Over the next 10 years, the downtown area of Margate is going to be redesigned, and the Margate Chamber of Commerce wants to be part of the changes. The city of Margate and the Chamber of Commerce decided to make the chamber almost a completely online experience. They approached a Quincy, California-based company that had developed a software program called Chamber Nation, which is designed to transition the brick and mortar chambers of commerce to the online world. The Margate Chamber of Commerce now feels that they are going to be the new kind of chamber, an electronic chamber.
"It is different because instead of just being listed in the directory, you can create a traffic catcher page for free that helps to increase your web presence and optimize your status online. In other words when you do a Google search, the program makes it so much easier for you to be found. This site also allows a member to easily post their merchandise with links to their existing site and they have the option to post special coupons for anyone to print and use. The best thing is that there is no additional charge to your membership for all these features," Executive Director Jaime Milner said.
Richard Scully, owner of Chamber Nation, said that building a chamber online has many advantages, not the least of which is the ability to reach an untapped audience. "Most chambers are all feel-good. It's 'join the chamber, we'll put you on the directory and you're supporting the community,'" Scully said. "The younger generation is not there. If chambers of commerce are interested in continuing to be the go-to stop for local businesses, they have to at least consider adding a rigorous online component to their physical model."
The best part of the new Web site is that it will allow chamber members to reach more customers at no additional cost.
Chamber President Jack Tobin said, "Our goal is to get our members in touch with potential customers, and the new Web site will do that."
The Margate Chamber hopes that once their members get on board, they can not only keep the chamber local, but become a prominent chamber on the Web.
"The way things are going today more people are finding business through e-mails and online technology than they are getting in their cars and seeing people face to face," Milner said.
The site can be accessed by visiting www.margatechamber.org. Milner is available by calling 954-582-0399.
