Best Way to "Gain Access" To Chambers of Commerce?

1)What is the best way to contact chamber of commerce to be a speaker?

I have a list along with contact name (etc) for every Chamber of Commerce in my state. I realize that the best way to contact them, would be through a referral, but I don't have that to go on. My efforts to speak at the Chambers I am a member of, have gone on deaf ears. There are very few meetings where the topic is actually about growing a business. And locally they don't do much in the way of quarterly conferences or any special events on that subject (very strange indeed

The program I'd like to propose is on business and marketing planning -- on one page. So I know that the topic is very relevant to the chamber members I've spoken to so far. Also this is the only one of my program that I teach for free (for up to 1 hour) when I'm contacted by an organization.

Seems like I have good credibility - testimonials, have been quoted in recognized magazines, articles have been reproduced around the word

I'm wondering, if you've contacted organizations where you don't know someone, where have you started, what types of things have you pitched?



2) On this same topic. I find that many chamber won't pay you to speak at monthly meetings or even quarterly meetings. Is this pretty much try across the board? Even today, when I spoke with the Program person at a chamber, she almost had a heart attack when I suggested in kind payment OR doing an event where I'd speak at the meeting and they'd coordinate a paid event after the meeting for 3 hours. And forget about even putting a table in the room with my products! It's evident that this Chamber is not my ideal client either

1. Get a list of current CC members. Try to get to know some who might be in a similar line as you or someone who might could use your services. Have them invite you as a guest to a meeting. Possibly share a presentation (free of charge) or a portion thereof with them, and let them be your mouthpiece in the beginning - if not mouthpiece, at least a supporting agent. Our youngest daughter is in banking/finance and the CC of our county was begging her to join. She didn't have to seek out membership. She was a freelance mortgage broker while finishing her degrees, and almost everyone she did business with/for tried to get her to join both of our county's divisions. It would be advantageous for you to join your local and have it on your business card. Also, is there a community college in your area. Check them out. Ours has Lifelong Learning classes where anyone can create a class through which products and services can be promoted. I've taken some personal finance classes, a starting a business class, a website building class and a few others. Our progam is through http://www.elderhostel.org/default.asp . Might check the closest college or university to see if either offers some type of forum for you.

2. Something that is really popular around our area is the fishbowls at checkouts. Businesses put their business cards in them and once a week a card is drawn. The winning card owner receives (free, or at a discount) whatever service is being highlighted for that week's drawing. There is a bulletin next to the fishbowl with the week's sponsor's details and contact information.

I haven't made headway with the Chamber here, either. I know they don't pay, in general. I am a member of this chamber and I'm getting an exhibit table at a local expo. I've also put a flyer in their next mailing. So, I'm trying to become more visible. (I have products/services on managing your business systems, such as customer databases.) They have a woman in business conference once a year, too.

Good luck!

Our chamber is always looking for speakers, but they won't pay for one.

Why don't you try another organization that might be more receptive? I'm a member of the National Association of Women Business Owners and they have monthly dinners/lunches with speakers. Not sure if they pay.

You might also look at starting out by not charging, and instead trying to use your talk as a time to connect, network, and show off your stuff. Then some of the audience/members might be able to refer you to other organizations that are interested.

What is your purpose for speaking? Are you trying to make money as a speaker, or are you trying to sell your service/product through your speeches?

Kathy

gimster - Great idea about finding someone at the CC, however I'm not looking to speak in my area and there are 200 CC's in m state.

I don't understand how the fish bowl will get me to be a speaker at a CC. Can you explain that?

Casey: I hope you have better luck than I did with the Business Expo, etc. I'm starting to think that the best thing I can do with my list of CCs is to sell it on my site!

Kathy appreciate your note. I am a member of NAWBO but the nearest group is 6 hours away. They won't look at getting a hotel to sponsor me to take a trip out there, which I would do.

After 9 years in business, I am not a beginner in the speaking arena. Just that I've done so much for free that groups don't want to pay. OR they think they're doing me a favor buying me dinner or lunch.

I deserve to be paid to speak! The freebies I do now are very calculated I spoke for free to a group of 30, got 20 ezine subscribers and 1K in sales. I'm looking to speak and be paid and sell products and services. I can have it all! Just not through the CC's

Just wanted to send an update to this. I sent out an email to 60 Chambers that were within a "normal" driving distance from me.

A few said that they only have members speak, yet one is having a non-member speak, go figure

Three or four emailed me back that they were passing along my information to someone else. They liked that I mentioned that I'd like to be considered in case someone cancels for any reason.

It looks like I have my first speaking gig in May. This group brought my proposal to the board, who voted on it.

And I'm going to send letters out (as in mail) in May and see what happens when I do that. I'll be back to LYK what's up.

Is this the core of your business- speaking for a fee?

I've known businesses who just don't belong to their local CC. They have actually said, it does nothing for their type of business.

Can you name a list of some businesses on your website where you have provided business consulting services..or you don't provide that?

You probably know that good business consultants do alot of networking, meaning not just attending business functions, but volunteering to be on a particular committee within a trade/professional association, publish objective business articles/studies in trade/profesional journals, etc. There's no expectation of being paid for this stuff but simply getting people know that you exist and understand which areas of business you are most expert.

This is truly where the networking occurs..when people get to understand you up close how you interact in a "free"/volunteer capacity without any money involved.

I guess I'm saying this after belonging to various national and international professional associations over the last 2 decades and seeing how the stars in my profession have built their credibility and their consulting business.

You have to become passionate not just to make money, but to give back for free to your professional community.

Keep talking, talking talking...:-))
I just got a paid speaking gig through a referral from another contact. Then I did pick up a free one from the business expo I went to (along with 16 new names for my email newsletter)! Then, I finally got an e-women gig in Sacramento.

So just keep putting it out there...you never know what will come through. And I agree with Orchid -- give it away -- people only ever get a portion of what you say, but they will remember your generosity.

Orchid,

I realize that you don't know me, but I give and I've already given away enough for free. Generosity is a word my clients use with my name.


If there is anything that professional community should do is value advice and services -- and do what they want others to do to them --- pay up!


Speaking is a career... it's part of my business that I enjoy doing. I want to speak for a living... There is a time and place for free, 9 years of business, that time is coming to an end.

Just to get into the CC circuit, I'm doing one speaking engagement for free, at a paid event no less, in Pt Townsend Washington next month. I have asked for in-kind. Two nights in a B&B, lunch the day of the event, table in the back of the room where I can sell things. They will put a flyer in their newsletter, ads in the local papers and my goals are to sell 5 seats in my day-long business and marketing plan workshop, get testimonials from the CC Board and receive 1 paid speaking engagement.

Once I have the testimonials, I plan to mail a letter to all the CC that I did not hear from. And at the free event I'm doing, I will add to my sale talk at the end of the session that I'm looking to speak to other CCs and companies. I have an area on my evaluation form that also covers this.

I have a friend who got a job speaking at a CC. She spoke at a meeting for 30-minutes and then did a 3 hour presentation later that day costing $79 or $99 per person. She got 2 nights at a nice spa-hotel and $500 per hour. Not bad at all for a CC.

That's my intention too.

Maria,

Have you considered hosting your own event in the area...maybe at the library...sometimes that's free if the seminar is free...anyway...you could invite all the chamber members in a certain radius...and then you could sell in the back of the room...

I took the Kathleen Gage and Lori Givonni teleclass last week...and that is similar to something they talked about...

You could do a press release to local media...might get some publicity that way...might barter some services with local radio to get some advertising...possibly get a corporate sponsor...that would be nice if you have to pay for a location...some place like a business supply company...either local or chain like staples or office depot...banks and other businesses are usually glad to contribute goodies for goodie bags...oh...and banks usually have meeting rooms...maybe you could 'partner' with a local bank...they'd provide the meeting room...and help promote you as a benefit to the community businesses...and their customers...

Hope that helps...

Maybe you need to add on a 2nd business service to survive financially, that is not public speaking.

That's reality.

Or maybe you do provide a 2nd service that none of us are aware.

Few Chambers will pay speakers and many will restrict it to members, so check to see how much a membership would cost (they often tier the fees based on the purpose of your membership).

A lot of Chambers have networking events that would be perfect for passing out your business cards and getting contacts. It's a process, yes, but networking is the key to gain people's trust that you would be a good speaker and a good draw for an event.

I appreciate the thoughts. I have tried the office supply stores, Costo and even did an event in Sams Club. I've talked with at least 5 banks over the past two years, too. Even did an event with Keybank and will do more in 2008.

However, I don't want to be the event planner, fundraiser, etc. I'm done with all that. I want the money as speaking is part of my business model. My past things got me very few if any good clients. I did some back of the room sales, but prefer being a paid beginner speaker at 3K per hour or 10K per day.

I have attended an NSA event, found a few speakers lists (unfortunately they're very quiet) and spoke to Lilly Walters (of speak and grow rich) recently.

I did speak at one Chamber, that will remain nameless. They were awful! They didn't have name tags (I had them in the car), they took no attendance although they took money from each of the participants and they sent me to lunch with the secretary. I'm presuming that's because neither the Chamber President or VP attended the event. People pre-resigsterd, but didn't pre-pay, so the numbers were lower then what they promised. They didn't have any of my handouts ready. When they finally printed them (30 minutes into the first talk), they did not print the evaluation forms.

Strange as all that is, I did call them prior to the event to make sure that there were doing what they said they'd do and was told that everything was being taken care of!

OH.. and they emailed me and wanted me to send them the evaluation forms and attendance list. And were so upset at me that I didn't have either that I'm not getting any testimonial. HUH?

Through it all, I made 1K in back of the room sales and have 14 new ezine subscribers (there were 26 businesses and 12 non profits in attendance). And learned that I should have a checklist of things they we agree to and have them sign the list. So I'll be creating a new checklist and add it to the packet I provide organizations.

I'm in talks with another Chamber, now, too. They'll get the new checklist!

Next week I'll be in Las Vegas at a business forum with 7 business owners... doing what I love doing ... teaching and being paid handsomely!

Go for it. Have a great week in Vegas.