Destiny is not a matter of chance, but of choice.
Not something to wish for, but to attain.”  William Jennings Bryan

She states that the benefits of a planned marketing strategy are numerous. Business owners often rely solely on their intuition to make business decisions. While this informal knowledge is important in the decision making process, it may not provide you with all the facts you need to achieve marketing results. A marketing strategy will help you in defining business goals and develop activities to achieve them. Her five easy steps are as follows: 1) Describe your company’s unique selling proposition (USP). Your Unique Selling Proposition sets you out from the rest; don’t try to develop a marketing plan without one. 2) Define your target market. 3) Write down the benefits of your products or services. 4) Describe how you will position your products or services. 5) Define your marketing methods. Decide whether you will you advertise, use Internet marketing, direct marketing or public relations.

Remember, marketing is an investment. It is an investment that should reap benefits. If your target market includes business owners and residents of the Crescenta Valley, then a simple $99 investment of a Crescenta Valley Chamber of Commerce membership could pay off tenfold. For only $99 a year for businesses with under five employees, your membership includes a website listing linked to your website, promotional opportunities in local papers, mentions in our bi-monthly mailed newsletter and emailed newsletter, a listing in our Best Business Directory mailed to over 10,000 businesses and residences, a CV Chamber plaque, a place in our office for your promotional materials, and monthly mixers where on your first mixer you are introduced to the 50-plus attendees and are able to give a commercial about your business, plus much more. Come by or call our office for more information.

Our next business mixer is a very special celebration which will take place on May 4 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., in conjunction with the Montrose-Verdugo City and La Cañada Flintridge chambers, to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the La Crescenta Woman’s Club at 4004 La Crescenta Ave., La Crescenta. Please join us for refreshments and to thank the Woman’s Club for all they do. Or become a member before then, so we can introduce you at this special mixer.

Important dates: April 30 – La Crescenta off ramp clean up; May 3 – First Tuesday Dine Out night (all day) at Togo’s/Baskin Robbins; May 4 – May Business Mixer/La Crescenta Woman’s Club 100th anniversary.

Please contact our office for more details on any event. How to reach us: (818) 248-4957 / crescentachamber@aol.com / www.LaCrescenta.org / 3131 Foothill Blvd.,  Ste D.

Julia Rabago is the executive director of Crescenta Valley Chamber of Commerce.

  Business, chamber, Crescenta, CV Weekly