Email Newsletters Make Better Connections Easier

Founded in 1964, the Greater Valley Chamber of Commerce advances the regional agenda through business leadership. Representing the Connecticut communities of Ansonia, Beacon Falls, Derby, Oxford, Seymour, Shelton, and their surrounding areas, the group holds regular events and meetings, such as its five "Leads" networking groups; a Young Emerging Professionals group; industry-specific councils on health, manufacturing, and hotels/tourism; and a variety of other networking activities. The Chamber's membership is diverse and includes manufacturing and retail, service industries, and corporate businesses whose size range from sole proprietors to more than 1,000 employees. Each, however, is focused on fostering the Greater Valley's economic development.

Challenge: Making the Most of a Small Staff

Like many small operations, the Chamber struggles with having enough time to get it all done. "Our small staff will do almost anything we can to support the 600 local businesses that rely on the resources we provide," says Nancie Gray, vice president of marketing and events for the Chamber. "Whether we're helping with research or to make a connection – whatever they need – we're there to help as much as we can."

Other than the Chamber's board of directors, its four-person staff includes Gray, the Chamber's president, a director of membership and services, and a finance director. Those four people have to wear many more hats than their titles indicate, and every initiative they take on only adds to their already extensive workload. "There's a lot on our plate on any given day," says Gray. "Programs like Constant Contact help us."

Solution: Well Designed Email Newsletters Inform, Prospect, and Create Connections

Constant Contact was the only service in which we were comfortable that our information would be secure. The added benefits were its ease of use and support. Despite its small size, the Greater Valley Chamber regularly takes advantage of Constant Contact's many services. It sends emails on a weekly basis that discuss events, programs, and interesting business news or features that will help its members. It also sends a quarterly email newsletter from its Healthcare Council that covers information on health and wellness in the workplace. In addition, the Chamber sends periodic "Notes from the President" on an as-needed basis. Its Young Emerging Professionals updates are also regularly sent, and meeting and event reminders hit inboxes to increase traffic at those programs.

The communications are all well received by members. "We regularly get positive feedback on both the look and content of our email newsletters," Gray says. She reports that she loves Constant Contact's ease of use and templates in particular, as well as working with Constant Contact's staff and the training programs the service provides. And that's not to mention how much more professional the emails look, Gray adds.

Results: Constant Contact Makes a Small Staff Look Like a Big Operation

It's amazing what a bit of outreach can do. In addition to increasing awareness of events and the organization overall, the Greater Valley Chamber's Constant Contact efforts have helped to build up its membership as well. "Every time we send an email campaign, we see an immediate increase in our web traffic – and to our members' websites as well," says Gray. This not only leads to increased event attendance and sales, she adds, "it helps us grow our organization by increasing web traffic for events and programs."

While in hindsight it may seem like a no-brainer for the Chamber to work with Constant Contact, Gray says the Chamber came to the decision after considerable research into a service that would suit their needs. "Constant Contact was the only service in which we were comfortable that our information would be secure," she explains. "The added benefits were its ease of use and support."

And now, looking back, that ease of use keeps the Chamber working in harmony with Constant Contact. That and the return on investment it's realized from the time saved by creating professional looking, well crafted messaging.