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Freelance Writing Advice: Why Every Freelance Writer Should Join a Chamber of Commerce

October 17, 2006

1. No Competition: I currently belong to two chambers of commerce, and have visited countless others as a speaker, seminar and/or networking attendee. You know what? I am usually the only freelance writer in the room. Yep, the only one!

It baffles me that more freelance writers (and editors, copy editors, proofreaders, copywriters, etc.) don’t join their local chamber. This is exactly where most of the “real money” (ie, commercial writing) is in freelance writing. What do I mean?

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What do they all have in common? Written material – lots of it – that they are usually passing around. This is a perfect chance to show them how you can make it better by redesigning/rewriting it.

Or, add a sales letter to it.

Or, create an e-book as a free giveaway for their clients.

Or, add timely content to their website.

Or create an e-newsletter to stay in contact with customers. … the list is endless.

2. Prestige: Joining the local chamber says mounds about you as a professional. Not only do you get to meet and get to know the heart and soul of your local business community, you can use it in all of your promotional material.

By being a part of the chamber, you move beyond being “just” a freelance writer to being a certified business owner. In my experience, people do business with those they: a) know, b) like, and c) trust. The chamber builds all of these sentiments. How?

By being in front of the same group of people on a regular basis, you get to know them. Over time, this builds into a friendly (ie, likeable) relationship. Once people know and like you, getting them to trust you is the next logical step.

This leads to our final – and the most important – reason you should join your local chamber: referrals.
 
3. Constant Source of Business: With the above three sentiments in place, you can really maximize your chamber membership by getting members to do business with – and refer business to – you.

A First-hand Peek at How You Can Grow Your Business by Joining Your Local Chamber

I joined my local chamber solely for the networking opportunities. And I don’t mean just “regular” networking. My chamber has two dedicated lead sessions a week. This is the way it works:

a. Weekly Meetings: Two lead sessions a week – one early morning (Tuesdays, 7:30 – 8:45 a.m.) and one late afternoon (Thursdays, 3:15 – 4:30 p.m.). This works well because if you can’t do an early morning meeting, then you can catch a late afternoon one without fear that you’ve missed your chance to network for the week.

FYI, I quizzed my chamber representative about which meeting was more heavily attended. He said the Thursday afternoon one, by far. Eg, they have anywhere from 10-20 at the early morning meeting and anywhere from 30-70 at the Thursday afternoon meeting (I can personally attest to this because this is the one I attend every week).

b. Format: The meetings are very structured and productive. After a 15-minute “free-for-all” mingling session, the meeting is officially called to order. Each attendee gets 30 seconds to give a mini commercial about what they do (this alone has paid for my membership many times over).

Usually the attendees tell their name, company name, what they do and what a good lead for them would be. Networking slips are put on the table and if anyone hears something from one of the presenters that may be a good lead for them or someone they know, then they fill out the lead form and it is passed to that person so they can follow up.

While the meeting is taking place, one of the Chamber employees copies the business cards of the attendees, which is dropped into a bucket when you first sign in. Before the end of the meeting, a copy of the business cards of all the attendees is then passed around to everyone.

This way, you have a permanent record of all attendees and their contact info. So, even if you have no need or leads for them now, if you happen to at a later date, you have the contact info. I can’t tell you how much business this has brought me over the years.

Types of Projects I’ve Garnered Via My Local Chamber Membership

News and sales letters are the most common. However, I’ve also redesigned and wrote copy for websites, designed and wrote copy for brochures and postcards; designed business cards (business owners will ask for the most minute things sometimes); wrote e-books and pamphlets as free giveaways; press releases; business profiles; and more!

Most business owners belong to their chamber for years and years – because this type of networking really works. And just think how advantageous it is for a newbie starting out.

Learn what to look for in a chamber before joining and how to get more than referrals from chamber members.

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