What’s The Value Of Referrals?

Did you know the UBCC refers member businesses 24/7?

Your membership automatically places you in top ranked Internet searches, because as a member you benefit from being part of WebLink Connect, a nationwide chamber specific database platform that we utilize here at UBCC.

Online you’re covered, thanks to our data collection and premium ranked website. Face-to-face you’re covered, by chamber staff and other ambassador members – just like you, who refer one another to people we talk to and meet.

In the past we’ve shown you the types of referrals your online listing receives over the course of a year with your annual membership renewal. In the coming months, we’re going to show you the value of those referrals.  

Look for a new report with your annual membership investment notice to renew.

The Value On Investment report will be included with your renewal notice. It shows tangible, concrete information in $$’s, about the value of referrals tracked by WebLink.

Here’s how it works:

Maybe you’ve heard us talk about WebLink, but you don’t know what it is. WebLink is the chamber’s powerful database, a cloud-based software platform used by chambers of commerce nationwide.

That’s right!! Your chamber is using state-of-the-art systems to help you grow your business.
WebLink tracks online activity and provides us the ability to pull reports about visitor clicks and data. So when our website is visited, and a particular industry or service is requested, member listings pop up.

You’ve heard about the value of clicks, but what does that really mean. Clicks on a website, a link or other online content (like this blog post) increase your search engine rankings on the internet.

So any time a visitor on our website views your listing, sponsor banner/logo or clicks on a link to your business, it records that “referral” and each type of referral is assigned an industry standard value.

Consistently UBCC ranks at the top of the heap, because we are positioned with Search Engine Optimization (SEO) keywords, which is what boosts a website or content’s rankings.

SEO keywords and design elements are what web designers and content creators use to make your website more attractive in search rankings.

WebLink does all this for us, and a whole lot more. These benefits are included in your annual membership.

Back to your renewal request-The report you’ll be looking at when you receive your membership renewal request was generated by WebLink.  Data gathered about your business through the platform, will be noted as referrals and given an estimated dollar amount value for the exposure you receive in a one-year period. You can also get the report at your convenience by logging in to the Member Login section of the website to view the report for any time-frame you choose. Your login credentials are simple – the email address associated with your company’s profile and the last 4 digits of the phone number. 

Case in point: Based on a recent report for a member providing home services, WebLink estimated the value of referrals to be $1,894 or a whopping 743 percent value on membership investment from January 2017 to January 2018.  This particular membership costs the business owner $255 annually.

Membership leads to awareness, which leads to inquiries, which leads to visits, which leads to warm leads, because a potential customer is coming to you (not the other way around). Warm leads are ripe for sales to pursue.

Don’t confuse referrals with sales. Our mission is to help you grow your business by providing a network – and a framework – to help you connect with potential clients and customers.

Sometimes business owners join a chamber of commerce thinking guaranteed sales to their business will automatically follow. And when that doesn’t happen right away, they become frustrated and disillusioned. They start to think there’s no value in their membership, so they drop out.

They stop showing up at programs and events, or don’t volunteer for committees. That’s the tipping point moment. Becoming more invested; more involved, and increasing participation will further support the relationship building that’s necessary for other businesses to make that connection with you and further increase the value of your investment with UBCC.
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Because ultimately people buy goods and services from people they know and like.

And then they tell others….