A big part of marketing your business is expanding your network. A very simple and easy way to do this is to join your local Chamber of Commerce. All chambers have regularly scheduled meetings and events where you can meet other business owners in the community. It is not only a easy way to talk to people about your business but a great opportunity to get referrals as well.

Almost all the Chambers' of Commerce have a website with a directory, this is another way for people to help find you. Beside gaining another valuable link to your website many members use their local Chamber of Commerce as a directory to find other businesses with the same affiliation. Consumers may also be happy to know that you have affiliations with the local business community.

Generally, the Chamber of Commerce has political connections that can benefit your business. At the very least it is another way to keep in touch with political issues that can potentially effect to your business. The chamber will receive legislative alerts which it will pass on to its members. Most local politicians are very interested in addressing the chamber and need to be sensitive to issues effecting local businesses.

Each chambers' benefits may vary from chapter to chapter. Most chambers will allow you to do a sponsored seminar and rent out meeting space at a discount to members. Other benefits such a business counseling, access to member lists, advertising opportunities in publications.

In my experience I have found the membership to be well worth the membership fee. It is is not only an opportunity to do business but also make some friends and contribute to your community. Make the most of it!

Use the following link for a list of local Chambers of Commerce in Monmouth County.

According to the Pew Internet & American Life Project Tracking February-April 2006 survey, 73% of American adults use the Internet. At the time of the survey this represents approximately 147 million people. 91% of those Internet users used a search engine to find information online. Are you ready to develop business and leads online?

There are four important components to an effective website:

Esthetics: How does your website look? A finished website must have a professional appearance. The branding elements and color scheme should be well coordinated and visually appealing. All individual visual design elements must fit into the overall design and be presented within a visual hierarchy. Clear visual cues and accents indentify key content and help the user navigate the site.

Content: What is this website about? The message must be clear and concise. All text should be fine tuned for the web as its own form of media. Brochures and other printed media must be converted into a format that engages users to action on the web.

Usability: Is this website easy to use? All websites should follow the established set of standardized best practices for building websites which enhance accessibility and intuitiveness. For example, does a web link look like a web link? Sounds like an obvious statement, but far too often this web standard is neglected and replaced with over-styled elements. A usable site is one that provides consistency in experience without making the user wonder "how do I do that?"

Marketing: Will they find us? People must find and use your site for it to be effective. The most elegant website that goes unused is worthless to its owner. Marketing a website has a technical and traditional facet. A website must be developed in a specific way in order for search engines to easily index its content and determine what categories and keywords apply to it. This is extremely important because the majority of Internet users use a search engine to find what they are looking for. Traditional marketing is equally important. Advertising your business or website should not be limited to the Internet only. ourmonmouth.com believes that any marketing campaign should use multiple media channels to effectively deliver your business message.

ourmonmouth.com offers a variety of web design and development services.

Networking is a powerful tool often overlooked in business. Is there anyone you would trust more to speak about your business than yourself? When was the last time you handed out business cards or attended a event that was filled with potential clients and prospects? There are many excellent local organizations that can help you get connected to the community. For a minimum time commitment and a small membership fee you can tap into new markets and meet new people.

Monmouth County Business Association
http://www.monmouthcountybusinessassociation.com

Monmouth/Ocean NJ Association of Women Business Owners
http://www.njawbo-monmouth.org

If you cannot commit to regular meetings I also like Ryze. Ryze helps people make connections and grow their networks. You can network to grow your business, build your career, find a job, or make friends. Members can also join special related to their industry, interests or location. More than 1,000 organizations host Networks on Ryze to help their members interact with each other and grow their organizations.

Look me up on Ryze by my company: ourmonmouth.com.

Link to Ryze:
http://www.ryze.com