Upcoming Events 

YOU WON'T WANT TO MISS!

Jan  4th Pow Wow Days 2011

Meeting -Chamber Office, 9267 Greenback Lane, Orangevale. Interested in becoming a part of the largest community event? Time: 5:30 pm 

Jan 18^thLearning Luncheon & Power Network

O'Connor's Santa Maria Grill & Catering, 9267 Greenback Lane # A-1, Orangevale. Social Media Marketing & Power Networking. Space Limited RSVP 916.988.0175 Cost: $10 members & $15 Non-members (includes lunch).

Time: 12:00 noon -1:30 pm

Jan  18th Pow Wow Days 2011

Meeting -Chamber Office, 9267 Greenback Lane, Orangevale. Interested in becoming a part of the largest community event? Time: 5:30 pm 

Jan 20th Board of Directors Meeting

Chamber Office, 9267 Greenback Lane, Orangevale. Time: TBA Everyone Welcome. Requests for added agenda items must be submitted in advance. Sent all communications to 9267 Greenback Lane, Orangevale CA 95662 or info@orangevalechamber.com

Everyone Can Play - We Teach You! Community Fundraiser, Proceeds Benefit Non-Profit Groups Fluff Buddies & The Orangevale Chamber of Commerce. Round Table Pizza, 9500 Greenback Lane, Folsom (Big Lots Shopping Ctr) Advance Tickets $ 20.00. Includes: Pizza, 1 non-alcohol drink and games. Tickets can be purchased at Orangevale Chamber of Commerce. Call for more information 916.988.0175 Time: Doors open at 6:00pm

Games begin at 7:00 pm

Jan 25th Monthly Mixer

Golden Valley Charter School, 9601 Lake Natoma Dr., Orangevale CA. Everyone Is Welcome! Great Business Networking Opportunity, enjoy refreshments, raffle prizes and more. Time: 6:00 pm-8:00 pm

For more information on any of the above events, please call the office ~ 916-988-0175 or email at:  ovchamber@sbcglobal.net

Tell us about your event. Reach hundreds of local people. Free for members.  

 Emergency Cell 

874-5111

Sheriff's Non-Emergency

874-5115

Child Protective Services

366-5656

Community Hazards & Nuisance

855-5656

Fire Department

566-4000

Graffiti Clean-Up

855-8162

Road Conditions (CalTrans)

1-800-427-7623

SERVICES:

Comcast (Cable/Internet)

927-2225

Satellite-Dish Network

408-1338

SMUD (Electric)

452-7811

PG&E (Gas)

1-800-743-5000

Garbage

855-8555 

Orangevale Park & Rec

988-4373

Orangevale Library

264-2700

DMV(Folsom)

1-800-777-0133

Orangevale Post Office

1-800-275-8777

Orange Vale Water Co.

988-1693

WE HAVE A NEW LOOK!

www.orangevalechamber.com

...and our members will benefit from the upgrade:

 ·       Better search engine visibility and higher traffic

 ·       Searchable business directory

 ·       Enhanced member business listings

 ·       Hot Deals - members can offer coupons and deals

 ·       Community Event Calendar - single source for all local events

 ·       Job Postings - post a job or find a new local job

 ·       Facebook and Twitter integration - all "fans" are notified on updates

 ·       New banner advertising and promotional opportunities

 FREE WITH MEMBERSHIP

·  Basic listing - included with Annual Membership

·   Links to business, website, Facebook and LinkedIn profiles

·  Contact information and lead generation

·  200-character business description

PREMIUM  MEMBERSHIP

·       Includes all components of Basic listing

·       Premium category listing

·       Logo on details page and category list page

·       1500-character business description

·       Up to 8 hi-resolution graphics on details page

·       Map link on business homepage

ADDITIONAL BENEFITS FOR ALL MEMBERS

Post "Hot Deals" to website with special offers, coupons, and deals for the community.

Add "Job Postings" to the Orangevale Chamber website for added visibility to the community.

Leverage the visibility of the Chamber website to announce "Local Events"

Access free business training via Atomic Training within your Member Portal. 

Email info@orangevalechamber.com to request your login and password. Once you receive your login and password, visit www.orangevalechamber.com and click on the "Member Login" link at the top.

Enter your login and password and use the navigation links on the left to update and add content.

Any changes made to business info will be made live immediately. Job postings, events and hot deals will go through an approval process before being made active on the Chamber website

24 Low-Cost Ways 

To Promote Your Business

by Janet Attard

Part 2

13) Find out what federal, state, and local government programs are in existence to help you get started in business. Most offer free counseling, and some may be able to suggest possible prospects for your business.

14) Send out sales letters to everyone you think might be able to use what you sell. Be sure to describe your business in terms of how it can help the prospect. Learn to drop a business card in every letter you send out.

15) If you use a car or truck in your business have your business name and contact information professionally painted on the side of the vehicle. That way your means of transportation becomes a vehicle for advertising your business. If you don't want the business name painted on the vehicle, consider using magnetic signs.

16) Get on the telephone and make "cold calls." These are calls to people who you would like to do business with. Briefly describe what you do and ask for an appointment to talk to them about ways you can help them meet a need or solve a problem.

17) Get samples of your product or your work into as many hands as possible.
 

18) Offer a free, no obligation consultation to people you think could use your services. During such consultations offer some practical suggestions or ideas -- and before you leave ask for an "order" to implement the ideas.

19) Learn to ask existing customers, prospects and casual acquaintances for referrals. When you get them, follow up on the leads.

20) Use other people to sell your product or service. Instead of (or in addition to) selling your products yourself, look for existing mail order companies that would be willing to include your products in their catalogs, or for distributors or sales agents who would be willing to take over sales chores for you. Be sure your pricing structure allows for the fees or commissions you will have to pay on any sales that are made.

21) Have sales letters, flyers and other pertinent information printed and ready to go. Ask prospects who seem reluctant to buy from you: "Would you like me to send information?" Follow up promptly with a note and a letter that says "Here is the information you asked me to send."

22) Run a contest. Make the prize something desirable and related to your business. It could be a free gift basket of your products, for instance, or free services.

23) Take advantage of any opportunities you have to get free ads, or to have your company and its product or service listed free of charge in a directory or Professional associations often publish such directories.

 24) If your target market would be likely to use the Internet or online forums, participate in discussion groups and consider putting up a web page. But, if you do make it online, be sure to include your email address and your web page address (if you have one) on your business cards, in your promotional materials, in print ads and even on your letterhead.

About the author Janet Attard is the founder of the award-winning  Business Know-How small business web site and information resource. Janet is also the author of The Home Office And Small Business Answer Book and of Business Know-How: An Operational Guide For Home-Based and Micro-Sized Businesses with Limited Budgets.  Follow Janet on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/JanetAttard.