Becoming a member of Chambers or Associations Commeettees
Our institution just opened a Campus in a totally new market for us, so our public relations efforts are very intense. We have become members of a couple of Chambers, Business Councils and Organizations. We attend their networking events but Ive also become part of their commeettees, particularly those related with education and workforce.
Jessica. You all doing all the right things. Just be persistent and measure measure measure results. Networking is a way to be seen as part of the community and as a resource for those seeking education.
Best wishes
Susan
Thank you so much for your encouragement.Its been a lot of hardwork.
Hi Jessica
It takes patience and persistence to put a plan in place. But once done you can get someone to work it and move on to developing the next great idea.
Thanks, Susan
Jessica,
How do you track your leads and identify which source was the best for your marketing efforts? I run a small school and have difficulty belonging to many professional organizations.
Chris Masters
Jessica and Chris
Interesting situations. One is how to belong and participate in the right community organizations. It is actually trial and error. Just go to each and decide which is right for your school. Also considering sending other members of your staff if there is more than one organization. As to tracking leads with public relations strategies - that is a challenge. Publicity and public relations is sometimes about keeping your name in the community and ensuring that the community sees you as a resource. It's like referrals. You reach enough people consistently and over time and you'll get results. Best wishes, Susan
Jessica:
We too are members of several Chambers and Associations Committees. These have proven to be great ways to Network and bring many new students to our school. Keep it up!
Regards,
Nancy
Hi Nancy and Jessica
Yes, we also vote for joining organizations both to network and to give to the community. Sometimes it takes a lot of trial and error to find the right groups to affiliate with. If there are several groups that are appropriate for your school you may need to assign several people at your school to cover the meetings. And if you do involve several people at your school in community memberships, be sure to have them meet and compare notes.
Best wishes
Susan
Hello -
Our school is in its infancy and we are looking for more cost effective ways of to promote. It seems that joining the chamber of commerce is a great way to network. What's the first step in joining? To you call to let them know you would like to join or just show up at a scheduled open meeting? Any guidance would be appreciated.
- Christi
Hi Christi
Networking is very important. If you have limited time it is important to pick the right organizations. The Chamber is always a good bet. Just look them up on line and/or phone. They will tell you when the next member and networking meetings are and the details. Then look for other networking possibilities. Maybe with employers and potential employers. Or professional associations in your field. Read the business section of the newspaper for ideas as well. Good luck, Susan
We have become members of our local chamber recently. I think a great idea would be to open our school for a chamber meeting and provide lunch or breakfast. For a minimal cost, you could network directly on campus and bring visibility to your school to the other local business in the area. Most Chambers send a monthly calendar and your school would be listed for free. Another perk.
Yes, Andrew. Great idea to plan a comprehensive community outreach plan. And the Chamber is a great way to start. It's important to plan a high energy high quality tour and "show" at your school. Then when you get that to work it might be a good idea to contact other business groups in your community and see which are a good match with your school. Groups like Lions, Rotary, etc. The more people you get to know, the easier it will be to reach the hiring decision makers at the companies that employ your grads. And to get them involved in advisory boards, coaching, mentoring, mock interviews, and more. Good luck, Susan
