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ChAmber Blog

New Media in the Age of the Idea

10/31/2013

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by David DeCamp, 2013 Chamber Chair, Managing Director at Newmark Grubb Knight Frank

​Steve Mouzon is an architect, urbanist and author. His new book, New Media for Designers + Builders, serves as a provocative thought-leader with applications and benefits that extend well beyond the real estate trades.  Like the rest of us, Steve struggled through the Great Recession.  Lots of companies down-sized and some simply disappeared.  Marketing budgets were decimated.  In our own ways, we each learned to do more with a lot less.  This profound and extended economic downturn proved time and again that better, cheaper, faster is not good enough anymore.  Everyone got cheaper and faster.  Mouzon writes, “If you don’t become remarkable in some way, you’re simply not likely to survive.”  Political gridlock aside, fundamental signs indicate the dawning of an economic recovery.  But having come through the tough times, today’s successful businesses have fundamentally changed.  With this in mind, Mouzon makes the case for the virtues of patience, generosity and connectedness as the keys for priming the pump that will generate long-term recognition and success in the emerging “Age of the Idea.”

The “New Media” is a catch-all phrase used to describe the affordable toolkit of new and old communication techniques that allow us to thrive.  Mouzon systematically breaks down the best practices for blogs, websites, speaking engagements, listserv discussions, idea cards, email, publishing and more.  He covers the basic “dos and don’ts” of each medium and then describes how they each relate to and then support your overall marketing thrust.  By learning exactly how to build a website, you not only become competent on your own, you also become a more informed, efficient purchaser if you choose to pay an expert (Arlington Chamber member) to build and host a site for you.  He makes an emphatic point that resonates with me (and my delete key) about the importance of never sending any communication that might be considered SPAM.   

I was lucky enough to read an advanced copy of New Media for Designers + Builders.  You can get a copy for ten bucks by going to the iTunes Bookstore or the Kindle Bookstore. New Media has dozens of embedded weblinks to details, diagrams and even proven vendors that flesh out the basic steps.  This interactive feature - which I tested - is one of the most useful aspects of this modern addition to my reference collection.

As I turned the pages of New Media, I felt like a trusted mentor was walking me through the steps I needed to take in order to be more successful.  These are the steps he took to survive and get ahead in extremely challenging economic times.  I may not adopt every single one of these New Media practices, but I have already used this how-to book to improve my effectiveness with blogging, websites, public speaking and email.  Next, I’m noodling how I might use an idea card to summarize my real estate specialty.    
 
Continue this conversation by sharing it with others or by contacting me ([email protected]). 10/28/13 ​

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How Do I Make the Chamber Work?

10/24/2013

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by Tim Hughes, Bean, Kinney & Korman P.C. 

It is somewhat startling to write, but I have spent fifteen years as a member of the Arlington Chamber. Over that time, my participation has evolved depending on schedule, interests, opportunities and relationships. Hindsight creates a fine sense of the obvious, but maybe sharing my rear view mirror will help some readers utilize their Chamber membership more effectively and, in turn, help the Chamber to be an even more impactful organization. 

Photo - (L-R) Michael Foster of MTFA Architecture, Tim Hughes of Bean, Kinney & Korman, John Murphy of Washington Workplace, and Sean Hosty of Morgan Stanley LLC at the Chamber's Fall Golf Outing on October 22, 2013.

1. Define Your Membership Goals

Different members have different goals from their membership.  While potential goals may be legion, the basic lesson is singular – you need to have an idea of what you want to accomplish via membership to reach that goal.

2. Have a Plan

Spend time strategically defining the means to your end. If you are a financial planner looking to meet potential clients and referral sources, that goal may point towards specific activities.  If you are looking to have an advocacy voice on local business legislation and regulation, that goal may point in a very different direction.

3. Use the Chamber Resources

Chamber staff, the Board of Directors, committee chairs, and volunteers are all excellent available resources.  USE THEM.  People volunteering with the Chamber will not look at this as an imposition – remember, they are looking to meet folks and develop relationships too!  Chamber staff members know better than anyone about all of the events, opportunities, and people that may be fundamental to your goals and plan.

4. Engage

Woody Allen once said, “Showing up is 80 percent of life.”  Maybe this explains why I am not a Woody Allen fan.  For the vast percentage of members and potential members, just joining the Chamber is not the path to reaching your goal.  Instead, implement your plan through meaningful, consistent, and extended engagement and involvement.

​5. Spam = Bad, Meaningful Relationships (and Fun!) = Good

Developing authentic friendships has been the heart to the Chamber being a vital part of my life. Paying it forward for your friends is a great way to making the Chamber work as an organization and the path to true success for virtually any member’s goals that I can think of.  How much better is it to have fun helping your friends than to sporadically show up to a couple happy hours and carpet bomb the room with business cards given to strangers?  Whether you are a nonprofit looking to increase community awareness, a governmental agency looking to increase communication with the business community, a business entity looking for greater advocacy influence, or any business looking to expand it client or customer base, developing deep relationships is the key. 

Conclusion
​

From the vantage of fifteen years of volunteering, events, and a whole lot of fun, I can concretely say: the Chamber is full of really great folks who are warmly looking to connect, do business together, and do great work in this business community.  As a starting point, please feel free to contact me if I can help with your efforts to make the Chamber work!

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Back to Basics: The Art of the Written Word

10/17/2013

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by Greta Menard, Capital MarCom, Inc & Sydni Williams, Bean, Kinney & Korman, P.C.

Writing. In today's age of email, social media, promotional copy and other forms of business communications, it's something we do every day. But with a wide range of formats and goals to consider, what are the secrets to great business writing?

We were honored to participate in the Arlington Chamber's "Back to Basics: The Art of the Written Word" event on October 4, 2013.  As panelists, we explored the fundamentals of writing compelling copy, as well as the nuances that apply to writing blogs, newsletter articles, social media posts, Web copy and print promotions.

Style, Message and Delivery

Greta Menard, copywriter and founder of Capital MarCom, Inc., set the stage by outlining three elements of great marketing copy: Style, Message and Delivery.  She described the importance of knowing the ground rules for grammar and style, and recommended that organizations develop a house style guide to infuse consistency into their written communications.

Greta also advised writers to consider the following question before drafting business communications or promotional copy: "What do I want the reader to remember, think, feel and do after reading this?"  Such an exercise is a simple way to help writers determine the tone and message that they hope to convey.

Write for Your Channel of Delivery

In a discussion of effective delivery, Sydni Williams, marketing manager at the law firm Bean, Kinney & Korman, P.C., explored best practices for writing for specific forms of media—including newsletters and blogs.  She said writers should focus on why they are writing and for whom, because the best business writing targets a specific audience and what they want or need.  Focus on their pain points.  Know what keeps them up at night and determine why this topic would be interesting to them.

Sydni also recommended that writers review their copy once it is complete to add headings, bullet points, photos or other formatting to make the content easier to read.  Although content is the most important aspect of business writing, how that content is formatted, designed and delivered is equally as important.

Utilize Online Media

Gina Watkins, regional development director at Constant Contact, expanded on these tips and explained how online media can help organizations reach new customers, drive repeat business, nurture leads, engage members and advocates and increase donations.  To enhance engagement, she recommended that online marketing campaigns have a "push" component—through which you distribute information—as well as an occasional "pull" component that solicits input from your target audience.

Gina also explained that it is important to use a multitude of channels to distribute content.  She recommended posting content to social media three to five times a week and sending email newsletters monthly.  She also highlighted Marketing Sherpa as one of many online research tools available to help writers assess their industry and determine the best time and day to reach their core audience with online media.

Key Takeaways

The event was moderated by Dawn Fels, director of the writing center at George Mason University.  In addition to sharing her own insights on business communications and how she helps mold the writing skills of today’s college students, Dawn synthesized the key takeaways from all three presentations:
  • Write for your audience.  What's in it for them?

  • Write your headline first, and carefully consider email subject lines.

  • Be brief—shorter is better.

  • Use bullets, numbered lists and subheadings to enhance scan-ability and readability. 

  • Choose your words carefully and leverage "power verbs."

  • Vary your pace and sentence structure.

  • Use your writing to create relationships with your stakeholders.

  • Keep online copy dynamic by including hyperlinks.

  • Assign a person or persona to online communications versus an organization or "info@" address.

  • Include videos, photos and photo albums in your social media posts to increase clicks and engagement.

Now What?

Now that you have the tools to write effectively, it’s time to put your skills to practice.  Start by updating your website copy, drafting an e-newsletter article or crafting some compelling posts for your social media channels.  What's more, you can showcase your own thought leadership by drafting an article for this very blog hosted by the Arlington Chamber of Commerce.  (Contact[email protected] to learn how Chamber Members can contribute.)   
​
When all was said and done, the "Art of the Written Word" event made one thing clear—the only way to transform your writing into a results-driven business tool is to take the time to start writing.  So what are you waiting for? 

Tags: blog, business resources, communication strategies, communications, content marketing,marketing, opportunities, writing

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National Disability Employment Awareness Month

10/10/2013

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by Linda Chandler, CEO, Linden Resources

Did you know that…

October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month? That it is led by the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Disability Employment Policy? And that it is a national campaign that raises awareness about disability employment issues? I support this celebration of the many and varied contributions of America's workers with disabilities. What a great theme also "Because We Are EQUAL to the Task."

Here is why this matters...

The Office of Disability Employment Policy published these alarming disability employment statistics as of August 2013:

Labor Force Participation
People with disabilities: 20.5%
People without disabilities: 69.1%

Unemployment Rate
People with disabilities: 14.1%
People without disabilities: 7.1%

Photo - Employees with disabilities work at Linden Resources on secure document destruction, one of the services they offer to customers.

I am discouraged to read these statistics. As the largest employer of people with disabilities in Arlington County, Linden Resources has learned that employees with disabilities possess talents and abilities, are dedicated and loyal, and appreciative of jobs opportunities. As employees, they add to the range of viewpoints businesses need to succeed, offering fresh ideas to solve problems, accomplish tasks and implement strategies. This untapped labor pool can offer a source of skilled employees and can contribute to increasing retention and reducing turnover. In addition, tax incentives and technical assistance can assist with accommodations, which are often relatively easy and inexpensive to implement. I believe this is a win for any employer!

To gain these benefits and others, employers should establish the following practices as part of their business culture:
  • Seek qualified candidates with disabilities for job openings.

  • Establish a system for educating all workers about the value people with disabilities bring to your organization.

  • Add disability to any diversity training program.

  • Ensure professional development programs are available to people with disabilities.

  • Assist in providing employees with disabilities with feedback on their performance in the same manner as provided for individuals without disabilities.

There are a number of organizations that help businesses incorporate the above practices. The best thing you can do is seek help from these organizations, as well as utilitze resources such as the Office of Disability Employment Policy's Ideas for Employers and Employees.There are a number of organizations that help businesses incorporate the above practices. The best thing you can do is seek help from these organizations, as well as utilitze resources such as the Office of Disability Employment Policy's Ideas for Employers and Employees.

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The Best Business Decision I Made

10/3/2013

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by Ginny Wright, Owner, BbG Fitness 
​
In December of 2012, after living and working in Arlington for ten years, I finally 
joined the Arlington Chamber of Commerce. Aside from working to help individual Arlingtonians get strong and healthy, I was looking for a way to be more involved in the business community—to meet more people and to be better known. All I can say now is, What the heck took me so long?!

Photo - Ginny Wright accepts her 2013 Best Business Award, presented by 2013 Chamber Chair David DeCamp.

Having relocated to Arlington in 2002 with three school-aged kids, I’d been living in my own little exercise world trying my best to grow my small business – BbG Fitness. Slowly but surely, over the past ten years I’ve established deep roots in Arlington. When local schools were looking for help, I readily donated a month of free outdoor fitness classes. I discovered the Arlington Food Assistance Center (AFAC) and got my clients on board to help with our annual Battle of The Classes to see who could collect the most donations. I’ve proudly worked with many of Arlington’s great schools and non-profits to donate certificates and promote their events.

But an unexpected thing happened to BbG almost as soon as I became a Chamber member; I was nominated for and won a coveted Best Business Award. Who knew that this small business would qualify to win anything? While difficult to quantify exactly how many new customers have joined BbG as a result of the award, I can say unequivocally that it has had a very positive impact on my business.

It was exciting to see my photo with other winners in the Sun Gazette and on ARLnow after the awards breakfast. Many other Arlingtonians must have seen it too, because BbG’s “Try A Class” inquiries have almost doubled since the award was publicized!
Shortly after winning the award, I got a call from the editor of ARLnow congratulating me on my achievement and asking if I’d be interested in writing a bimonthly article for the e-zine. So, as a result of joining the Chamber, BbG Fitness is now front and center among Arlington fitness companies!

Joining the Arlington Chamber is by far the best business decision I made in 2012. So far, I’ve gotten involved by attending the Annual Business Gala, agreeing to work on the Gala committee, attending a few Back to Basics seminars, and now writing this guest blog post. My goal for next year is to get even more involved in Chamber activities to spread the good word and recruit new members. In fact, my next article will be aimed at helping my fellow Chamber members lead healthier lives.
​
Thank you, Arlington Chamber of Commerce, for helping BbG Fitness grow and become better known in our great community!

​blog, business plans, business resources, community, connections, membership,networking, opportunities, professional development

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