Question

Topic: Advertising/PR

Emailing Members Of A Chamber With A Free Offer

Posted by betterwords4you on 5/16/2008 at 5:55 PM ET 50 Points
For about a year I've been an active member of a local Asian Chamber, and have done a good bit of volunteer work for them. I also just volunteered to do their newsletter for them, which makes me quite a hero.

I had been planning an email marketing campaign and am now thinking about directing it to to Chamber members, with lots of encouragement to get more involved with the Chamber and to send me ideas for the newsletter; at the end I would mention an offer to give them a free assessment of web site content or marcom material.

I really need to get my freelance copywriter business moving, and have built up lots of good will with this group. Would I jeopardize that by sending this email to all the members? Or should I limit it to the people I know best? Or just look for other prospects?

I usually have very good instincts about doing something like this, but there's more at stake with this so I would appreciate your feedback. Thanks in advance.
To continue reading this question and the solution, sign up ... it's free!
SUBSCRIBE
Or, SIGN IN

RESPONSES

  • Posted by Frank Hurtte on 5/16/2008 at 6:09 PM Accepted
    I would approach the Chamber an approach of payment in kind. You do their newsletter in return for advertising opportunities.

    Each newletter would have a place for sponsors.... and your advertisement would be at the top of the list.

    If anybody complained about your ad being there, they could advertise as well. This might turn into a revenue generator for the organization.
  • Posted by betterwords4you on 5/16/2008 at 6:29 PM Author
    Thanks Frank, I always expect to get good advice from you!

    Actually the Chamber President offered to let me advertise in the newsletter and give me a large ad in the annual directory, too. Maybe I was getting greedy . . .
  • Posted by Jay Hamilton-Roth on 5/17/2008 at 8:17 AM Accepted
    Instead of emailing them an advertisement, include in the newsletter a brief article (that you wrote) such as: "Is Your Website Effective?". The key is you want people to stop and think about the big issue, and then position yourself as the solution to their problem.
  • Posted by CarolBlaha on 5/17/2008 at 11:09 AM Accepted
    I'd develop a non commercial statement and get on your chamber's agenda for a speaker. As Jay suggested one topic might be "is your website effective" would be a great topic. So would "optimization". Add your idea of free assessment. But plan a bit-- you could end up with 50 of these to do!

    I also applaud your idea of more involvement in chamber functions. Pick ONE program and do it well. I always suggest chairing a committee, or board membership. Then you don't have to tell people you are competent. They see evidence of it at every meeting. I have been on the boards of several orgs and they have served my business well.

    Be a resource! Don't ask them for business and referrals-- bring them one. As Dale Carnegie says, "“You can make more friends in two months by becoming interested in other people than you can in two years by trying to get other people interested in you”.

    BTW, as a contributing author of Guerrilla Networking-- this book has a plethora of ideas on this!

    Sell Well and Prosper tm
BACK TO TOP

Post a Comment

Related Discussions

Community Info

Top 25 Experts
(Advertising/PR)