​Concern over the holiday shopping season is one that's looming large on most business owners’ minds.  Will it be a good one? Can it be so good that it makes up for a disappointing spring and summer? If you're concerned about these things, you're not alone. And there are things you can do to make your business sales this holiday season better, even if you don’t have a lot of time.

​If you spent any time on the Interwebs a year or so ago, you likely saw/heard the phrase “Okay, Boomer.” It was meant as a derogatory statement and used frequently by members of Gen Y and Gen Z all over Tic Toc and Instagram. It showed a dislike of following in their parents’ or grandparents’ footsteps. The memes and videos made fun of that generation for a lack of understanding and attributed much of what is wrong now with them.
 
In that light, chamber membership may be a hard sell to Millennials--and when they get old enough to join--Gen Zers. They may naturally see the chamber as an organization that Boomers join, not a place for young people who are taking on the world. But chamber membership makes a lot of sense for these younger generations once they understand the true reason and value behind the chamber.
 
The following is an article you can share with them to help convey the benefits behind membership.

​Every few weeks or so the dining regulations are changing as we’re reopening in a phased approach. But “open” isn’t as easy as flipping a switch. There are some things you should keep in mind that will help your customers feel welcome and safe. These things go beyond what a local or county ordinance requires of you. But they’ll go a long way in helping your customers choose you over the competition.

​Do you feel like your business is just shouting into the wind? Does it seem like the time you spend on social media is extensive but yields few results? Are you sick and tired of Zoom calls that take too long and accomplish too little? If so, it might be time to think about experiential marketing.
 
Experiential marketing is the act of creating a memorable experience that will be associated with your brand. Many smaller businesses think of experiential marketing as the type of thing that businesses with Super Bowl-esque budgets do.
 
And they're right. 

​Fly fishing is fascinating to watch. It involves a series of movements that lure a fish into biting. It’s more about the rhythm than the bait. “Landing” a loyal customer is much the same.
 
You can easily get someone to buy from you with a discounted price or crazy offer. But that’s not sustainable. In the long run, you want that customer to keep returning to buy from you, or at the very least, refer you to others.
 
That takes a certain finesse.
 
And like fly fishing, it requires an ability to put it all together in a fluid motion. While looking for customers on Instagram is just one component of a marketing strategy, it can be an important one if you’re trying to increase visibility.

​There's been a lot of information about the need to pivot during COVID-19. Many businesses have switched what they produced or altered their services to fit the new demands of their audience. But sometimes it's not your business that needs to pivot. it might be something you've been thinking about doing professionally.
 
If you want to switch industries and you have little to no experience, here are some tips that can help you pivot professionally.

​If you're on social media for business, you’re one of many voices. It’s hard to stand out and cultivate an audience of people who want to hear from you…let alone look eagerly for your content.
 
Wouldn’t that be great?
 
That type of interest is essential if you're hoping to get a return on the investment of your time. Yet this is one of the hardest things businesspeople face on social media. Many businesses feel like they’re posting into the wind with no response.
 
Nobody has time for that and so they stop doing it. Then they’ve created a self-fulfilling prophecy, “social media doesn’t work for my business.”
 
If you’re in this position, it’s understandable that you’d feel that way. You need your time to count and you need engagement to show for it. Here are a few proven techniques you can use to get more engagement with your Facebook posts.

Do you have a business newsletter? If you don't, what's holding you back? Is content the issue? Are you just not sure what you're going to tell your customers in every newsletter?
 
Newsletters are a great way to stay connected with your audience, especially if you have a long buying process or you run a business that thrives on repeat business. If either of those things is true, sending out a newsletter can keep you top of mind even when your customers aren’t quite ready to buy what you sell. Newsletters are a good nurturing and connection tool when you offer your audience something they want.
 
This comes down to content.
 
You want to make sure that you offer your audience something of value. To help with that, we've detailed a few things that you should put in a newsletter to get more opens.

​If you’re a chamber member, you may not give a lot of thought as to what that means for your employees but there are a lot of benefits for them as well.

​Our lives and our businesses have changed a lot during the time of COVID. We have changed how we reach customers and likely how they buy from us. Some of us have had to shut down.
 
During this time, your website should be one of your strongest sales tools. Just as your business has changed, your content should have evolved as well.