You Can Never Be Too Rich, Too Young or Too Mobile
Free and Premium ChamberMaster App for iOS Now Available
The ChamberMaster app is the mobile companion for on-the-go chamber staff. Now you’ll have up-to-date membership information at your fingertips no matter where you are. Be more productive with fresh data to make each member visit highly relevant. See at a glance if they’re signed up for your upcoming chamber event, have an outstanding invoice or get driving directions to the member closest to your current location.
Overview of premium mobile benefits includes:
- Ability to display member anniversaries for quick contact
- Easily send referrals while talking to members
- Create, send and track member correspondence and notes
- Add and check-in event attendees
- View detailed membership charts
Step One: Download the free ChamberMaster app from the iTunes app store. Encourage everyone in the office to download the app – it’s free and integrated with your member management software.
Step Two: Once you’ve experienced increased productivity and convenience first-hand, now upgrade everyone in your office for just $10 per month. This is introductory pricing and subject to change.
The Android version will be available this summer.
May 1, 2013 at 8:19 pm | News | No comment
Harlem Shake and Moses Lake
Who says chambers of commerce are old fashioned? Here’s the Moses Lake Chamber who’s totally on board with the latest meme, Harlem Shake. And who wouldn’t want to be part of a fun group like this? Viral videos aside, creating videos is another important channel to foster member engagement. We’re all watching a ton of video content as this eMarketer graphic indicates.
Take a look at the low percentages of internet users who rarely or never visit YouTube. Only 14% of internet users surveyed reported “rarely” visiting the platform. That’s a lot of views!
Read more.
It’s not hard to create decent videos to help explain a member benefit or to promote an event. It also adds a wonderful personal touch beyond the written word. Here are some easy steps to follow:
1) Come up with a topic or message for your members you think works well as a short video clip. Keep in mind that attention spans are short, so anything under a minute in duration is more likely to be viewed from beginning to end.
2) Plan how you’ll execute. Do you have or can you borrow a decent camera? Will you want others to appear? Do you know what environment you want to have as your background? (Note: if you feature others in your video and plan to put it online, make sure you have their written approval and consent first.)
3) Make the movie. You can use iMovie or Windows Movie Maker or any of a number of other products available online.
4) Decide on a great, descriptive title.
5) Save the movie as a video file.
6) Go to YouTube or Vimeo and create an account and upload your file.
Voila! You’re done – except for the part about sharing your link. So you can Tweet it, post it on Facebook; let your members know you have something valuable to say.
April 5, 2013 at 11:26 pm | Marketing Tips | No comment
Are Newsletters Still Relevant?
Do a search for, “are newsletters still relevant?” and you’ll see pages of results mostly affirming that newsletters do fill a communication need. We believe regular newsletters from chambers to their members plays a vital role in member recruitment and retention. From the blog She Owns It, Christine Gallagher delivers three reasons why newsletters (or e-zines as she calls them) still matter from her point of view.
1) Keeps you top of mind: As much as we would like to think that our audience are always thinking of us (wouldn’t THAT be nice?), it’s unfortunately not the case. Just as a company wouldn’t run a TV commercial just once, repetition is necessary to remind people of you, your offerings and your expertise.
2) Intimacy: An e-zine gives you a great opportunity to create a feeling of intimacy between yourself and your readers by sharing a bit about what is going on with you outside of your business (or chamber). Often people do this in a section at the beginning of their e-zine under a heading such as “A Note From” or something similar.
3) Expert status: The more consistently you share information, tips and articles on the subject or niche you are most knowledgeable in, the more credibility you gain in the eyes of your readers.
From a member management point of view, we could add two more good reasons…
4) Cost effective: They’re easy and effective to create in ChamberMaster, giving you greater reach at a very low cost. It’s a marketing tool anyone on your staff can use to get in front of your chamber prospects and your current members to help remind them about all that you do for your business community as well as remind them of upcoming events or other news that affects them.
5) You control your brand: With an emailed newsletter, you have complete control over the brand, the content, the delivery method and recipient list. You’re in an excellent position to correctly target your members with the right message. Filling your newsletter with member-related content will ensure higher open rates and become a communication they look forward to.
We issue newsletters generally once per month. They’re designed to give you a heads-up on new software updates and more of a window into MicroNet and some of the key staff here. We’ve heard you’ve been enjoying the series on our customer support representatives. They’re a great, dedicated group and we hope you know us a little more “intimately” as a result of our newsletter.
April 5, 2013 at 12:36 am | Marketing Tips | No comment
February Updates Headed Your Way
There are lots of improved elements in the February release. We’re trying something new with short, informal videos to help explain the features in more detail. Let us know what you think!
For Plus users, look for new options under the Membership Type Discounts menu. So if you have members at different levels you’ll be able to offer them special promo/discount codes and grant discounts or special pricing to different tiers of members. This will be very handy for those of you who manage more complex events.
We’ve also made it easier for you to track bundled fee items. For example, if you offer event tickets, priority parking and meal discounts for certain groups, now you can ensure your billing report will track each item properly.
Additionally, now you can view what your members see by clicking “Login as Member” located on the blue bar across the top of the Members module.
Check your ChamberMaster or MemberZone dashboard to see everything that’s new.
February 22, 2013 at 1:57 am | News | No comment
Greater Franklin County Chamber Upgrades to Chamber Master
Hampton, Iowa – Jan. 7, 2013 – MicroNet, Inc. the market leader of Chamber of Commerce Management Software is announcing the addition of their 1400th customer, the Greater Franklin County Chamber of Commerce in Iowa. The Chamber’s Executive Director, Brook Boehmler is deploying ChamberMaster to help fulfill their mission to support the county seat’s economic growth by improving the quality of life and business climate in the Franklin County area. “As chambers like ours look ahead to maintaining relevance to the business communities we serve, we find it increasingly important to be able to automate our office processes,” stated Boehmler. MicroNet CEO Scott Juranek commented, “We’re delighted to be partnering with such a historic chamber and are especially pleased to be powering their mobile strategy through MyChamberApp.”
The Greater Franklin County Chamber, after continuing to grow in a down economy, went to the market to implement software to not only to provide a service and benefit to their Chamber members but they also manage Franklin County Tourism and the Hampton Main Street district and program. ““I’m excited to hear that the Chamber has found a program that will be easy for their members to use and help them promote their businesses. Tourism is looking forward to utilizing the program to help promote what is available in greater Franklin County,” stated outgoing Franklin County Tourism President Donnis Borcherding.
The Chamber manages three distinct organizations and will be able to utilize Chamber Master to leverage limited staff and continue to fulfill their vision of supporting business, encouraging Tourism and energizing Main Street. “We looked at many different programs and chose Chambermaster because of their powerful software package. In addition, they are a valued partner to help us look beyond what we currently do and create a magnificent future for our members as well. These kind of partnerships only help to strengthen what the Chamber is providing to our members and the Greater Franklin County community,” stated Communications Director Deb Brown.
MicroNet’s core web-based services, ChamberMaster and MemberZone, enable chambers and other member-based organizations to manage their day-to-day office and member services more efficiently and comprehensively than with off-the-shelf software. By offering member businesses marketing tools such as Search Engine Optimized (SEO) chamber website designs, enhanced member directory listings, hot deals, and online advertising, ChamberMaster and MemberZone fills the needs of businesses to be easily found by customers and prospects, plus driving traffic to those businesses, in addition to helping them make key business connections. “We’re excited to bring these tools to our members. It’s a new year and a great time to move forward with new ideas and plans. In addition, we’ll be working with Chamber member IStop Tech Shop to provide the hands on merging of data provided to a new website for the Chamber,” stated Megan Rosenberg, incoming Chamber Board President.
January 9, 2013 at 6:55 pm | Press Releases | No comment
User Forum Helps Customers Get More From their Member Management Software
During the last few days of November, Marcy Weaver and Brenda Lundeen hosted a two-day MicroNet User Forum in Bloomington, MN. This was an opportunity for our customers to get involved and get hands-on training with our in-depth workshops. We brought in guest speakers such as Jeff Ferrazzo from Constant Contact, Larry Dowell from Dowell Stute, as well as two people from LiveEdit and even our CEO, Scott Juranek.
We had 33 attendees from across the U.S., including Terry from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.
We presented a variety of topics such as:
- Setting up the Membership Application Form
- Membership Management
- Using Rep Logins
- Member Module Overview and Use
- Marketing your Members
- Website Design Best Practices, Using LiveEdit
- Best Practices with ChamberMaster Billing
- Setting up and Promoting Events
- Reports, Dashboard and Cloud Drive features
Fortunately we received some excellent feedback from our attendees. They loved the networking, best practices and learning about all the things they didn’t realize they could do with ChamberMaster. They left feeling better prepared to do their job. (Not to mention, being able to cross off a few more names from their holiday shopping list, thanks to being next to the Mall of America!)
Based on attendee comments, we may shorten the length of the days to keep information overload to a minimum and go to two and a half days. We will likely increase the discussion/peer networking time as well.
Would you like to get hands-on training yourself? Consider sponsoring a training session in your area or join us at our next session. Please contact us at: info@micronetonline.com to be put on our User Forum mailing list.
Happy Holidays!
December 12, 2012 at 9:44 pm | ChamberMaster User Forum, News | No comment
Clinton Chamber Uses ChamberMaster User Forum for Their Community PR
The recent ChamberMaster User Forum held in Minneapolis drew dozens of Chamber professionals from several states. In a smart move, the Clinton Chamber issued a press release discussing their involvement in the two-day symposium. This is an excellent example of of using PR to promote chamber activity. Chamber President Nathan Sondgeroth was quoted as stating, “ChamberMaster was conceived and has grown as a web-based tool which allows us to serve our members more efficiently and with greater ease,” Sondgeroth said. “Already, since the conversion, Chamber staff have been able to increase our member service and provide functions to our members which would have been impossible six months ago.”
Over the next few months more information will be communicated to members about the Member Center. Items like advertising hot deals, job postings, news releases and becoming “mobile” are in the process of happening at the Chamber.
“These functions include a better online member directory to help consumers find our members, the ability to register for events online, and even for the first time the capability to pay online through our website, www.clintonia.com,” Sondgeroth said.
http://clintonherald.com/features/x942844798/Internet-presence-to-increase-at-Chamber
December 7, 2012 at 3:25 am | Uncategorized | No comment
Traffic up since upgrade of MarionAreaChamber.org
The Marion Area Chamber picked up some nice PR recently. The article appeared in the Marion Star on November 16th and highlights their website upgrade. The article goes on to state that Members are getting an Internet boost from the Marion Area Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber, which has about 550 members, recently integrated with ChamberMaster, the nation’s largest provider of chamber database management, said Matt Carbary, the Chamber’s project manager.
A highlight of the upgraded website, www.MarionAreaChamber.org, is an enhanced, searchable business directory, which provides each Chamber member a webpage, Carbary said. Members can use their webpage as a brochure to promote their business and provide useful information such as a map showing the location of their business, contact information including email access, and it offers a link to the business’s website.
Matt Carbary Project Manager
November 16, 2012 at 4:45 pm | News | No comment
New Updates Launched Nov 9
There are three core areas in the November 9th release: easy drag-and-drop mobile website creation, updated website modules and an early peek at your new Member Information Center.
SmartMobile is easy enough for anyone to customize their mobile site. Some Plus users might not even know that you have a mobile-optimized website already available. Now you can add your own custom links, alter the colors, add wording unique to your organization, or choose one of several design layouts – all without web design experience. Click SmartMobile in your left-hand menu and click the Upgrade button.
Having precise control over your mobile site is at your fingertips for an introductory price of $19/month but available now free for a 30 day trial. If you decide this type of customization is not for you, click “Turn off SmartMobile” and return to your standard mobile template.
V3 Website modules are ready for primetime.
There’s an updated look on all main modules – Directory, Events, Jobs, Deals, Member to Member Deals, Member page, and Info Request
- Quicker, easier to use, single source keyword search with advanced filtering options
- Fresh, new look to the member pages
- Easier custom styling available
- New multi-category feature allows for on-the-fly creation of categories for display
- Fewer clicks to get to desired event details – quicker registration access
Streamlined Information Request form
Please give us feedback on our Member Information Center beta. It has a fresh, uncluttered interface that directs attention to pertinent member tasks like updating their profile, participating in events, paying their bill and benefit utilization.
Turn on this beta version under Setup->Member Login Area Options and Settings. Select “3.0 (Beta)” for the Home Page Appearance Version. Going back is as easy as changing this selection back to what you had before.
There’s lots more in this release. Thanks and we look forward to your feedback.
http://events.chambermaster.com/news/details/november-2012-software-updates
November 9, 2012 at 6:22 am | Feature Highlights, News | No comment
Hurricane Sandy Assistance Idea from ACCE
ACCE recently ran an article on their website suggesting that chambers run a mini-campaign among members to donate to one of the chambers in Sandy’s path. Among those hit hardest were: Queens, Staten Island, Newark, Meadowlands and Atlantic City. If you are interested in assisting in this manner, ACCE will provide contacts and dues information for these organizations; email Tania Kohut at ACCE.
November 6, 2012 at 7:08 pm | News | No comment