Chamber looks to bring membership powerful, free e-commerce system
By Michael L. Whiteley/Business Editor
Article Launched: 01/11/2007 12:00:00 AM PST
They say nothing is free, however, that is not the case with a powerful new e-commerce system Oroville Chamber of Commerce members will soon benefit from thanks to the insightfulness of Paul MacBeth, the new Chamber executive director.
The mission of the Oroville Area Chamber of Commerce is to "work cooperatively with community, civic and governmental organizations to enhance the image of Oroville and to foster a climate in which business can operate profitably." Soon, this mission will be accomplished through a brand new virtual marketplace (www.shopinoroville.com) that will extend to all Chamber members added benefits above and beyond what they already receive from association with the Chamber.
The e-commerce system, designed by EcTownUSA, which is projected to be available to members within the next couple weeks or so, will provide access to local businesses 24-hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week. It will work along side of websites businesses already have and will give businesses that don't have a web presence a chance to easily create one, too.
Probably the best part of the new system is that it comes to members free of charge. Added free features and benefits include: domain name, matching e-mail with domain name,
website, online appointment request system, online reservation request system, online point of sale (POS), easy checkout system, community marketplace online with catalog system enabling all members to be doing business perpetually, online map to business location, video commercials and audio "pod" casting distribution, Internet coupon delivery online, e-mail mailing list manager, online employment application and "help wanted" job postings, monthly advertising reports with stats, online support desk (USA-based), and telephone support by calling 1-888-EzWay4U.
All of the above can be created by members within a matter of minutes through the use of intelligent "wizards" that walk the member through the process.
MacBeth, who has seen first-hand how the system works, said the state of Arizona's Chambers have already implemented the system and found it has generated 22-plus million hits since last October alone. The system is also, he added, quickly taking hold in the California marketplace.
"It's quite impressive," said MacBeth, of the new system. "Soon our entire membership can have their own website and it's not just for retailers. If a business offers or performs services they can take appointments online and even reschedule them. Retailers can sell their goods through the e-commerce features, which includes an online catalog with images of products. Hotels and other hospitalities can also take advantage."
"Basically, 'shopinoroville.com' is going to be a huge marketplace for our entire membership. There is no reason why our members could not, should not, capitalize on this. The benefits are huge," he said.
The new system will ultimately address the aspect of leakage of commerce to other regions, such as nearby Chico. "If the membership can benefit from this new system by slowing the leakage then this will play an important role in, as I like to say, 'putting commerce back into the Chamber," MacBeth said.
Moreover, the system will act as a sort of Chamber-sponsored umbrella for commerce that can bring new jobs to area businesses and centralize their efforts to market the greater Oroville area and what it offers. "People can visit the site from out of the area and this can enhance tourism and even inspire people to relocate to Oroville. The five main aspects of the role that a Chamber involves itself with include, tourism, relocation, membership/business development, economic development, and historical and quality of life. All of these are covered through this system," he said.
Ads on the radio and other news media, such as the Oroville Mercury-Register, will feature the site closer to the time it is unleashed to members. And, additional Chamber-sponsored side projects, such as tourism packages to entice people to travel to Oroville and take advantage of local shopping will also bolster the goal of achieving the Chamber's mission.
"Battle for Business" seminars will be held to provide members an introduction to the system, how it works, and how to set their e-commerce sites in motion. "I urge every member to attend these workshops to make the most of this to enhance their sales and services," MacBeth said.
MacBeth comes to the Oroville Chamber with an extensive background in retail sales and has served with other Chambers in northern California. He is familiar with but new to the area. "I love Oroville," he said of his experience here thus far. "I cannot say enough good things about this community and look forward to forming great partnerships here. And, I am really excited to bring this new business opportunity to the membership at no cost."
"For years and years," he added, in closing, "Chambers have built a complete infrastructure based upon the brick and mortar businesses they represent. Now, we can facilitate these businesses in a virtual environment. This will put the local products and services into the arena of the virtual world, which will extend what they offer to people all over the world, not just to those who visit Oroville."
For more information on this new system as well as membership in the local Chamber of Commerce, look to the Internet at: www.orovillechamber.net. Or, call the Chamber of Commerce at: (530) 538-2542.
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EcTownUSA News Stories - Press Room
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
EcTownUSA is First to Launch Chamber System for Mobile Phones and Miniature Internet Devices
Press Release
EcTownUSA.Com, LLC. Announces First system ever created to broadcast a Chamber of Commerce over a Cell Phone
Quincy, California - Jan 23, 2007
EcTownUSA.Com, LLC. launches the first system ever to broadcast Chambers of Commerce and their members over WAP enabled cell phones. The newly launched system called the Chamber Search Engine will allow people with a cell phone to choose the Chamber of Commerce and select from events, members, and contacts.Unlike open search engines where anyone can post a search result, the Chamber Search Engine provides direct results from Chambers of Commerce in a particular city. Since results are from Chamber of Commerce members, the local search is now extremely dependable. Local business phone numbers are easily found FREE through the ChamberSearchEngine.Mobi system. Another Milestone in Creating the Chamber Broadcasting SystemPrior to the Internet Chambers of Commerce have always been the local network. Today, the Chambers Continue to be the local Network. What we do is convert this valuable position into a tool to grow and retain members.The Chamber Broadcasting System was developed from the ground up by EcTownUSA to meet the demands of today's Chamber members. A web-based fully integrated system that makes it easy to promote Chamber members so successfully that non-members want to join and existing members want to renew.
About EcTownUSA.Com
EcTownUSA, LLC. started in 2002 when its founders noticed that Chambers across the country seemed to be struggling to grow. What we've developed is a program to make it easier for Chambers of Commerce to operate and grow. We deliver a high level of efficiency while helping Chambers grow a solid foundation of satisfied members.GUARANTEED to be affordable no matter what size the Chamber may be.Website: http://www.EcTownUSA.com
About Chamber Search Engine
We clearly understand that more people use their cell phones to get important information then ever before. For this reason, EcTownUSA has formally launched the Chamber Search Engine.The Chamber of Commerce is the nucleus of most communities around the USA and needed a formal method to transmit this data through mobile hand-held devices like cell phones.Each participating Chamber of Commerce in the EcTownUSA program who have the Chamber Broadcasting System activated, will now be transmitting through cell phones, and Internet enabled devices their 1. Membership Directory, 2. Member Websites, 3. Chamber Events, and 4. Chamber Contact Information.
A complete suite of MOBILE PHONE APPLICATIONS from the Chamber of Commerce is coming late January 2007.
Website: www.ChamberByPhone.com
EcTownUSA.Com, LLC. Richard Scully Founder
email: richard@ectownusa.com phone: 888-EzWay4U
EcTownUSA.Com, LLC. Russ Flint Co-Founder
email: russ@ectownusa.com phone: 888-EzWay4U
February 7, 2007
CHAMBER SEARCH ENGINE LAUNCHED
Richard Scully, one of the principals in EcTownUSA.Com, LLC, said his Quincy-based company has launched the first system ever created to broadcast a chamber of commerce and its members over WAP-enabled cell phones. The system, called the Chamber Search Engine, will allow people with a cell phone to choose a particular chamber of commerce and select from events, members and contacts. Unlike regular search engines, Richard says this system provides direct results from chambers in a particular town. "When we started in 2002, we noticed that chambers across the country seemed to be struggling to grow. What we've been developing are programs to make it easier for them to grow and operate."
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Jan 10, 2008
Small Business Chamber Launches New Website
Featured Projects Add comments Website: http://www.SmallBusinessChamber.com
As a small business owner and Small Business Chamber member, this new website held special interest for me in that the new members areas boast greatly enhanced functionality and marketing opportunities for Chamber members.
The chamber partnered with ECTownUSA for the member features, marketing and support. I provided the design for the site.
The chamber wanted a design that was fresh, fast and allowed for a large navigation area without sacrificing content area. We decided on drop down navigation menu to save space and to make integration with the programming seamless. Since the focus for the site is the members, much of the “fun” stuff lies behind the password protected sanctum of the members area. For details about the members area, how it works and how a similar program could benefit your organization, contact Richard Scully at ECTownUSA. Tell him I sent you!
The Chamber liked the website design so well, they have choosen to use it for their new member packets, name badges and stationery.
Visit the Small Business Chamber Website at: www.smallbusinesschamber.com
Scripps Newspaper Group — Online
© 2008 The E.W. Scripps Co.
CommercialAppeal.Com
Chamber offers 'traffic catcher'
Small-biz members can build free Web pages
By David Flaum (Contact)
Friday, January 11, 2008
The Small Business Chamber has rolled out a new online initiative that gives members their own Web sites and direct links to members' Web addresses.
And members won't have to pay extra for the "traffic catcher Web site" service, said Robert Staub, founder and executive director of the chamber.
"Our organization focuses on the success of our small business members through information, education and business networking," he said.
To that, the Web site adds marketing, Staub said.
"It gives us the opportunity to be a business community within a business community," said Dennis Beatty, chairman of the chamber. "If somebody comes to us looking for goods or services, they're going to be able to find it that much easier."
Each member will be able to set up his or her own Web site. The general format and types of information on it will be the same for each business. If the member has his or her own Web site, the traffic catcher page will provide a link to it.
The Memphis Regional Chamber provides links to members' Web sites, if they have them, but does not have a section on its site for members to set up sites like the Small Business Chamber has.
Regional chamber officials haven't seen the Small Business Chamber pages, so they can't assess the possible value, said Amy Daniels, director of communications.
More than 80 percent of chamber members are small businesses -- ventures with 50 or fewer employees -- she said.
"Anything that helps small business grow is a good thing," Daniels said.
The traffic catcher setup is the creation of Richard Scully, managing partner and founder of EcTownUSA LLC. The Quincy, Calif.-based firm handles 40 systems in 10 states, about 75 percent of them for small business chambers, Scully said.
"About four years ago, we realized there were no programs designed to help chambers grow and retain members," he said. "Members didn't see tangible benefits from their membership."
So he created the Web site plan, which includes ways of tracking visitors down to "actual views" -- what information they look for, such as maps to businesses -- so business owners can judge how effective the Web sites are, Scully said.
The system will also simplify what Beatty called the "maze" facing visitors to the chamber's old Web site.
"We're giving them steps to follow to find what they want," he said.
"It's smart for the small business council to offer a way for members to have an online presence," said Trace Hallowell, managing partner of Tactical Magic, a Memphis brand consulting agency.
He uses his own business as an example. When Tactical Magic went on line, the perceptions of the firm, especially in terms of legitimacy, increased greatly.
"The caveats would be how man people would be going to the Small Business Chamber Web site to search for services and the impact it will have on national search engine traffic," Hallowell said.
Among the services in the new setup, said Staub, will be one to help members get better positions on Internet search engines.
Access to the site is available at smallbusinesschamber,com.
-- David Flaum: 529-2330
Chamber Nation Lauching
February 1, 2008.
