Creative Ways to Promote Your Business

Are you struggling to get your business noticed? It’s a common concern we hear at the Chamber. Advertising in newspapers such as the CV Weekly is always a good idea but there are other ways to gain visibility for your business and the Chamber can help.

CV Chamber Honorary Mayor and business owner Chris Aristo says, “One of the best ways to build awareness of your business is community involvement. Participate whether it’s sponsoring a Little League team, hosting a booth at a community event or donating to a raffle. La Crescenta is a bedroom community, a place that people come home to after working outside the area. It’s a region that cares about community involvement. Get your name out there as often as possible so that you stay at the top of people’s minds. When they need a bakery or tire store or a new insurance agent, they’ll say, ‘Hmm, I think I’ll give that guy a try.’”

Here are some ways to let the community know that you care.

• Keep the Chamber posted about what services you offer. Residents call or drop by the Chamber every day looking for referrals. We love to recommend our members. Display your promotional materials for free in our office for even more exposure.

•Send press releases to local media about your business’ community efforts. Many calendar listings are free. Send event flyers to us. If you’re a member, we’ll tell other members about it.

•Have business cards in your wallet at all times – especially at our mixers. Consider hosting a mixer of your own. Donate prizes for our events. Gift certificates for services, baskets with your products, any sort of gift bearing your company’s name goes a long way.

•Host a booth at community events such as our Hometown Country Fair in the spring.

•Make the most of free and low cost marketing workshops. For example, on Saturday, Nov. 7, SCORE, a nonprofit dedicated to helping small businesses, and the Los Angeles Central Library are teaming up for a Small Business Fair in the Mark Taper Auditorium. They’ll be holding mini-workshops on topics including “Selling on Amazon,” “Social Media 101” and “Bootstrapping Your Business.”

“Internet advertising is a necessary evil,” Aristo added. “Close to 80% of people find products and services by Googling them. Choose one of the hundreds of companies that can help you with Search Engine Optimization.”

Remember your Chamber membership comes with a free online directory listing too!

Finally, Aristo said, “If you’re in retail, you’ve got to get people to try your product. That’s the best way to get foot traffic.”

For restaurants, opportunities like participating in tonight’s Taste of the Foothills is a perfect way to reach potential customers. Groupons and Living Social coupons can also help.

We hope to see you tonight at Taste of the Foothills, 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. in the Ralphs parking lot. Come to our November mixer on Veterans Day, Nov. 11 at the American Legion Hall.

Lisa Dupuy, executive director

CV Chamber of Commerce

3131 Foothill Blvd. ‘D’

La Crescenta, CA 91214

(818) 248-4957

  Lisa DUPUY