Salon owners across the country report word of mouth as their most successful marketing method, but many are doing absolutely nothing to cultivate more of it. When it comes to marketing a business, owners are often so focused on the latest and greatest that they forgot how to truly make an impact. They key to breaking through in your town might not have anything to do with Facebook or the newspaper, and you don’t need a single tutorial on how to use it.

The chamber of commerce is a local business network dedicated to connecting resources and addressing business challenges together. Typically, there are membership dues involved, but the savvy business owner knows how to work his or her way around the benefits of the organization — it’s easy to make up the investment quickly. With all of the noise in social media and advertising, the chamber of commerce gives businesses a unique chance to supercharge their reputation and develop a real connection not only with other entrepreneurs, but with the community that they serve.

Here’s how your membership with the local chamber of commerce could result in a more profitable business:

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