.A big part of branding is recognition. All your marketing materials – printed pieces, websites, newsletters, blogs, etc. – should have a consistent and easily recognizable look. Key elements of your brand’s visual image include your logo, color scheme, fonts, layouts and other stylistic elements. Remember, if your marketing materials are a mismatched hodge-podge of colors, designs and messages, it will be very difficult for you to build a recognizable presence in the marketplace.
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Contributed by Linda Coss, owner of Plumtree Marketing, Inc. To learn more about her services, please visit www.PlumtreeMarketingInc.com.

When you stop to think about what it is that you’re really selling, you realize that you’re selling solutions to the problems, needs or desires that your ideal clients have. Plus, you’re probably selling different things to different audiences. For example, a restaurant might sell “convenience” to one target audience, a “fun evening out” to another group of people and a “way to connect with family and friends” to others. Whether you’re writing marketing materials or making sales calls, always determine what solution you're offering to the particular group you’re targeting, and then focus your message on this.
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Contributed by Linda Coss, owner of Plumtree Marketing, Inc. To learn more about her services, please visit www.PlumtreeMarketingInc.com

On Tuesday evening, November 19th, eleven (11) attendees were present as Chamber member Kurt Varricchio, Attorney at Law, provided helpful legal education on the topic: "Business Law Basics - Developing a Winning Game Plan".

Various areas of business law were covered with attendee participation. Many questions were asked of Kurt and he answered them using his many years of legal experience. 

We thank our food sponsor, Antonucci's, for providing delicious pizza and salad for all the attendees!

​Stay tuned for more educational classes after the first of the year.

Last month, the Chamber launched it’s first educational class on behalf of the general membership. It was entitled: “The Secrets to Business Networking Success”. This “networking 101” class was truly welcomed and enjoyed by all attendees.
 
We are pleased to announce that plans are currently underway to present an “advanced networking” class after the start of the New Year. 
 
Additionally, there will be other classes added as follows: 
 
1) Sales Training: 3-part symposium on “Overcoming Objections”, “Closing Techniques”, and “Listening Skills”. 

2) Digital Marketing & Social Media Training: learn more effective ways to employ “digital tools” in your marketing and how to use social media to enhance your business presence. 

​As you can see, the Board of Directors and many other volunteers, are eagerly seeking more avenues to add greater value to our memberships, such as by offering helpful educational classes. 
 
If you have an interesting and helpful subject matter that you would like to present or have presented, please contact John Rodriguez at jrod@ifminc.com.
 
Stay tuned for more educational classes to be announced and when registration will open!

On Saturday, October 19, 2019, The City of Mission Viejo and Orange County Sheriff's Department will be hosting our 31st Annual Walk Against Drugs and Community Fair. In conjunction with this event, the City will be hosting the 12th Annual South County Disaster Preparedness Expo.
 
8 am / Rally at Mission Viejo High School (25025 Chrisanta Drive, Mission Viejo)
9 am / Community Fair & South County Disaster Preparedness Expo at the Norman P. Murray Community and Senior Center (24932 Veterans Way, Mission Viejo)

Kick off the event by attending the rally at M.V.H.S. Stadium. Walk down La Paz Road through the Oso Creek Trail to the Community Fair and Disaster Preparedness Expo. Enjoy interactive community booths, resources, educational displays, food for purchase, entertainment and games for all ages! Admission is free of charge.

For more information, please call 949-470-8433 or email to crimeprevention@cityofmissionviejo.org. 

Last evening, 11 Chamber attendees, along with 3 Presenters, 2 Directors, and 2 Communications Committee members, were on hand for our first networking 101 class: "The Secrets to Business Networking Success".

This class was specifically designed to help the attendees improve their 30-second commercials, confidently and enthusiastically attend mixers and events (and work the room properly), and employ other practical tips to enhance their networking skills.

We thank David Benson, Adrien Kalfus-Diaz, and Linda Coss for their excellent efforts and expertise as they presented this helpful information. We thank Diana Moreno and Elizabeth Elsanadi for helping us with the videotaping and social media. Also, we acknowledge CEO Doug Zielasko and Directors, John Salamy and John Rodriguez, for their support of this value-added program for our members.

Lastly, we want to wholeheartedly thank our dinner sponsor, Chamber member, Flippin Pizza (Danny and Kelly you are awesome!), for providing the pizzas, salad, and delicious cookies! 

Stay tuned for more information in the coming weeks about new educational programs that will be presented for the benefit of our members.

We are happy to share a variety of 4 business topics and helpful information from Chamber Silver member, San Diego Gas & Electric.
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Thank you again for being a valued Chamber member and for providing these helpful tips for our community!

We are pleased to help spread the word of this amazing event, the 9th Annual California Cable Symposium, hosted by Chamber (Gold) Member, COX Communications.

​Please see the event details below to register.

Your business’ marketing plan is your roadmap for success. Regardless of the plan’s length, here are the key elements that it should contain:

• Business/financial objectives – Your business’ overall goals.
• Market overview – Description of your market, product and competition.
• Marketing objectives – What you hope to accomplish with your marketing program.
• Target audience definitions – Who are you marketing to?
• Key creative, media and promotional strategies and tactics – The “guts” of your marketing plan.
• Infrastructure issues – Known issues your company faces that may impact your ability to reach your goals.

Contributed by Linda Coss, owner of Plumtree Marketing, Inc. To learn more about her services, please visit www.PlumtreeMarketingInc.com.