PRESS RELEASE

Chamber Announces Cutting-Edge Website & New Directory/Community Guide

Chamber Initiatives Promote Local Businesses to Help Support the Issaquah Economy

Issaquah, WA (March, 2011) This week, the Greater Issaquah Chamber of Commerce officially launched its new ‘Search-Engine-Optimized’ website, www.issaquahchamber.com , and 2011 Business Directory and Community Guide, two major projects that will increase the exposure of local businesses and help support the local Issaquah economy.

The new Chamber website, developed by Chamber member Efelle Media, is rich with new functionality to support local businesses, promote the community and engage Issaquah businesses and residents in the Chamber’s local, regional and state business advocacy programs.

“With more and more consumers and businesses turning to the web and using local online search options to find reputable businesses, we are pleased to provide a search-engine-optimized portal to help them discover, learn about, and contact our members” said Matthew Bott, Chief Executive Officer of the Issaquah Chamber. “Independent research shows that membership in a local chamber significantly contributes to a firm’s brand credibility with local consumers, and with these new online and print promotions, in addition to the dozens of other Chamber benefits, services and events, we are more confident than ever in our membership offering and value.

Key features of the website include a content-rich member profile page for each member, greater video functionality, real-time user analytics tracking and an interactive blog-like discussion forum for members to communicate, share ideas and comment on Chamber and community news, events and issues. The Chamber also maintains an active Facebook page, linked to the new website, to promote business community networking, deliver business referrals and showcase member specials offers.

“For a small business or entrepreneur, additional content on various web platforms, such as with the Chamber’s new website, can help to amplify exposure to potential customers” said Kristi Tripple of Rowley Properties, who serves as Chair of the Chamber’s Board of Directors. “We are thrilled to help provide this additional exposure for Chamber members, in support of our community’s economic vitality.”

“The Chamber is very focused on providing value to members, and the launch of our new Chamber website offers small businesses the opportunity to create customized web directory pages on the Chamber website” said Kevin Minsky, Senior Attorney with Microsoft and a Member of the Board of Directors of the Chamber. “This is a real value for small businesses.”

The Business Directory and Community guide project has a circulation of 5,000 across the Issaquah community, which is a 20% increase from previous years. Last year, the Chamber’s Board of Directors voted bring the Directory/Community Guide project in-house to use local vendors, which allowed for both a substantial increase in circulation and a significant decrease in expense for the Directory’s advertisers. Chamber members Kari Olson Design, Minuteman Press and The Issaquah Press were the selected local vendors for the project, along with local photographers New Era Photography, Tiger Mountain Photo, Hilling Design and Genuine Image Photography.

“Listing in the printed Directory as a preferred Issaquah business is an extremely valuable promotion for our local businesses, and one that comes with no additional cost to members” added Bott. “We want local consumers and businesses to shop with Chamber members first, and the directory and website will significantly help facilitate this objective.”


“As an Issaquah resident and local businessperson, my family and I make every effort to buy from Chamber members first...and this new website and directory make it very easy to identify and support our members” said Darrin Helfrecht, a Financial Services Representative with Principal Financial Group and also the Chamber’s Membership Committee Co-Chairman.

The Greater Issaquah Chamber of Commerce has over 450 members and supports local businesses by ensuring a strong local economy, promoting the community, providing networking opportunities and representing business to government through partnership development and political advocacy. The Chamber organizes over 40 community promotion, networking, business development and educational programs and events each year, including the annual award-winning Salmon Days Festival and other programs to support the Issaquah economy.

For more information, please visit www.issaquahchamber.com

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Added on 03/02/2011

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