1. You likely need businesses to purchase their annual memberships in a timely fashion, and perhaps to sign up for a booth at your annual
"Business Expo". Here's what you do:
a) Locate a high-value book or eBook to give away as a bonus. It must have something to do with practical steps to help a business.
b) Write a letter to each business and offer the book as a "bonus" if they either get their membership early or sign up early for the expo.
c) Put a deadline on the offer to create a sense of urgency, then offer a discount to give them a "reason why".
2. Have a contest for up-and-coming business speakers in your geographic area. They will likely jump at the chance to speak to an audience.
They need to be members of the Chamber of Commerce to speak, but you can sell them on the benefits of getting their message across to all the
members. Tell them that they can teach, but they cannot sell. However, offer them the chance to have a table of products at the back of the room.
Schedule them in a weekly business series for your members and devise a method to judge their speaking ability, or the quality of their material.
This creates a win-win situation -- you provide your paying members with quality information, you gain an increased membership as more
speakers join the Chamber, and you give a chance to speakers in the area to promote themselves.
Chamber of Commerce