by Bitty Reilly
Pictured is Mark Allen of the Kennedale Chamber of Commerce

Almost 200 members strong, the Kennedale Chamber of Commerce is offering a plethora of ways to help businesses and the community pull through difficult economic times. The newly designed KCC Web site directs, advertises and promotes chamber members with its interactive features in the spirit of keeping community working together.

Mark Allen, KCC administrative assistant, said each page throughout the site offers advertising space on a randomized sequencefor sponsors. The home page offers three rotating advertisements. There are advantage spots for advertising under a category of leadership sponsors to make that business listing be at the top of the sequence when a visitor clicks on the page. There’s a phenomenal amount businesses can do to get themselves through this recession,” Allen said of using the Web site. “It
really includes a wealth of things.”

Allen noted that a chamber member can use the site to post job events or luncheons or notify the community of their upcoming
events. “Plus you get a mini Web page with the business, name, address and listing,” Allen said. “There are maps with pointers so when
you see the map you have the numbers and pins to match to businesses listed on the map,” Allen said. “Members can send invitations like for our golf tournament, and can easily track the information to see what people are signed up for. There are even e-mail reminders.”

Findings from a Schapiro Group national research study show the value of joining a local chamber of commerce increases business’ success exponentially.

According to the report posted on the American Chamber of Commerce Executives Web site, “when consumers know that a small business is a member of the chamber of commerce, they are 44 percent more likely to think favorably of it and 63 percent more likely to purchase goods or services from the company in the future.”

The KCC meets regularly to provide networking and business empowerment tools to its members. “We serve the Kennedale area as a main focus, but we have members across the Metroplex,” Allen said. Jeff Uhler, hospital administrator at Medical Center Arlington said he has been a member of KCC about four years. He has a business listing in the business directory of the KCC Web site although business referral is not the objective.

“It’s worked very fine and I’ve met a lot of good people through it,” Uhler said. “We treat the Kennedale Chamber of Commerce like community service. The chamber supports businesses and we support the chamber.” Allen said the chamber will offer bring-your-own lunch sessions in upcoming weeks where members can learn more about the Web site features to promote their businesses. The site calendar page will provide information for locations and times to attend Web networking events.

For more information, visit the Web site at www.kennedalechamber.com.

The KCC business office is located at 201 New Hope Rd.

Please login or register to add comments