Unless you’ve been on the show Survivor’s island for the last six months, you probably have gotten wind of the notion that AI can help you save time, but did you know it can also help you make money? I’m not talking about becoming an AI expert and training the masses. That would take time you probably don’t have.

In this case, I’m referring to creating a digital product for your business that you can sell and make money even when your business isn’t open. And best of all you can likely create it in a few minutes with the help of AI. Here’s how:

For years, Instagram Stories have been like the “cool kids table” of your account: mostly seen by people who already follow you. Great for connection, not great for discovery.

That’s changing and businesses should be pretty excited about this.

Instagram now lets people reshare public Stories to their own Stories, even if they weren’t tagged. There’s typically an “Add to Story” option when viewing a public Story, and you can control this in your settings.

If you’re a small business trying to reach beyond your current followers, this is not a tiny tweak. It’s a built-in word-of-mouth engine.

The start of a new year begs for reflection and plans. We make promises and resolutions and say things like, “This year will be THE year.”

But unless you win the lottery, making this year radically different requires work and change. Those two things aren’t always easy or sustainable, especially when you’re looking at revenue goals, marketing plans, staffing realities, and that lingering question in the back of your mind: How do I grow without burning myself out?

We have an easy answer to that question.

If you’re a chamber member, there’s a good chance you aren’t making the most of your benefits. We get it. Life gets in the way. You’re busy. Maybe you attend an event here and there. You skim the emails. You tell yourself you’ll “use it more this year.”

This is that year.

Because chambers in 2026 aren’t just about ribbon cuttings and business cards. Chambers are quietly helping businesses solve real problems.

Here are six ways to tap into that value in a strategic way that makes the most of your limited time.

Most marketers will tell you the money is in your e-mail list. One of the easiest ways to create an e-mail list is by offering a giveaway that someone receives in exchange for their e-mail address. What you do with that e-mail address after that initial exchange can be the difference between cultivating a relationship and an eventual sale or losing a potential customer. If you ignore the people on your email list, you’ll never develop the kind of relationship that will drive sales.

Newsletters are one way to stay top of mind and to nurture your audience until they're ready to buy. You may be thinking, But aren't newsletters time consuming and difficult to write? Don't they require a lot of design work? Sometimes. There are many different types of newsletters, and they don’t all require hours of prep work.

In this article, we'll go over 12 formats so you can pick the one that best works for you and your ideal audience and that fits your time, your brand voice, and your audience’s attention span. Keep in mind, you don’t have to pick one. You can use several of these approaches in one newsletter.

If you have repeat customers, you already have the foundation of something powerful: a community. You just need to ensure they understand that.

Not a punch-card club. Not just “regulars.” A real group of people who feel connected to you, your team, and each other.

Community is what keeps people choosing you even when a cheaper, closer, or flashier option pops up. It is also a lot more fun than chasing new customers all the time.

Here is how to turn those repeat visits into a community that loves coming back.

You spend a lot of time encouraging everyone else. Your customers. Your team. Your family. Even total strangers on social media.

Today, it’s your turn.

Before the year gets away from you, give yourself a gift that costs nothing and can pay off all year long: write a letter to yourself to read this time next year.

Not a to-do list. Not a strategic plan. A pep talk.

Think of it as sitting down with the future you, looking them in the eye, and saying, “Here is what mattered. Here is what I dream for you. And here is why you’re stronger than you remember.”

Here is how to do it in a way that actually supports you as a business owner, not just adds one more thing to feel guilty about.

If you’re a busy professional, “keeping up with tech” can feel like a second full-time job you did not apply for.

New tools launch daily. Your inbox is full of “game-changing” software. Meanwhile, you still have customers to serve, a team to lead, and probably at least 47 open browser tabs. Right?

While there’s enormous pressure to keep up with innovation these days (it’ll make you more efficient), you can’t be on top of everything. And you don’t need to be. You just need a simple system that keeps you informed about the right things, so you can make smart, confident decisions to reach maximum efficiency without losing your mind (or your evenings).

The holiday season shifts into high gear from now on. Foot traffic gets wild, inboxes overflow, and your customers are juggling a million decisions at once. They’re feeling the pinch of not having enough time.

In the middle of all that zaniness, your biggest advantage as a small business is the experience you create and the connection you keep. People want to support local. They just need reminders that you’re here, you’re human, and you’re worth choosing.

Here are simple, sustainable ways to stay engaged all month long without adding stress to your plate.

The holiday season is a make-or-break time for many small businesses. Shoppers are ready to spend, but they’re also pulled in countless directions—online sales, big-box discounts, and time constraints that make convenience one of the biggest factors in their spending.

The best way to rise above the noise isn’t to shout louder, it’s to link arms with your neighbors; maybe even your competitors (hear us out). Collaboration is one of the most powerful tools a small business can use this time of year, and it often leads to results that no single business could achieve alone.

When local businesses team up, customers notice. They see a community that’s connected, welcoming, and invested in making their holiday shopping meaningful. It’s the difference between a single store saying, “We’re open,” and a whole town saying, “Come celebrate with us.”

We’re fast approaching the time of year when it can feel like you’re running a marathon on a tightrope. Customers need attention. Promotions are queued up to be launched (or designed). Your inventory is giving you nightmares, and you have huge goals for the end of the year.

And you’re supposed to stay cheerful, strategic, and somehow well-rested through it all.

But the problem isn’t your big aspirations for 2026, nor does the problem lie in trying to solve the things you can’t control.

It’s your habits.

As an organization dedicated to the prosperity of Grandview, the Chamber is proud to support our local nonprofit organizations. On Giving Tuesday, we encourage you to consider supporting these dedicated Chamber members who work tirelessly to serve our community.

Whether you choose to donate, volunteer, or simply spread the word about their mission, your support is invaluable!

A Guide to Recovering Revenue You Didn't Know You Were Losing

When was the last time you reviewed your business subscriptions? From software to streaming services, you could have hundreds of dollars out there that you had forgotten about. That’s money that’s been quietly slipping through the cracks.

Most business owners are so focused on bringing money in the front door that they don't notice it leaking out the back. But this "hidden cash" is actually easier to find than new customers, and the returns are immediate.

It’s a treasure hunt through your business finances so grab your coffee, block off a few hours, and let's go find your money.

Traditionally, marketers at this time of year are busy trying to attract Black Friday and other shoppers in the days right after Thanksgiving. But thanks to the uptick in pre-Black Friday sales, today’s customers are shopping earlier than ever, spreading out their spending and looking for ways to avoid the December scramble. In fact, nearly half of U.S. shoppers now begin their holiday shopping before Black Friday.

That means November isn’t just the warm-up. It’s your time to shine. With a few smart strategies, you can pull in customers before the big-box stores roll out their doorbusters and get a head start on holiday profits. Here are 10 ways to catch shoppers’ attention.

You’ve heard the old saying “You never get a second chance at a first impression.” For businesses, that isn’t just a cliché, it’s reality. Customers size up a business long before they make a purchase and often before anyone on your team even says hello. Those first 10 seconds set expectations, shape decisions, and influence how people feel about doing business with you.

No matter what industry you’re in, your business is constantly sending signals about what customers can expect. The good news is that with a few intentional tweaks, you can make those signals work in your favor.

It’s officially that time of year where you have to keep looking at the calendar because it’s so hard to believe how quickly time is going or as we like to say—it’s Blurvember.

The holidays have a way of sneaking up on even the most prepared businesses. One minute you’re stocking fall candles and the next you’re wondering where the extra rolls of gift wrap went.

This is the moment to tighten things up so you can enjoy the revenue boost without feeling like you’re sprinting through December.

Here are five simple, high-impact updates your business can make right now (some so quick you can implement them between customers) to get ahead of the holiday rush.

With the holiday season approaching with the speed of a bullet train (holiday prep, year-end sales pushes, family gatherings, budget reviews, etc.), it’s no surprise many of us feel our blood pressure and tension rise, while our patience comes crashing down. While this season is one of the most exciting of the year, it brings lots of extra stress.

But what if some of that stress was unavoidable?

Here are four practical reframes you can share with your team and apply to your own workflow, designed specifically for business juggling multiple moving parts in busy months ahead.

As a business in our town, we want to help you this holiday season. But we also need some assistance from you. As part of Small Business Season (November 1- December 31), we’re trying to bring awareness to the importance of shopping local.

Every time someone buys from a business in our town, something bigger happens than a simple transaction. Those dollars circulate through the community, supporting local jobs, funding community improvements, and creating a stronger local economy.

Join us for Small Business Season (November 1st - December 31st) and make this holiday shopping experience truly meaningful by remembering that Every Purchase Has a Purpose. The local shops, cozy cafés, and family restaurants are the heart of our community and the backdrop of your cherished holiday traditions, and when you choose to spend local, you're not just buying a product; you're directly fueling local jobs, strengthening the economy, and supporting the neighbors who make our town feel like home. Ready to make an impact? Click through to the full blog post to see how you can discover one-of-a-kind treasures, participate in festive happenings, and amplify the voices of our hard-working small businesses.

Does your favorite coffee shop have a secret menu? One where the drink’s not on the board, but the regulars know to order? The one that gives you a little more for the same price or offers you a flavor you didn’t even know existed just because you’re a regular. Or maybe you know a speakeasy club that opens every weekend to people who know the “password.”

A chamber of commerce is like that for business owners.