If you’re a Millennial or GenZ-er and see yourself as a future leader or entrepreneur, the chamber is not just for Boomers. You can get a lot of value from it, too.

If the thought of “tracking KPIs” makes your eyes glaze over, you’re not alone. For many small business owners, Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) sound like something reserved for corporations with big budgets, bigger teams, and even bigger Excel spreadsheets. Who wants the hassle?

But here’s the truth: KPIs are just numbers that tell a story and if you’re not paying attention to them, you’re running your business with the lights off.

The good news? You don’t need 47 dashboards or a data analyst to track the KPIs that matter. You just need to choose a few that tell you whether you’re growing, stalling, or unknowingly throwing money out the window. Consider this article a crash course on basic KPIs.

When you’re building a small business, it’s easy to focus on the day-to-day grind—inventory, customer service, cash flow, and that never-ending inbox. But if you don’t know where you’re going, how will you know if you’re getting there?

That’s where a vision statement comes in. Some businesses think it’s “too corporate” or “too pretentious,” something people do to impress investors. But it’s more than a buzz phrase or a corporate checkbox.

A clear, inspiring vision is your business’s North Star—and one of the most underused tools in small business marketing. Yes, small business marketing. You don’t need to be a giant organization with stockholders to realize the power behind a well-crafted vision statement.

Attracting new customers is important, but building loyalty is where long-term success happens. Loyal customers spend more, visit more often, and refer others. According to business.com, they spend 67% more than first-time customers. Cultivating that loyalty takes more than just great service. It takes creativity, consistency, and value-driven engagement. Whether you run a retail store, restaurant, gym, salon, or professional service firm, there are many inventive ways to reward loyal customers and turn them into your best advocates.

Has this happened to you? Whether online or in-person, there’s a customer who lingers, hesitates. They’re eyeing your item or menu. They’re asking questions about it. You think they’re going to buy and then they walk away or abandon their online cart without making a decision. They don’t say no, they just don’t say yes.

Small businesses everywhere are realizing that success isn’t just about how good your product is—it’s about how connected your customers feel to you and each other. The new growth model that’s gaining serious traction? Community-led growth.

Asking and answering questions about the operation of your business can increase your efficiency and knowledge. By taking the time to perform a self-audit, you will get to know your business and process better and that means greater alignment with the needs of your target audience.

You don’t need a name tag and a stack of business cards to make powerful connections. In fact, some of the best networking happens outside of formal events (even though our events are lots of fun and you should check them out for yourself). As a business owner, every week is different and sometimes you just can’t get it all done. But while event attendance may not always be possible, networking is.

Facebook continues to be one of the most powerful platforms for businesses to connect with customers, build brand awareness, and drive sales. With over 2 billion users and tools that support everything from video marketing to community building, it remains a key part of many business marketing strategies. And that’s why it’s important to keep an eye on it.

Two big pieces of news about the platform just hit (one planned, one not so much). Every business should be aware of:

1. Facebook is merging all video uploads into Reels, streamlining the posting process and pushing businesses toward short-form, mobile-friendly content.

2. A sudden and unexplained deletion of thousands of Facebook Groups shows that access to your audience on social media is never guaranteed—even if you haven’t violated any rules.

This news carries big implications for businesses, not only how you create content, but how you protect your access to your customers and followers.

Keep reading for what these updates mean, how to adapt, and why now is the time to get serious about owning your audience through email.

With over 1 billion users worldwide and a rapidly growing e-commerce ecosystem, TikTok has become a powerful platform for small businesses and solopreneurs to reach new audiences and boost sales. Whether you’re a boutique owner, a skincare brand, or a service provider, or someone with an under 40 audience, TikTok offers a unique way to connect through short-form, engaging video content.

Let’s be real. Elevator pitches can feel like a late-night infomercial–a robotic recitation of what your business does with an added exclamation point at the end. But for business owners and sales professionals, every interaction is an opportunity. A truly effective elevator pitch transcends mere information delivery.

Let’s face it, our daily habits often run on autopilot. We grab coffee from the same place, click the same websites when we shop, and call the same service providers without a second thought. Loyalty is great but what if, just for a moment, we paused and considered the impact of those everyday purchases?

You know the old adage, “It takes money to make money”? While that may be true, marketing and advertising don’t have to cost a fortune. In fact, some of the most effective ways to get your business noticed are either free or surprisingly affordable (especially with the technology available). Whether you’re just getting started or trying to grow on a tight budget, here are 15 creative and cost-effective ideas to boost your visibility and draw in customers.

Since this is Small Business Month, we thought it would be the ideal time to call attention to some of the resources out there for the small business. With an increase in awareness of how important small businesses are to the local and national economies, large businesses are getting into the groove and pledging their support to help small businesses too.

For many small businesses, email marketing is all about promotions and sales. But the most successful businesses know that an email list is more than just a sales tool—it’s a way to build relationships, create trust, and foster a sense of community without the concerns of a platform shutdown.

By shifting your focus from transactions to connections, you can turn one-time customers into long-term brand advocates. 

Some people think chambers of commerce work magic—and in many ways, they do. But to see real results and get the most from your membership, you need to be involved. Joining is a smart move, but the true value comes when you actively engage.

If you’ve been wondering whether you’re making the most of your membership—or if you’re just starting out and you’re not sure how to get the most out of it—here are ten practical ways to tap into the value the Grandview Chamber offers.

Lately, something interesting is happening. The most effective posts aren’t the polished ones with perfect lighting or studio-level graphics. They’re the real, raw, behind-the-scenes moments that tell the true story of what it’s like to run a small business.

From TikToks to Instagram Reels, business owners are discovering that authenticity—sharing the ups, the downs, and everything in between—helps them connect with customers in a meaningful way.