Member Benefit: Marketing Your Business
Networking Events
Networking is invaluable for making contact with current and prospective clients and customers. These events are held at different venues and time frames throughout the year. These include monthly evening after hour mixers, speed networking and coffee & connections. Connections are made during business education seminars, new member orientation, Business Expos, brochure exchanges and committee participation.
Ribbon Cuttings
Ceremonies for new business openings, milestones, expansions and anniversaries are provided for Chamber members. The Chamber provides the ceremonial ribbon, scissors’ and promotes through exlorewatkinsglen.com, and social media platforms. An effective public relations tactic, invitations are also sent to government officials and chamber ambassadors.
Business Referral
Direct referrals are provided from staff via in-person, phone, e-mail and social media. Member to member referrals promotes local prosperity. Brochure Exchanges is a tool for referral opportunities with the exchange of brochures and rack cards from other regional businesses – without having to drive from location to location or pay postage.
Schuyler Hires Job Fair
An annual workforce development initiative, this job fair taking place just prior to the start of the summer season is hosted by the Chamber in partnership with CSS Workforce NY and provides members the opportunity to recruit for full- and/or part-time positions.
Member Promotion
Brochure and/or business card placement at the Downtown Watkins Glen Visitor Center is encouraged for members at no cost.
Social Media
Members are the beneficiary of the Chamber’s robust social media presence on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram. Increase your brand awareness and marketing penetration by expanding your reach throughout the Watkins Glen Area community social platforms. Members are able to send information and business highlights to be featured on chamber social media platforms.
Search Advantage | www.explorewatkinsglen.com
The chamber website is a content aggregator that collects data from its members across the internet and puts information in one place where users can access it. Then, SEO is used to optimize the website to increase traffic, thus providing a powerful benefit to each member. Search engines, including Google and Bing recognizes the value of your business and presence on the chamber website as a high value link leading traffic directly to your business. Businesses on the Chamber’s website have the potential to rank higher in search results.
Member Listing | www.explorewatkinsglen.com
Each member receives a custom listing webpage that incudes robust features on the Chamber directory. The content includes: About us, Business description, Logo, event postings, photo gallery, video uploads, social media handles, links, google map features and bulletins. Members can edit the information that drives this listing in the database. Members who leverage the full power of this tool, can share announcements directly with other members and promote member-to-member discounts via the member portal, add categories and key words to their record, making information easier to find with the search function, and promote events via the Chamber’s events calendar.
Member Directory | www.explorewatkinsglen.com
Each member is included in an alphabetical list of members that is searchable by the public or other members. This essential contact information is open and available so that members can seamlessly contact one another and can be invaluable for collaboration.
Member Guide – New!
A member guide will be available for publication and distribution that highlights your business to include the business description, unique story proposition, social media accounts and is collated by business category. This provides a forum for members to share accomplishments and highlight your business history and vision for the future. The digital version will be available as a supplement to the region’s travel guide on Explorewatkinsglen.com.
News & Notifications
On Point: Member Matters & On Point: Be in The Know are weekly Chamber newsletters distributed to a list-serve (1,500+) and includes member news & notifications, Chamber programing, and investment opportunities.
Sponsorship | Investment Opportunity
Broaden your competitive advantage by improving your company’s reputation, prestige and credibility through sponsorships. Select from our tangible and strategic ways to reach your target audience and support the Watkins Glen Area community by supporting Chamber program and events. Contact the Chamber for more information.
Advertising | Investment Opportunity
Publications include the Watkins Glen Area Chamber of Commerce | Schuyler County Travel Guide, and the Chamber weekly On Point newsletter. Multiple advertising opportunities are available at the Downtown Visitors Center and the Watkins Gen State Park Visitor Center visited by over 1,000.000 people each year. Contact the Chamber for more information.
Window Display Advertising at 214 N. Franklin | Investment Opportunity
Promote your products and services to the 20,000+ potential customers who visit and pass the Downtown Visitor Center. Choose from different sizes and pick the months that are best suited to highlight your business. Reservations open in the Fall for the upcoming year. Contact the Chamber for more information.
Brochure Display at the Watkins Glen State Park Visitor Center | Investment Opportunity
Share your message with 40,000+ visitors with concise, targeted messaging that builds and/or reinforces your brand. Printed brochures signal credibility and are easy for customers to keep for reference. Printed materials are also versatile in that they can be consumed anywhere, anytime, without relying on devices and connectivity. Contact the Chamber for more information.
Display Monitor at the Watkins Glen Downtown & State Park Visitor Center | Investment Opportunity
Leverage video marketing power to share your message with 40,000+ visitors. Consumers like video because it is easy-to-digest and engaging. Marketers like video because data indicates it empowers consumers and inspires action. Reservations open in the Fall for the upcoming year. Contact the Chamber for more information.
Book Direct – for accommodations in Schuyler County
Lodging businesses and members benefit from Jack Rabbit Book Direct, a lodging search engine that facilitates fast consumer search for accommodations via the Chamber’s website. As an online travel agent, bookings are customer-direct, with no intermediary. This online booking option improves conversion rates by empowering consumers to easily and quickly compare rates, availability, room types and amenities on demand.