Press Release: 06/20/05

Mercer Regional Chamber of Commerce Launches New Online Resource Tools, Invites Business Community to Free "Net"working Celebration

EWING, NJ — June 20, 2005 — The Mercer Regional Chamber of Commerce has partnered with Set Now Solutions, an award-winning Ewing-based Internet and Multimedia agency, to create a new web site which focuses on enhancing communications and encouraging connections between Chamber members, staff and the community. The new web site is a culmination of four years of research on the needs of local businesses and the community. The Chamber is proud to launch the new site at a Free "Net"working Event on Tuesday, July 26th at 5pm at the Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Center for Health and Wellness in Hamilton. Attendees will learn first-hand how to use the Chamber's new web site to maximize their business' visibility to both the public and to web site search engines.

After the main presentation, the Chamber's Technology Committee will be available to assist members in customizing their online profile and utilizing all of the new features via the RWJ facility's Internet-equipped training room. Non-members who join the Chamber through the new web site will have instant access to all of its new features as well.

The new site release comes shortly after the unveiling of the Chamber's new name and branding campaign, part of Executive Director Michele Siekerka's multi-phased campaign to best connect Chamber members and improve the value of Chamber membership.

"What we are launching today is not your typical web site; rather, it is a total business resource tool. The information that can be retrieved, combined with the ability to use this site to heighten a Chamber member's services to other businesses and the consumer is amazing." says Chamber Executive Director Michele N. Siekerka, Esq.

The new site features job listings, member announcements, public events, free business and education resources, and public access to the Chamber's 1200-plus member directory. In addition to the free public benefits, the site now provides a members-only area with coupons and discounts, enhanced directory information, personalized e-commerce tools, event guest lists, and more.

Set Now Solutions designed the site based upon member surveys, their experience as Chamber members and as the webmaster of the Chamber's current web site, which was originally launched in May 2001.

"We are privileged to have been active in the Chamber during this tremendous growth period," says Sarah Miller, Founder and President of Set Now Solutions. "When we joined the Chamber in 2001, the Chamber's web site was just a brochure and it was not generating a single lead. When we re-designed the Chamber web site in 2001, the site became the Chamber's number-one source of new members. Currently the site generates over 9,000 unique visitors a month. We hope the new site will have the same success as it did in 2001. Our goal is to see web site traffic triple. We hope that more businesses will join the Chamber and that commerce as a whole will flourish in the Mercer County Region."

For more information and to register for the Free "Net"working event, visit the current Chamber web site at www.gmccc.com or call the Chamber at 609-393-4143.

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