Social networking

We all know that networking is important to grow our businesses and our personal contact lists - but are you aware of the new buzzword on the internet - "social networking?" Social networking includes such things as Linkedin and twitter. It allows you to increase your network with people you may never actually "meet" and yet they may still be of help to you. Most "social networkers" understand the need to not only have a website, but to also have a blog on your site that allows people the opportunity to communicate with you and for you to offer more personal help than a website might allow. Are you a social networker?

I received this message from Mick Fleming, President of American Chamber of Commerce Executives, and I thought it would be good to share with all of you:

"Onward.With varying degrees of success, I have attempted to make a one-word slogan the driving force in my professional life and - I like to think - in the life of this organization.The last ten days, I admit to more than a few moments of self-doubt and anxiety. How could anyone not have such feelings in the face of nearly unimaginable changes in the economic life of the nation and the world? Wouldn't it be nice if you and I had the luxury of succumbing to despair? Wouldn't a full-blown abdication and escape to a bar, a beach, or the fetal position feel good about now?Well, that's not an option. Never before has my one-word mantra been more relevant for me personally and, I suspect for some of you. Of course we will need to adapt and avoid going blindly forward as if changes aren't going to affect us. But we must continue the critical work, carry the messages of hope, and fight for the principles and goals we know to be right with whatever resources we have available. It's what we do.Think of it this way: Everything you have ever learned . . . every skill you've developed, every network you've nurtured and every experience you've stored in your personal and organizational arsenals must now be put to use in the most important challenge of our time. The chamber of commerce movement (regardless of what monikers we attach to our entities) has obligation to push, pull, steer and drive the economic recovery of this country. Others will weigh in too, of course, but can they succeed without your regional and street-level leadership? Impossible."

Our local economy relies on us shopping, dining and using local services - now is not the time to despair!

Bailout or corporate welfare?

Is the government's bailout of Wall Street really corporate welfare? Given the news that some CEO's walked away from their failing businesses with millions of dollars in pay and that many folks knew the mortgages they were writing and taking were worthless - is using taxpayer money to help prop up the market really just a new kind of welfare. What do you think? Weigh in with your opinion.

Are you connected?

Are you keeping up with all the ways people can contact you these days? The new catch phrase is "social networking." Check out things like linkedin, twitter, even Facebook and You Tube. Remember, the younger generations are computer and internet savvy - if you want to market to them, you need to be where they are! More and more we are a brick and click society - make sure you have an internet presence - an e-mail account at the very least. The internet is not a fad and you need to keep yourself up to date on how you can best utilize all methods of "getting the word out" about what you and your business can do.

Local banks are doing okay!

I've asked several of our local bankers how their banks are holding up in this uncertain economy and they assure me that all is okay with them. Gov. Jodi Rell also assures us that the banks in Connecticut are doing okay. It appears that some corporate greed may have led some of the financial giants into bankruptcy or even out of business. It's reassuring to know that our local folks are smarter than that.

Imagine the impact!

When Tiger Woods appeared on Conan O'Brien in August, Conan said that on the day of the Master's playoff between Rocco Mediate and Tiger, there was a 9.2% decrease in trading on Wall Street. Imagine the impact that one person has on the market! And yet you do have an impact on the market. If you don't choose to shop and dine locally, if you don't choose to use local services you have a very serious impact on the local economy. Keeping your money right here in Wilton helps other Wilton businesses and businessowners do the same thing. That's what the Chamber is all about - helping the local businesses prosper together! Have you used your member discount card lately? Have you offered your fellow members a discount for using your local service? Think about the impact you can have on the local economy!

Get on with it!

While running an errand in Norwalk the other day, I was listening to the radio and the business reporter said business people are getting tired of hearing about the bad economy. One businessman said, the economy is slow which is the new norm. Flat is the new growth. Yes, businesses are going out of business, but new seeds are being planted. Stop talking about the bad economy and "get on with it!" I can't agree more. Yes, we're in a tough place right now but we need to keep going or the other possibility is to stop all together. Keep the word out about your business - let everybody know what you do and how you do it. Use all opportunities to publicize your business. For instance, did you know the Wilton Chamber of Commerce offers free publicity to businesses in our quarterly newsletter? Write a short paragraph about your business and we'll happily include it in our newsletter (members only, of course). E-mail me at wiltoncoc@snet.net and I'll give you more info!