Word-of-Mouth Made Easy!

As a business person you know that connecting with other business people is the lifeblood of business. Yet your own experience tells you that collecting and handing out business cards in some "networking" event is really not networking at all.

Without an up-close and personal connection, a business card is just a business card. It does little for the person who gives it and for the person who gets it. And a 30-second "elevator pitch" is often forgotten 30 seconds later, without providing you a real opening for a personal connection — a connection that can lead to a stable, long-lasting business relationship.

Connecting Not Collecting

Your Chamber of Commerce is providing you with an opportunity to meet other business people in a way that's different from any networking opportunity you may have experienced. It's called ConnectForLunch, and it's not about collecting and passing out business cards. It's about connecting with other business people in a relaxed setting, and forging professional relationships in a personal way.

One Good Connection Is Worth 1,000 Business Cards

When you enroll in a ConnectForLunch program, you will be invited each week to have lunch with three other business people. For a nominal fee — just a little more than what you'd leave for a tip — you'll create new business relationships and deepen existing relationships with up to 100 Chamber members over the course of a year: real connections that can lead to real results for your business.

Here's How It Works

When you join a ConnectForLunch program, each Tuesday you'll receive an email from ConnectForLunch asking you if you'd like to go to lunch the following week. If you click "yes" on the email, on Friday you'll receive another email with the names of three other business people like yourself with whom you'll be having lunch. The email will also have the name of the restaurant and a link to a map with directions, a link to profiles describing your lunch mates, and their phone numbers (just in case you'll be arriving late).

On the day of your lunch, at noon, when you arrive at the restaurant, you'll find that your reservation has already been made for you in advance. There's nothing for you to do except show up (the cost of your meal is not included). You'll have an hour or more at each lunch to get to know your fellow lunch mates and for them to get to know you and your business. After lunch, you may now have new customers, referrals, and new ideas for your business based on wisdom gained from others at your table.

And, we'll keep track of your contacts for you. You'll have your own private Contact Manager in your personal ConnectForLunch account. ConnectForLunch is relaxed, comfortable and personal, and it happens at lunch — not after hours, when work is over and most of us would rather be at home.

Benefits You Can Look Forward To:

• You'll create new business relationships and deepen existing relationships with up to 100 Chamber members over the course of a year.
• Experience a relaxed way to grow your business in a comfortable social setting.
• ConnectForLunch occurs at a convenient time in your schedule — you were probably going to eat lunch anyway.
• We take care of the scheduling and the restaurant reservation — you just show up.
• Your inexpensive subscription pays for itself quickly, with new clients and referrals.
• You'll get out of the office and add variety to your work life — new friends, local restaurants, fresh ideas, great connections and opportunities for new referrals.

Ask your local Chamber of Commerce when their ConnectForLunch program will be available. Have your local Chamber executive contact us to finalize scheduling.