Greetings,

My name is Charles Smaltz and I have been a member of INBA since 1995.  I have been a part of recruiting new members and directory sales since 1996. I have served on the events committee, the board of directors, twice as Vice-President and as President in 2013.  I am proud now to be serving as your current INBA Membership Manager.

Please reach out to me at charles@inbachamber.org with any questions or concerns about your INBA membership.  I am always happy to follow up and introduce myself and the perks of INBA to friends, co-workers, and businesses you think would be awesome additions to the INBA family.

The most asked question I have had over the years is: “How do I maximize my INBA membership and my connection to the LGBTQA Community?”

Here are a few ways to easily make the most of your INBA membership:

• Actively create and use a referral list.  At INBA lunches and functions, introduce yourself and meet others in businesses who you, your clients, friends, and family may use. Ask questions about what, how, and where they do business so referral to others can be fresh and accurate. Take time to reach out to other INBA members using the printed and online directories. Use calls, email and meetings with INBA members to expand your referral base and expose yourself and your business to other members.  Most importantly when possible make the introduction yourself via email phone or in person.  Connect the client, friend or family member with the person and business you are referring them too. This always is great win/win/win and will show that you are actively referring which always gets you the same in return.
• Attend events! People in the LGBTQA community look for familiar faces and want to get to know you.  Coming to INBA lunches, After-hours and special events allow you time to connect with and grow your business, and become truly visible to the community.
• Sponsor an INBA event, after hours event, or a fundraiser.  This shows the community at large you are more involved and highlights your business, services and products.
• Expand your presence, expand your clients! Look at all the possibilities to showcase you and your business with INBA.  Online and printed directory ads, website banners, LGBT Travel Spokane website, and free INBA email-newsletter member spotlights are just some of the easy and affordable ways you can expand your message, exposure, and business.
• Be present at Pride. I think one of the biggest mistakes newcomers to our community make is skipping the Pride march and festival.  The largest number of LGBTQA community members and supporters come out for the Spokane Pride Celebration over every other event.  You can join INBA under “our big tent” at Pride, or have your own booth. Small and large businesses alike are strongly encouraged to join the LGBTQA community in our unified day of celebration.
• Serve on a committee or volunteer. INBA participates in plenty of community events that require your help representing out business community. If you want to make a difference on a longer scale, consider serving on the INBA or INBA Outreach Board of Directors. This makes you and your commitment more valuable and impactful to the LGBTQA community and you will make lifetime connections, friends, and business partners in the process.
• Ask where your clients heard about you! Back in the day the response was “I found you in the phone book”. There are more options now, but many will give a simple answer, “I found you online”, “saw your ad”, or a “friend mentioned you”. How are you tracking your ROI unless you’re tracking where your customers come from. If you’re not using market research tactics like surveys, intake forms and conversion metrics, you may never know how your client found you unless you ask.  Just this year a particular INBA member decided not to renew, thinking they had not received much business from INBA. On the contrary, I knew that business had been used several times for larger orders by INBA members specifically because of their affiliation with this organization. By tracking your clients’ referrals, you’ll make sure you know precisely where your returns are coming from.

As a member of INBA  for over 20 years, I can guarantee that all of the above work and they work well! The more you do– the more time, energy and talent you put into INBA and into the LGBTQA community– the more benefits, connections, and lifetime friendships you’ll get back, on so many levels!

Sincerely,

Charles Smaltz

INBA Membership Manager

charles@inbachamber.org