9 Effective Strategies for Attracting Millennials and Gen Z to Your Chamber of Commerce

As the business landscape will undergo a seismic shift, Chambers of Commerce faces a critical juncture: adapt to the evolving needs and preferences of younger generations or risk becoming obsolete.

With Millennials and Gen Z increasingly driving economic growth, innovation, and social change, it’s imperative that Chambers pivot to engage, empower, and harness the collective energy of these demographics.

By doing so, Chambers can not only remain relevant but also tap into a wealth of fresh perspectives, creative problem-solving, and entrepreneurial spirit – ultimately fueling a brighter future for their members, communities, and the economy at large.

Here are 10 ways to attract and retain these valuable members:

1. Leverage Social Media

Connect with your audience on niche platforms like YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok.

You don’t have to be on all of these social media platforms, but make sure you are at least doing Instagram and TikTok. If you are wondering “Where is Facebook?” well, Millennials and Gen Z spend less time on that platform than on Instagram and TikTok.

Here are a couple of examples of a couple Chamber of Commerce utalizing social media:

Remember to keep your content engaging, informative, and visually appealing! It does not have to be perfect.

When you post, make sure you are utilizing hashtags, tags, and mentions to increase visibility, here are hashtags any Chamber of Commerce Can use:

In conjunction with those hashtags, use some geo and specific hashtags like the name of your chambers and the city and state you are in.

For instance, if the chamber is in Fort Worth, Nebraska I would write #forthworthchambers #forthworthchambersofcomerce #forthworth #forthworthnebraska

Encourage user-generated content and viral trends to foster engagement

Meaning: When a business tags your social media, repost it on your story and possibly your page (depending on the quality).

*Pro tip- If your social media is not doing too well, outsource it. It costs less than what you think.

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2. Prioritize Mobile Optimization

Ensure your website and content are optimized for smartphones and apps and provide a seamless mobile experience to cater to on-the-go lifestyles. Most Mellinals and Gen-Z are utilizing their mobile device over desktop versions. Here are the statistics below:

Mobile vs Desktop Usage by Age

• 18-24 years old: 73% prefer mobile, 21% prefer desktop (Source: Hootsuite, 2024)
• 25-34 years old: 63% prefer mobile, 29% prefer desktop (Source: Hootsuite, 2024)
• 35-44 years old: 55% prefer mobile, 36% prefer desktop (Source: Hootsuite, 2024)
• 45-54 years old: 46% prefer mobile, 43% prefer desktop (Source: Hootsuite, 2024)
• 55-64 years old: 38% prefer mobile, 50% prefer desktop (Source: Hootsuite, 2024)
• 65+ years old: 29% prefer mobile, 59% prefer desktop (Source: Hootsuite, 2024)

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3. Create Engaging Content

Develop shareable content that showcases your brand personality. You can use humor, storytelling, and authenticity to resonate with younger audiences.

Here are some ideas for each social media platform specifically for a Chamber of Commerce:

*Click here if you would like a content list for August 2004- December 2024

YouTube Ideas for the Chamber of Commerce

1. Business Spotlight: Highlight local businesses and their stories.
2. Community Events: Cover local events, conferences, and trade shows.
3. Economic Development: Share updates on local economic development projects.
4. Business Tips
5. For More Ideas Click Here

Instagram Ideas for the Chamber of Commerce

1. Member Monday: Highlight a Chamber member each Monday.
2. Business Showcase: Share photos and videos of local businesses.
3. Community Events: Promote local events and activities.
4. Chamber Happenings: Share updates on Chamber initiatives and programs.
5. Local Love
6. For More Ideas Click Here

Snapchat Ideas for the Chamber of Commerce

1. Sneak Peeks: Give followers a sneak peek into upcoming events.
2. Behind-the-scenes: Share behind-the-scenes content from Chamber events.
3. Business Takeovers: Partner with local businesses to take over the Chamber’s Snapchat.
4. Q&A:
5. For More Ideas Click Here

TikTok Ideas for Chamber of Commerce

1. Business Showcase: Create short, engaging videos showcasing local businesses.
2. Community Events: Create videos promoting local events and activities.
3. Chamber Challenges: Create fun challenges for Chamber members and followers.
4. Business Tips
5. For More Ideas Click Here

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4. Collaborate with Influencers

Partner with influencers who align with your brand values and demographics and you will vastly expand your reach and credibility through these strategic partnerships

How to Do It:

On Instagram, you want to search your city or state’s hashtag and see which individuals who visit and engage in local businesses pop up.

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5. Emphasize Visual Content

Use high-quality images, videos, and graphics to capture attention. Visual content, particularly video content is highly effective and crucial for engaging Gen Z and Millennials to your Chamber of Commerce.

How to do it:

Take videos of events, your city, and businesses. When you take videos or pictures you want to think about how this video/picture is promoting local businesses and your chambers. Make sure future members can visualize how being a part of your commerce will benefit them.

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6. Gamify Events

Incorporate photo contests, leaderboards, and scavenger hunts to keep attendees engaged by creating a fun, interactive experience that encourages participation.

How to do it:

Have a drawing for a free business membership for a year. It will expand your e-mail list (all successful chambers send out at least two e-mails a week) and also show that you give back to your community. Interactive events also keep Mellinails and Gen Z engaged.

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7. Foster Collaboration

Cultivate a culture of teamwork and open communication by encouraging diverse perspectives and ideas. When you show businesses and your community that their thoughts and ideas matter, they will be more inclined to participate and sign up.

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8. Recognize Contributions

Acknowledge and appreciate the efforts of younger members and make them feel valued and recognized for their contributions.

How to do it:

Highlight them in a “Business Spotlight” or “Community Spotlight” on your social media and blog. This will get more traffic to your websites and more followers on your socials.

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9. Repurpose and Feature Businesses and Individuals on your Blog

Every Chamber of Commerce should have a blog section. This will allow people to see what you are doing in your community. A simple story about a local business or giving promotional business tips will provide valuable information and also searchable (by enhancing your SEO) information for businesses.

Here’s how to do it:

“Member Spotlight” Series

• Highlight a different Chamber member each month
• Share their business story, successes, and challenges
• Include photos, videos, or interviews to make it more engaging
• Showcase the diversity of Chamber members and industries

“Economic Development Update” Blog

• Share news and updates on local economic development projects
• Discuss the impact of these projects on the community
• Include data and statistics to support the information
• Highlight the Chamber’s role in supporting economic growth

“Business Tips and Resources” Blog

• Share valuable business tips and advice from industry experts
• Provide resources and tools for businesses to succeed
• Cover topics such as marketing, finance, and workforce development
• Include links to relevant Chamber programs and services

“Community Spotlight” Blog

• Highlight local events, attractions, and initiatives

• Share stories of community success and resilience

• Include photos and videos to showcase the community

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This post is by Marketing Small Business Services, a leading source for The Chamber of Commerce. For additional questions, please contact them by clicking here. hello@marketingsmallbusinessservices.com

Other Resources

If you want a complete guide on Marketing and Engagement Strategies for The Chamber Of Commerce Click Here

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10 Marketing Tactics to Attract Potential Members to Your Chamber Website

• Source: StatCounter Global Stats – Device Market Share (2024)
• Source: Hootsuite Digital 2024: July Global Digital Insights (2024)
• Source: Pew Research Center – Mobile Technology and Home Broadband 2024 (2024)
• Source: ComScore – 2024 US Cross-Platform Future in Focus (2024)