Join us November 3-11, 2023 for an exciting trip to Greece...  See brochure for itinerary and other important information. 

The Greater Bethesda Chamber of Commerce is hiring a Marketing, Communications & Events Manager.  Please see job description below.

It’s fall, and you know what that means! It’s back to school time! Society has pulled itself away from the rest and relaxation of summer and gotten back to business. Seemingly every television channel is rolling nonstop Old Navy commercials pushing affordable apparel to make your kid look shiny and new for their first day, and business owners are fully geared up to get back into the swing of things. (No choreographed dance routines required.)

This month, Bethesda digital marketing agency and Chamber member Spring Insight is taking YOU back to school, too. They released a series of articles planned around the educational foundation of the 3 R’s:

• Reading
• Writing
• (A)Rithmetic

 
And just for fun, they threw in a fourth installment, gRades. Because we all remember the most popular 7th-grade question ever, “will this be on the test?” 
Reading: Great Reads That Will Inspire Your Business and Life
Spring Insight founder and president Erika Dickstein isn’t really into business books, but she finds business inspiration in her reading in unexpected places. Here is a short list of books that she read and the inspiration she found from them.
📕Why Fish Don’t Exist: A Story of Loss, Love, and the Hidden Order of Life by Lulu Miller
This book highlights the importance of tenacity and grit and returning to things, even when they seem overwhelming or hopeless. Businesses can prevail in a world ruled by chaos and uncertainty if their leaders are willing to absorb new information and see things through a different lens.
📕Founding Mothers by Cokie Roberts
History has accounted in great detail the stories of the founding fathers of the United States, but the story of the women who helped shape a nation remains largely untold. This book enlightens readers with stories of courage, perseverance, and contributions that were critical to the effort of establishing a democracy. Even if you're not in charge, you CAN impact outcomes and make a difference. 
 
For two more book recommendations and details about each book, see the full article here. 
Writing: Content Vs. Copy - Which Does Your Business Need?
The word “content” gets tossed around quite a bit in the world of digital marketing. Although content can refer to various types of media, including blogs, videos, guides, podcasts, and social media posts (among other things), for the purposes of this little lesson, we are going to focus on the content of the written kind.
 
Now that we got that out of the way - Is there a difference between content and copy? So glad you asked. Both are important aspects of a digital marketing strategy, but they have different purposes. 

• Content is written to engage.
• Copy is written to persuade.

 
Your business website needs both content and copy to thrive. Your potential and existing customers want to consume things that add value. 
 
Your business, on the other hand, needs revenue. Without persuasive copy that clearly directs a potential customer in the direction you’d like them to go, they will simply go away. And you can kiss that potential revenue goodbye, too. 
 
But here’s the kicker. If all you do is push services and products with a relentless stream of marketing copy without the other engaging stuff, guess what? You’re going to turn that potential customer away from your business, too. 
 
💻You have to engage and persuade. You have to write content and copy.
 
Want to learn five simple tips for writing effective copy and content? Click here to read the entire article from Spring Insight.
(A)Rithmetic: Should You List Pricing on Your Service-Based Business Website? 
As a digital marketing agency, one of Spring Insight’s services is website development. The question, “What does it cost to build a website?” is one we hear…like a lot. Another question we get a great deal is whether or not our clients should show pricing for their services on their business website. 
 
💲In either case, the answer (naturally) is, “it depends.” 
 
There are a wide variety of opinions on the subject and quite a few variables to consider. In this installment of our Back to School series, we are going to do better than “it depends,” narrowing our numeric focus on the question of pricing. We will cover:

• Considerations to make when choosing to show pricing (or not)
• When and how publicly-listed pricing can be used to help both the business owner and the potential customer
• How to provide clearer estimates for attribute-based pricing with custom calculators

 
Read the full article to get answers to the question: Should You List Pricing on Your Service-Based Business Website?
Time for the Test: Does Your Business Website Make the Grade?
Listen, we get giddy thinking about and designing gorgeous websites that look sharp, professional, and totally on point. But your business website has a serious job to do that goes way beyond how it appears on the outside. It’s got to have the full package. Would your website get an A+ in SEO, or would it be a big fat failing grade in that regard? If you don’t know, here’s your chance to learn something new about your website. 
 
One of the things we do at Spring Insight is help our potential clients “grade” their business website based on a number of metrics. We do this through website audits, and they are completely free. We explain what goes into these website report cards in the full article here, but if you want to skip the line and get right to it, we totally get it. Some of us are natural overachievers. Snag a spot on our schedule for an audit today. 
 
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Spring Insight is a digital marketing agency right here in Bethesda and a proud member of your local Chamber chapter. Got questions about how we can use strategic digital marketing to help your business grow? We are a chatty bunch. Schedule a call with us today.

An annual event is coming around again, sponsored by GBCC member, Game Genius. The District Hunt engages the minds and imaginations of participants in a fun mystery that celebrates different forms of literacy, from linguistic and cultural to financial and digital.
 
The 2022 District Hunt offers two ways to play. Teams can join a race to solve the puzzle on October 1, or they can solve the finish the outdoor adventure on their own time from October 2-10. The hunt guides participants around Washington DC, where players learn about the community and experience the city from a new perspective. Event proceeds support Game Genius’s work with local nonprofits.
 
Back to School, Back to Business
The District Hunt offers participants the chance to work together in a unique team building activity that calls on different skills and knowledge. Every year, the game centers around an important theme such as Women’s History or Mental Health. “We love how the District Hunt makes learning fun and engages the competitive spirit in all of us,” says Peter Williamson, President of Game Genius. “This year’s theme of literacy is particularly important since the four corners of language, culture, finance, and tech are the foundations of good business.”
 
The GBCC is a thriving Chamber of Commerce and enjoys a special relationship with its member non-profits. “Business and community go hand in hand, and we always want to offer energy and support to the organizations doing good work for our members, their families and the rest of the Bethesda-Chevy Chase community,” says Allie Williams, President and CEO, The Greater Bethesda Chamber of Commerce.
 
Opportunities to Get Involved
This event offers so many ways to participate. People can play the hunt as individuals or teams, and thanks to sponsors, Game Genius offers discounted rates to players who qualify. Players must register by September 30th to participate on opening weekend. Sponsorship opportunities are still open, giving businesses a chance to get involved and give back to the community. In addition, Game Genius is looking for partner organizations that are non-profits doing critical literacy work in the DMV region. Game Genius will feature and celebrate relevant organizations through the hunt, which garners exposure for the organizations as well as a chance for staff to engage in the fun.
 
​For more information about District Hunt, contact Peter Williamson at peter@gamegenius.org.
To learn about non-profit membership in the GBCC, contact  Carla Young, Director of Membership & Community Engagement.
​

Did you know that many business owners may qualify for the Employee Retention Credit? In fact, the IRS estimates 70-80% of small and medium businesses qualify. This credit was put into place to reward businesses that kept their employees during the pandemic.
 
Despite its ease to qualify for, many business owners are not aware of this credit, or they have been told by their CPA or Accountant that they would not qualify. We want to let you know that there have been many updates to the ERC program since it was released, and your business likely qualifies.
 
What is the Employee Retention Credit?
The Employee Retention Credit is a refundable payroll tax credit that was introduced as part of the CARES Act in March of 2020.  The credit is available to employers whose businesses have been financially OR OPERATIONALLY impacted by the pandemic. Too many businesses and those they are getting advice from are focusing on ONE qualifying area: Reduction in Gross Receipts. But there are three others that DO NOT REQUIRE a reduction in revenue:
·       Startup Recovery Business
·       Supply Chain issues
·       Full or Partial shutdown
 
Full or Partial shutdown is where most companies qualify as we were all impacted by government shutdowns in one way or another. The simplest way the IRS describes this is whether government orders around Covid affected your business's ability to deliver its goods and services in its normal course by more than 10%. That is all it takes to qualify.
 
How much time does this take?
This is the best part, you can go through the prequalification and qualification process from start to finish in about 20-30 minutes, including having a brief call with us.  We’ve had multiple clients who did not think they qualified until we had a brief 5-10 minute discussion to help identify whether it would be worth it to them to take the time to review the pre-qualification application.
 
How is the Money Delivered to the Company?
This is actual money that comes back to your bank account! It is not a loan and there is NO forgiveness needed. Furthermore, this is NOT an income tax credit.
 
How Much Will this Cost?
Payroll services and CPA mostly charge you the fee upfront. We’ve heard that the going rate is $500.00 per employee per quarter or 20% of the credit. When you work with us, we do not get paid unless you get paid and until you get paid.
 
In Closing
During the pandemic, businesses needed to make changes to typical daily operations to keep up with regulations. We’ve talked to many businesses that did not have a reduction in revenue because they were quick to adjust and innovate in their operations. But they were still affected. The Employee Retention Credit was designed to help businesses keep employees. If you think you may qualify, we encourage you to reach out to us and we can help you determine if you are eligible!
 
You can schedule a 15-minute consultation here or email us at info@think-lateral.com.
 
If you want to skip the call and see if you pre-qualify on your own, we recommend that you watch this video so you can learn about ERC and the process. Once done, you can get a no-obligation estimate on your credit by using this link. Let us know how we can help!
 
Jon Bassford, JD, MBA, CAE
CEO and Founder
Lateral Solutions

The Greater Bethesda Chamber of Commerce NextExecs are participating in an initiative that is part of the Chamber’s mission to support, inspire, and advocate for business to better our community. A drive to furnish needy Montgomery County Public School students with backpacks, complete with critical school supplies, the GIVE BACKpacks campaign raises funds to purchase backpacks for students who qualify for Free and Reduced-Price Meals (FARMS). Each new backpack comes with supplies appropriate for K-12 school students, including pencils, pens, dividers, and notebooks.

The Chamber is supported by some wonderful businesses and organizations to make this happen, including Marriott International, Metro Bethesda Rotary Club, Behnam & Associates, Barre 3 Bethesda, First National Bank, and The Bethesdan Hotel. According to Allie Williams, Chamber President and CEO, “We are proud of the work we do in the community, and we love seeing the next generation of executives help the future generations through these efforts.”

Greater Bethesda Chamber NextExecs are made up of “young professionals in the greater Bethesda community interested in engaging in business networking, professional development, and community service in order to position themselves for optimal career growth.” Under the leadership of Carla Young, Director of Membership and Community Engagement, is so excited about the energy and enthusiasm behind the effort. “One of our members, Anna Benham, has personally assembled over two hundred backpacks for students!”

Anna, through her non-profit, Yellow Boomerang, has enlisted the support of her community to donate supplies and fundraise. We asked Anna about why she is involved, and she said, “Back to school is an important time and there are many Montgomery County families in need. I am glad that we can come together as a community and support our neighbors.” Another active NextExec is Sean Makulowich of IdeaFire™ who is also a member of the Chamber Board of Directors. He notes that “we are an active group doing good in the community, and this is a perfect initiative for us to work on.”

While NextExecs are doing the hands-on work of preparing the backpacks for students, Chamber members, as well as the rest of the community, are encouraged to participate by donating a minimum of $10 to the drive. Every donation will go to help supply another student with a loaded backpack. The easiest ways for people to donate financially are through The Chamber’s Venmo @TGBCC account or a check made to the “Greater Bethesda Chamber of Commerce” with the memo line Backpack drive. 

With the monies raised, NextExecs will purchase the items from a local Chamber member to fill the backpacks and deliver them to the participating schools - ideally by mid-August leading up to the first day of school on August 29th.
Please support this important cause by donating today.


The NextExecs are sponsored by McKay Mortgage.  The Leadership includes, Andrew Borkoski, M&T Bank, Lili Sargsyan, Cohn Snyder and Aaron Slaughter of Withum CPA.