Welcome to the first "Chamber Conversations" Post

I am learning much more about the opportunities that are made available via technology than I ever dreamt I would and not to take advantage of them for the benefit of the Chamber and our members wouldn't be wise, so here goes! "Chamber Conversations" will be used to share news, tips, create awareness of business and community issues and topics and give members a channel for their thoughts, opinions and observations. We encourage you to post frequently and be a part of making the "Chamber Conversations" Blog an effective communications tool.

Technology is the focus of many Chamber programs this year as we develop initiatives that serve as learning opportunities for our members. Examples of this include the newly re-formatted "Tech Talk", an interactive lunch-time conversation held on the 2nd Thursday of each month and focusing on a single topic. This Thursday's "Tech Talk" will look at Google Apps.

Mark Murray, Image Center, JCC@LISDTECH, and the Chamber successfully offered a no-cost technology program to the general public last fall. It was a quick bird's eye view of a number of tech topics. Plans call for two similar events to be held again at JCC on North Adrian Highway again this year, so watch for details.

Another new program in 2009 is the "First Friday Forum". Website effectiveness was the topic of last week's first event and those who attended picked up great ideas that can be easily implemented. Here are a few:

• Use your domain name as part of your e-mail address. Make it easily visible on business cards, media placements, billboards and signs to drive people to your website.
• Add a FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) to your website.
• Create a simple Response Form to elicit contact with site users.
• Collect all the users data each month, compiling it to use as a selling tool with potential advertisers.
• Add a blog site - an effective way to encourage conversation among your site users, solicit opinions and share observations and expertise. Check out blogspot.com.

The Chamber must model the tech tools we encourage our members to utilize, so expect to see us adding new features through out the year including Member Forums and webinars as well as video. We look forward to reading your postings as we learn from each other.