Networking Events
Mixers
These free casual events offer the opportunity to network, and often include food, drinks, and door prizes. Typically, our mixers are scheduled for Tuesday evenings from 5-7pm.
Networking Scrambles
Market your business, services, and products at the area’s favorite networking Scramble. It’s like speed dating for business.
Never Eat Alone Lunches
Meeting the first Friday of the month at one of our local restaurants, this is an opportunity to network during your lunch break.
Ways to Engage
Marketing Connection Referral Groups
These groups, composed of members from non-competing business categories, enhance business growth through increasing business profits by referral generation; leadership development through group officiating and public speaking; and shared ideas that aid growing businesses in the avoidance of pitfalls.
Event Committees
Engage with other business and community leaders while planning one of our annual Chamber events. Contact Molly Ostap for more information.
Peer Professional Groups
Attend McHenry’s Next (Young Professionals), Meeting of the MINDs (for small business owners and entrepreneurs), WINGs (Women’s Interactive Networking Group), and/or one of our peer professional groups for education and support from like-minded peers (Health and Wellness, Kid and Family Focused Organizations).
Ways to Promote Your Business
Advertising
Gain visibility for your business through a variety of digital and print options.
Sponsorships
Be a visible partner in some of McHenry County’s most popular and events and activities. With multiple events to sponsor per year, and attendance ranging from 25 to 10,000 depending on the event, we offer a diverse selection of opportunities to meet your marketing goals. All event promotions give prominent credit to sponsors both on our event calendar listing and in emailed event promotions, with a direct link to a URL of their choosing.
New Resident Program
Through the “Welcome to Your New Home” program, businesses can capitalize on the credibility of the Chamber to influence recent arrivals to “Shop Chamber Members First.”
Improved SEO
Local SEO (Search Engine Optimization) helps businesses promote their products and services to local prospects and customers. Having a link from the Chamber’s website is an authoritative reference point for search engine relevancy. A direct linkage tells Google your site is also important by association.
Enhanced Listing
By upgrading to an enhanced listing you can increase your business directory visibility with premium placement, added content and visual highlights.
Professional and Personal Development
Thought Leadership
The Chamber has helped build a highly collaborative business community, and we are delighted to share thoughts and ideas from area business leaders. If you would like to submit an article or teach a workshop on a topic you believe will have relevance for the greater business community, please contact us.
Email Molly Ostap or call 815-385-4300
Lunch and Learns
Receive free professional and personal development facilitated by Chamber members who are experts in their field. Lunch and Learns are scheduled on Wednesdays from 12-1pm over Zoom.
WINGs Luncheons
Every other month, we will explore issues for women in business. Our hope is that you will learn, teach, and connect with others. Join the conversation!
Chamber News and Knowledge
Educate yourself by reading the articles posted on our News and Knowledge section, or position yourself as an expert by writing one of your own.
Business Support
Referrals via phone, mailings, and website listings
Through your online directory listing, the community guide, and the Chamber staff, we provide multiple opportunities for business referrals. The Chamber receives inquiries daily from community members and local businesses; we refer members as providers whenever possible. Also, Chamber members refer business to other Chamber members.
Personalized plans for success
With so many great programs and services offered to our members where do you begin? Every business is different. One of our member benefits is to sit down with you and determine what you should focus on based your needs.
Notary Public and Certificates of Origin services
The McHenry Area Chamber of Commerce offers Certificate of Origin processing and an onsite Notary Public FREE to its members. The cost for Certificate of Origin processing for non-Chamber members is $25.
Meeting Room availability
As a service to our members, the Chamber conference room is free to use for based on availability. WiFi access and a projector are provided, if needed. Room seats approximately 15-20 people. Contact us at 815-385-4300 for more information.
Chambermaster
ChamberMaster is one of the greatest benefits offered to our members. We provide access completely FREE of charge. ChamberMaster lets you post events, job openings, news releases, and discounts/promotions directly to the Chamber Website. You can also directly edit your web business listing in our directory.
Job Board
Is your company looking for good, local employees? Develop your workforce with us! Members may post jobs at NO CHARGE.
Free Direct Mail Lists (only available to Chamber members)
An Excel file of our Chamber members is available upon request ONLY to Chamber members. Lists are not available for purchase.
Business Development Resources
Whether you are researching the possibility of starting a business, have already started or are well on your way, the McHenry Area Chamber of Commerce can help connect you to a number of resources to help you make the most of your venture.