Your business is up and running and you have a loyal customer base, but how do you get to the next level? Or you are a new business owner and you would like to let the community know what you have to offer. Competition is tough in the Santa Clarita Valley, but because of our small town status, getting to the next level may be as easy as reaching out to the community, volunteering or joining a networking group.

"In this community, it's vital to network your business in order for it to grow," said Gary Choppe of Choppe Advertising Group. "You can't just sit in your office or store and hope you'll get business. You've got to get out and talk to people."

Networking is an effective and affordable marketing tool that anyone in the business world can utilize. The idea of networking is to meet people in a relaxed social situation, giving you the opportunity to chat about your business with others.

The most obvious networking organization for many local business owners is the Santa Clarita Valley Chamber of Commerce. This organization has a long record of promoting business and takes great pride in organizing community events to further local companies as well as social outreach with their connection to a nonprofit foundation that supports public education. The chamber's main focus is to assist business owners.

"We have it down to a science," said Chamber President Larry Mankin. "We have numerous companies that call us that are struggling, [those that] are new or who are thinking of going into business."

"You can't just sit in your office or store and hope you'll get business. You've got to get out and talk to people," Gary Choppe of Choppe Advertising Group

Mankin breaks down the chamber's mission into three categories - networking, education and advocacy. From morning coffees to after-hours socials to golf outings and leadership seminars, the chamber continues to bring business owners together to exchange ideas and business cards.

"I've never been in a city that it's almost required to do business with other businesses," Mankin said. "We have over 7,000 visitors to our website everyday and the number one site is our membership directory."

Jorgen and Sonja Christiansen have been making the community a more colorful place for the past 17 years at Bloomie's Florist in Newhall. The Christiansens are members of the chamber as well as the Santa Clarita Valley Rotary Club (where Jorgen served as president) and the SCV Business Group. Jorgen said his involvement with the Rotary goes way back to his homeland in Denmark. He joined the SCVBG because of its category protection status (The SCVBG admits only one business per category, such as florists, plumbers, or painters.) Jorgen enjoys getting to know other business owners in the valley. Annual dues and mandatory meetings can put a strain on a business owner, but Jorgen said the investment of time and money in these networking groups are well worth it.

"People have got to meet you," Jorgen said. "If they like you, they will do business with you. You've got to get your name out there."

Barry Edzant, president of SCVBG, said the organization works because of the loyalty of its members. "We have a tough screening process. We need to know that the people [who apply for membership] are good at what they do," he said.

Annual dues for SCVBG are approximately $150, with quarterly dues of $220. Members are required to attend a weekly morning meeting and one social per quarter. Five referrals are required each month to remain "in good standing." Every meeting, members are given a chance to highlight their business in what Edzant calls a "30-second commercial." Three members a week have an opportunity to spotlight their business. SCVBG gives scholarships and donations to local students or organizations on an annual basis.

While the Rotary meets every Wednesday, the SCV Chamber of Commerce has no mandatory meetings, but President Mankin highly recommends the events they do produce.

"Most businesses owners are so busy trying to find and keep customers," Mankin said. "Time and money are always a concern, but you can be as involved as you want." "We have great businesses in the Santa Clarita Valley," he added.

If you are a business owner and haven't had the opportunity to spread your name around town, maybe it's time to get out there and get known. It's up to the business owner to investigate and find the right networking group that fits into their time schedule and commitment level.