Knowing your audience can make your marketing more personalized, and thus, effective. But part of knowing your audience is also knowing what keeps them awake at night. While I can’t guarantee these common business concerns match your chamber members exactly, here are some of the things that might be bothering them. Setting up your chamber as a solution to these problems will help your message cut through the noise.
Most Common Business Concerns
- We’re not making enough money to meet payroll/stay open.
- We only do good seasonal business. Our slow period is very slow.
- We can’t find enough good or qualified employees. How can I recruit them or where should I look?
- Should we open a second location or take that leap to grow?
- The economy worries me. Should I grow or play it safe?
- Am I investing in our future in the right way?
- Am I tracking the right numbers (could be financial or social media-related)?
- Is my business set up right (am I adhering to local regulations, tax requirements, etc.)?
- What’s the best technology for me? Am I using the best technology to operate in the most efficient way?
- How do I do this social media thing?
- How do I get more customers? More repeat or loyal customers?
- How do I attract a new demographic? How do I appeal to younger buyers?
- What data should I be tracking?
- How can I improve my customer service?
- How can I sell online?
- How can I compete with the big box store? Or the virtual retail behemoth?
- How can I innovate without spending a lot of money?
- How can I cut expenses?
- How can I show my employees appreciation without spending a lot of money?
- How can I educate my employees for less?
- Why isn’t anyone following me on social media?
Any of these topics could work for a blog post (feature advice from members or community experts) or a lunch and learn.
Your members have a lot of questions. Find what those are and begin solving for them or helping put them in touch with the people who can. When you do, you never have to worry about chamber membership when they get to question #18.
