chairman I’m very proud to say that YOUR Chamber is moving in the RIGHT direction! The Longview Chamber of Commerce members and staff can take great pride in the strides made to fulfill its mission to be “the voice for business” in the Longview community.

On September 30^th the board hosted their annual board retreat where we look at where we’ve been and build on our successes to move our organization forward. A few of the 2010 hallmarks include the launch of Chamber Choice-a small business health care plan with UnitedHealthcare, changing the name of the organization back to the Longview Chamber of Commerce, and bringing closure the Market Street Strategies report.

As you may remember, in 2009 our organization partnered with LEDCO to hire Market Street Strategies to take a holistic review of our organizations. In light of the challenging economic times, our board felt it was necessary to review our organization to ensure we were staying abreast of best practices within the Chamber and Economic Development industry in order to move our community forward. Outcomes from this study included:

provide stronger entrepreneurial based programming (to date we have hosted 14 business development programs with 607 participants),
clarify who we are … the board voted to change the name back to the Longview Chamber of Commerce after 78% of our members requested the name change during a recent survey, and
work more closely with LEDCO to bring jobs to Longview. Recently, LEDCO staff and two (2) of their board members participated in the Chamber’s board retreat in order to build a stronger collaborative effort.

Without question, 2010 has been an eventful year. The future belongs to the courageous and your Chamber board and staff will continue to take great strides towards becoming an even better organization and resource for the community. Looking ahead, the Chamber will need to continue to work on advocating on behalf of our members while building relevant and impactful programs and services to help our members grow and prosper!

The future looks bright for Longview and I am proud to be part of an organization that strives to strengthen the local economy so that our city is a great place to live, work and play. It has truly is an honor to serve as your 2010 Chairman. I thank you for that opportunity!

- Jim Kendrick

CEO Longview Regional Medical Center

Jul

8 Ways to Make Your Cash Register Ring

By Longview Chamber of Commerce Leave a Comment

On Thursday, July 22^nd The Longview Partnership offered a webinar through HALO Team. Once again, this learning opportunity was fantastic for our area businesses. Eight key points were discussed which generated several potential solutions to businesses and great discussion items.

1. Offer an experience that impacts all 5 senses

Sight – what is the impression do your customer leave with? Place of business, website, and/or email campaigns?
Hearing – What does your customer hear when they walk into your place of business?
Smell – Every sense creates an experience. Does the aroma of your business match the music you are playing or compliment the product/services you are selling?
Taste – Have you thought about having something special for your customers that reflects the type of experience you want them to have when they visit your place of business?
Touch – What opportunities do you have for your customers to interact with which educates them on your products and/or services?

2. Create and use a consistent and memorable brand

Remember, a brand is not a logo! A logo is a piece of the brand.

3. Pursue the business trifecta

Know what you do best and do it! Stay true to your mission and purpose.
Do you have a proprietary product line? Could you? Have you thought about having a signature items such as a t-shirt, gift soap, food product, etc? Put your logo and website on the packaging. Uses as customer loyalty gifts, hostess gifts, sell in your place of business.
Do you provide value added services? How can you create a customer experience that helps you develop long term loyal customers? Perhaps it is as simple as hosting a “how to” workshop.

4. Focus on customer retention and nurture relationships

What are your touch points with your customer? How often do you “connect” with your customers? Not to talk to… but relate with!

5. Events

Do you host events for your business? Why not? Have you thought about ways you can focus on reinforcing your services, websites, and tools you have to grow your business. Perhaps it is as simple as brining your top customers in and let them review your products and services. Or you host customer appreciation events.

6) Offer Samples

The beverage industry learned years ago that sampling is a great way to build new customers and build relationships with existing customers. They learned years ago through sampling you begin shaping the type of experience potential customers has about your products and services. What can you do? Perhaps you provide items for a silent auction to benefit a non-profit, you set up a trade shows and let give prospective customers mini-items that gives them the opportunity to learn more about your business.

7) Work with Other Businesses

Partnership marketing is an effective way to help reduce your marketing costs. Example: Identify businesses who want to reach the sample target market. Identify marketing strategies that you can work together on to promote your product and services. Take advantage of bounce back programs with each other. If a customer spends $500 with you over “x” period of time send them a thank you card with a gift card to the business you are patterning your marketing with.

8) Be open 24 Hours A Day!!!!

Latest retail trends indicate that buy 2011 customers will be shopping on line first. Are you there? It doesn’t matter what type of business you have you need a website provides customers the opportunity to buy what you are selling. Is your 24/7/365 Market Place Open for Business?

For more information about business development programming visit www.longviewchamber.com today!s

Jun

The Longview Partnership and the Longview Economic Development Corporation Would Like Your HELP!

By Longview Chamber of Commerce Leave a Comment

LEDCO and the Longview Partnership are asking area businesses to help us grow our local economy. Did you know? When you buy local, you help our local economy thrive.

What is a local business?

Any business with operations in the Longview region is a local business. Businesses located here, whether small, family-owned stores or part of a national chain, employ our family members, friends and neighbors and contribute to the local tax base.

Support the business people who reinvest in our community.

What is the potential economic impact?

According to our research, if we will spend 5% more of our paychecks in Longview, it could mean more than $225 million per year will impact our local economy! As this money moves through the community, it multiplies and could result in 1,900 jobs.

Shopping locally positively impacts everyone in our community.

What is the potential impact on our community?

The impact, at only 5%, would be overwhelming; enriching our tax base while keeping our tax rates low, improving public services, streets, parks and playgrounds; expanding business, attracting businesses, retaining jobs and creating new jobs.

Here’s how the I Shop Longview program works:

By visiting local businesses, consumers can be entered into a monthly drawing for prizes and gift certificates provided by participating businesses.
The Longview Economic Development Corporation (LEDCO) encourages involvement of all local businesses. The I Shop Longview campaign is intended to assist local businesses, local residents and the City of Longview.
Please contact the Longview Economic Development Corporation, 903-753-7878, or Info@LongviewUSA.com, for more information about the I Shop Longview program and other efforts underway to support and promote the Longview community.

We appreciate your support in helping us grow our local economy!

Jun

Wellness in the Workplace Makes a Difference!

By Longview Chamber of Commerce Leave a Comment

The Longview Partnership joins forces with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the American Heart Association to promote Start! The Sart! Fit-Friendly Recognition Program was designed for employers to create a culture of physical activity and health to live longer, heart-healthier lives though walking. The program encourages change in the workplace by implementing a worksite physical activity program and promoting a culture of activity.

By participating in the Start! Fit-Friendly Recognition Program you can have access to:

Program resources, including the free Start! Walking Program and My Start! Online fitness tracker
Materials that help promote company wellness programs to employees
Newsletter templates for internal distribution to employees
Consultation on CPR/AE (automated external defibrillator) programs

How can your company get more information? Contact American Heart Association at (903) 323-8800 and ask for information on Start! Be sure and tell them the Longview Partnership encouraged you to call!

WORKSITE WELLNESS RESOURCES

The American Heart Association has joined with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and other groups to form the first U.S. Workplace Wellness Alliance. This alliance is a broad based national organization of businesses, heath care advocates, and nonprofit organizations dedicated to the vision that a healthier workforce will result in a stronger and fiscally healthier economy. For more information about the U.S. Workplace Wellness Alliance, please visit uswwa.org.

The American Heart Association’s Start! initiative calls on all Americans and their employers to create a culture of physical activity and health to live longer, heart-healthy lives through walking. It offers resources for employers to implement a walking program in the workplace and track employees’ progress in the program. One of Start’s key components is the Longview Area Start! Heart Walk which aims to get Americans up and moving for 30 minutes. This year’s Heart Walk is October 30,2010 . To register, visit heartwalk.kintera.org/longviewtx.

STATISTICS

Health care costs in the United States doubled from 1990 to 2001 and are expected to double again by 2012.
Chronic illnesses affect more than a third of working-age Americans and the costs associated with chronic diseases account for approximately 75 percent of the nation’s annual health care costs.
Over 130 million Americans are employed across the United States and since a significant part of their day is spent at work, comprehensive, culturally sensitive health promotion within the workplace is essential to maintain and improve the nation’s health.
Nearly 60 percent of employers’ after-tax profits are spent on corporate health benefits. An estimated 25-30 percent of companies’ medical costs per year are spent on employees with excess health risk. That contrasts to three decades ago when only seven percent of corporate profits paid for health costs.
Addressing risk factors early can make a difference. For example, $5.6 billion in heart disease costs could be saved if one-tenth of Americans began a regular walking program.
Employer spending on health promotion and chronic disease prevention is a good business investment. Programs have achieved a rate of return on investment ranging from $3 to $15 for each dollar invested with savings realized within 12 to 18 months.

Take action today by calling the American Heart Association, (903) 323-8800.

Jun

Hall Receives Certified Chamber Executive Designation

By Longview Chamber of Commerce Leave a Comment

Nicole Gentry with The American Chamber of Commerce Executive’s organization reported Kelly Hall will be honored in Milwaukee WI in August as one of the inductees for earning her Certified Chamber of Commerce designation. Hall is joining a premier group of chamber professionals. Since the program was initiated more than 40 years ago, only 503 individuals have earned this highest designation in the industry. It is truly a measure of an individual’s success, as well as a tribute to your chamber, to have successfully challenged your skills, knowledge and character.

By earning the Certified Chamber Executive designation, Hall has officially established herself among the ranks of exemplary industry leaders, professionals who have dedicated themselves to master the skills and knowledge necessary to achieve excellence in chamber management. To remain committed throughout this rigorous process is indeed a major accomplishment.

Jun

Boosting Your Bottom Line with Twitter

By Longview Chamber of Commerce Leave a Comment

Today’s session with Myra Golden on “How Twitter can Boost your Bottom Line and Customer Service Efforts” was fantastic. This 45 minute session covered topics like:

Strategies for responding to tweets before they become nightmares
Twitter as a customer service “Conversation” tool
How to monitor tweets about your brand
How to start a twitter conversation and jump in to resolve problems
Keys to getting started on twitter and hot to get customers to follow
4 simple steps for twitter service
Top service pitfalls of twitter

To learn more about Myra Golden check out her blog at www.myragolden.wordpress.com or follow her on twitter at www.twitter.com/MyraGolden. Today’s session was filled with great information!

To learn more about how to participate in upcoming webinars and training opportunities visit www.longviewchamber.com.

Jun

Need Affordable Training?

By Longview Chamber of Commerce Leave a Comment

WE DO THAT, TOO!

Did you know YOUR Chamber Membership Brings You Cost-Friendly Professional Development…

Join us for these upcoming business development programs:

JUNE 10 | 8:30am – 11:00am & 2:00pm – 4:30pm

Real East Texas Friendly Hospitality Training

Customer service professionals and front line staff who come in contact with the visitors to our area need to understand how their attitudes impact your company’s success. This FREE training is designed to help your business to grow because your success fosters and supports tourism, which is vital to our local economy. Having a well-trained staff and happy customers means more business and increased profits for you. Two sessions are conveniently available to allow rotation of employees.

Sponsored by Longview Convention and Visitors Bureau

JUNE 15 | 11:30am – 1:15pm

Tweeting Your Service: How to Use Twitter as a Customer Service Tool

Discover how Twitter can be a powerful customer service tool to capture the customer’s voice – by resolving complaints as well as restoring and strengthening customer relationships. (Fee includes lite lunch.)

Sponsored by Citizens National Bank

JUNE 17 | 8:45am – 9:15am

Fantastic Facebook Marketing Ideas for Small Business

This webinar is full of cheap or free marketing ideas specifically using Facebook. You know I love free and I love Facebook! This webinar will be full of creative ideas, actual tips and strategies for doing a Facebook marketing campaign – small business style.

Sponsored by Longview Convention and Visitors Bureau

JUNE 17 | 11:30am – 1:15pm «

Email Marketing Boot Camp: 12 Secrets to Drive Revenue

Learn how a powerful email campaign can boost business and drive more traffic to your website – in a low-cost way that’s crucial for today’s tight economic times. (Fee includes lite lunch.)

Sponsored by Citizens National Bank

« Attendance restricted to Longview Chamber Members only.

How to Register: Online (www.longviewchamber.com ) or via phone (903.237.4000)

Jun

Marketing Webinar Exceeds Expectations!

By Longview Chamber of Commerce 1 Comment

Today I participated in my first webinar with the Halo Team and WOW was I impressed. The webinar was on marketing and I thought all I need was one take away and it will be worth my time. I’d like to share with you some of the tips that were covered in today’s session.

Tip #1 Always Cover the Basics

Know Your Target Audience
Make customers feel important.
Use your own voice.
Seek and nurture relationships.
Be consistent.

Tip #2 Technology means nothing unless it increases productivity and effectiveness!

Don’t forget about search engine optimization.
Make frequent updates to your website.
Aggressively collect and use e-mail marketing.
Position your web site as the center of your marketing universe.

Tip #3 Don’t get so hung up on technology that you forget about off-line opportunities.

Customer loyalty coupons
Be an educator
Take advantage of advertising “remnants”
Leverage your calendar
Label stuff
Utilize point of sale bag stuffers and bag tags
Donate to worthwhile causes
Reward and appreciate achievement
Partner with other local businesses
Give samples

Tip #4 Social Media Really is a Lever

Throw contests
Ask ridiculous questions
Take, tag, and post photos and videos
Encourage fans to post their own content
Offer limited time promotions on Facebook
Monitor and interact frequently

Tip #5 Develop relationships with the media.

Reach out to journalist through Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn
Treat the media with respect
Pitch stories with samples
Read and respond to HelpAReporter.com
Share you media coverage shamelessly with your community

The information today was relevant and some great ideas emerged on how the Longview Partnership can do a better job of marketing our programs/events and services! Thank you to Marianna Hayes Chapman at www.halobusiness.com for producing a great training opportunity!

May

Longview Partnership Receives Honorable Mention from the Amercian Chamber of Commerce Executives

By Longview Chamber of Commerce 1 Comment

The Longview Chamber of Commerce received an Honorable Mention award in the campaigns and programs category for our entry in the 26th annual Awards for Communication Excellence competition sponsored by the American Chamber of Commerce Executives.

One of twenty-three entries in the campaigns and programs category, the Longview Chamber of Commerce‘s entry was our Community Branding Campaign.

This is the first time in the history of the organization that an award has been received through this national organization. The entry will be recognized in the 2010 ACCE Convention notebook, on the ACCE website and other communication pieces at the annual ACCE Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in August.

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Longview Chamber RSS

Chamber Office to be Closed Memorial Day May 24, 2012
Have a safe holiday! read more
Real East Texas Hospitality Training set for Thursday May 21, 2012
Register Today! read more
Leadership Longview accepting applications for New Year May 18, 2012
Apply Today! read more

Twitter

Leadership Longview accepting applications for New Year longviewchamber.com/node/594 via @LongviewChamber #longviewtx #leadership 1 day ago
Hospitality Training May 2012 #constantcontact conta.cc/K1iJ41 1 week ago

The Business View

Archive for the 'Convention and Visitors Bureau' Category

5 Hotel Rooms Left In Block for Austin Legislative Trip

Chairman’s Letter to Chamber Membership

The Longview Partnership and the Longview Economic Development Corporation Would Like Your HELP!

Hall Receives Certified Chamber Executive Designation

Need Affordable Training?

Longview Partnership Receives Honorable Mention from the Amercian Chamber of Commerce Executives

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