The Franklin County Chamber of Commerce is quite often the first place people turn to for information about the area. Referrals to our member businesses are one of the key ways that we are able to educate residents and visitors about the products and services that our members offer.

We receive dozens of calls each week from curious residents, visitors and those considering relocation to the Franklin County region. Most of the calls we receive here at the office are business or event inquiries, in fact.

Sometimes callers expect us to know more than we do, but their questions are usually answerable after a quick Google search. Thanks, Google, for making us look like know-it-alls.

Erin and I recently realized that through all these calls, we were recommending all kinds of businesses on a daily basis, both Chamber members and not. We’ll refer Chamber businesses first, but if the person is asking for a type of business of which we don’t have representation, we’ll still refer them to a business or organization (or more than one) that can meet their needs, ensuring that they are left with a positive experience and helpful information.

Erin and I decided that our members and other businesses in Franklin County should know that we are talking them up, so we have implemented the new, “We’ve Been Talking About You” postcards.

If you haven’t received one yet, on the front, they are decorated with speech bubbles that say “We’ve been talking about you! (All good, we promise.)” On the back, they say, “The Franklin County Chamber of Commerce has recently referred your business. Keep watch for new faces! If you’re not already a member of the Chamber and would like to learn more about what we can do for your business, give us a call at 778-4215.”

There’s space at the bottom for our mission statement, and for a little handwritten message from Erin or me. We thought this would be an excellent way for Chamber members to be reminded of the small things the Chamber does daily for them, to make sure they don’t feel unacknowledged. They are also a perfect opportunity for us to break the ice with new businesses.

If new businesses see that we’re working for them without asking for their money, they’ll be curious to see what we can do for them if they do join and invest.

I had a lot of fun designing these postcards, and am looking forward to getting more opportunities to use them. If there are any other ways that we as a Chamber can make you feel valued and acknowledged, please reach out to us. We’re always brainstorming new ways to show the value of being a Franklin County Chamber of Commerce member.