Why Joining Your Local Chamber of Commerce Is Important

Have you ever wondered why joining your local Chamber of Commerce is important? This article hopes to answer this question and more, so keep on reading!

Why Joining Your Local Chamber of Commerce Is Important

A Little Chamber of Commerce History

The first-ever Chamber of Commerce or Chambre de Commerce was founded at the end of the 17th century in Marseille, France. The Chambre de Commerce is still a fully functioning institution till this very day but with additional branches all over France.

The second Chamber of Commerce in history was found at some point in the mid-18th century in a city called Bruges, which was a part of the Spanish Netherlands in those days.

Why Joining Your Local Chamber of Commerce Is Important

Shortly after the establishment of the Chamber of Commerce in Bruges, the Halifax Chamber of Commerce was founded in 1750 in Nova Scotia. Though Nova Scotia is a bilingual province of Canada—speaking both English and French—the Halifax Chamber of Commerce is the oldest English-speaking chamber of commerce in the world.

The Purpose Behind a Chamber of Commerce

Many local chambers are either established and maintained voluntarily or are set in place as required by law in some areas. Sometimes there is some confusion as to whether or not the Better Business Bureau (BBB) is technically a Chamber of Commerce.

However, both institutions are distinctly different in that the BBB binds members to a formal set of formal operational doctrines; the BBB also looks out for the best interest of both businesses and the public at large. Chambers, on the other hand, usually lookout for the interests of its member businesses only.

While a majority of Chambers stay local, others have joined state, national (United States Chamber of Commerce), and international (International Chamber of Commerce) bodies.

The International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) was founded in Atlantic City, New Jersey, and but is headquartered in Paris, France. Today, with over 45 million members worldwide, the ICC is the world’s largest, most representative business organization to date.

Why Joining Your Local Chamber of Commerce Is Important

It is the purpose of local Chambers of Commerce to bring the local business community together, develop strong local networks among business people while promoting a stronger business-to-business exchange.

In many cases, Chambers works with local, state, national, and even international governments to develop and maintain pro-business initiatives. For example, city Chambers work closely with their local government, such as local representatives, city council, and mayor.

Bilateral Chambers of Commerce are put in place to link the business environments of two or more nations.

Benefits of Joining a Local Chamber of Commerce

Even though the idea behind a Chamber of Commerce is over four centuries old, these pillars of the community still carry with them a lot of weight.

Those who join a local Chamber of Commerce enjoy several benefits that make becoming a member entirely worth it.

Why Joining Your Local Chamber of Commerce Is Important – Increase Awareness of Your Business

Businesses that join their local Chamber of Commerce get more exposure. Just ask any knowledgeable SEO specialist, and they will tell you that Google loves Chambers of Commerce.

When you consider how much you pay the Chamber in annual dues compared to all the exposure being a member gets you, the value of your return on investment (ROI) is pretty significant.

Why Joining Your Local Chamber of Commerce Is Important

Nevertheless, you should sign up for a Google My Business account and get it set up for this to work in your favor.

Your Business Looks More Trustworthy

Just like the aforementioned BBB, when consumers see that your business is a trusted member of the local Chamber of Commerce, they’re more likely to trust you. More consumer trust translates into more consumer business.

Cultivate Loyal Customers With Incentives

One of the great things about the Chambers of Commerce of the 21st Century is that most, if not all, of them, have a website of some kind.

As a part of membership, your local Chamber of Commerce should allow you to post coupons to their website free of charge (it comes as a package deal when you pay dues). Since most people these days use smartphones, you can make things much easier by offering QR codes as coupons, so users only need to scan your QR code and go — what an excellent way to win new, local customers.

Why Joining Your Local Chamber of Commerce Is Important – Promote Your Products or Services Through Other Businesses

Another great thing about being a member of your local Chamber of Commerce is being able to promote your products and services through other member businesses. After all, this is the whole point in becoming a member of a Chamber of Commerce: to develop strong local networks among business people while promoting a stronger business-to-business exchange.

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