Branford Chamber Website Gets a Face Lift

The Branford Chamber of Commerce will soon be open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. No, the three-person team isn’t putting in longer hours; they are going virtual.

Selected as a flagship chamber of commerce, Branford Chamber’s website will be the first organization in the state to have a Chamber Nations Operating System– most are out west with the closest east coast counterparts being Florida and New York (example of CNOS site in Walnut Creek, Calif.)

Susan Finkle, Director of Member Services who has worked side-by-side with Branford Chamber President Ed Lazarus to launch the new website, comments, “When we say ‘website’ that’s not really accurate. It’s a website and operating system.”

The CNOS allows the Branford Chamber to become a “hub for the greater Branford area,” said Lazarus. His 330 current chamber members, who come from all over the shoreline, will now have a “micro site” on the Chamber’s new website that offers more than just an off-site hyperlink. The micro site will allow members to highlight their businesses in a clean and unique way and is a huge benefit for businesses that may not have a personal website at all. “It will grow the amount of hits you get potentially exponentially,” stated Lazarus.

When the website launches on or near March 29– the date of the next Branford Chamber Business After Hours event– existing Chamber members will be sent information on how to build their micro site. Though easy to navigate, members will also be offered video tutorials to walk them through the building process.

Finkle explains that the new website will offer, “added value to a Chamber membership.”

“Our goal,” added Lazarus, “is to use this to educate people; that it’s in everybody’s best interest to be interconnected.”

In addition to having full control over their micro site, traffic analytics and social media components, every chamber member has the option of being included in their Buy Local program, where shoppers can essentially purchase local merchants’ items online. Merchants already using e-commerce will have purchases directed to their sites and those without and online payment system will be able to offer products for customers to view and reserve for in-store pick up. Additionally, chamber members can offer coupons at their discretion through the new website.

The soon-to-launch site designed by Madison business owner and Branford Chamber member Andrew Kaplan of Walden Pond Design, will also offer several calendars to help keep the community and merchants connected.

Unlike any other website of its kind in the state, Lazarus is excited about the website launch and shares, “It’s a new tool that the Chamber is offering. If you are sold on a chamber and what it does to improve your business, this gives you a super value.”

And for those still longing for a handshake and face-to-face connection, Lazarus adds, “We’ll still have our Chamber Business After Hours.”