M A R K E T I N G
Through strategic marketing efforts, the Chamber works to support Greater Oklahoma City’s key business sectors, promote the region as a great place to live and communicate the work of the Chamber. TELLING OKC’S STORY
to provide similar content in video form. Viewers are able to learn on their own schedule, and most videos and courses average 15-20 minutes. Both products under the Business University umbrella aim to provide ongoing sources of education in a way that is both convenient and affordable. The Business University program will expand its reach with a live event in the fall and monthly luncheons in 2019. STRENGTHENING KEY SECTORS With a goal to further Oklahoma City’s retail growth, a delegation from the Chamber and the City of Oklahoma City attended the International Council of Shopping Centers’ RECon conference in Las Vegas. During the conference, representatives from Oklahoma City met with prospective retailers and developers to promote Oklahoma City as a destination for their brand. As a result of the Chamber’s destination retail recruitment efforts, Oklahoma City welcomed several new names to the market in 2018. Duluth Trading Company, Firebirds Wood Fired Grill, Flix Brewhouse, Life Time Fitness at Quail Springs Mall, Hopdoddy Burger Bar, Costco, Sur La Table, The Container Store and REI all announced or opened Oklahoma City locations during the calendar year. The Chamber also partnered with OKBio, the state’s bioscience association, and other regional and community organizations to promote Oklahoma’s bioscience industry at the 2018 Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) Convention in Boston. Members of the delegation hosted 250 meetings with prospective business partners at the OKBio booth. They were also able to share some of Oklahoma’s recent bioscience success stories while marketing the region as a prime location for companies to locate.
The Chamber works to highlight Greater Oklahoma City’s story of success and to educate residents on topics that will have the greatest impact on the future of the region. To aid in that mission, the Chamber launched a new website called VeloCityOKC.com to help drive the conversation about Oklahoma City. The site features daily updates about the Oklahoma City economy, advocacy efforts, area events, lifestyle, developments and member news and a weekly email newsletter to make sure Chamber members stay updated on the latest news. The Chamber also offered its members a chance to highlight their own news on the website––partner-level Chamber members and up receive complimentary sponsored stories as part of their Chamber member benefits. Since launching in July, VeloCityOKC.com has garnered 68,186 page views and 31,279 site users. In addition to readers from Oklahoma, the site has attracted visitors from Texas, Missouri, Virginia, New York and California. SUPPORTING SMALL BUSINESSES As part of the ongoing effort to strengthen businesses in Greater Oklahoma City, the Chamber launched a new suite of programs called Business University to specifically address the needs of small businesses. The first product in that program, the Business University e-newsletter, features custom content that appeals to small businesses, including human resources, marketing, entrepreneurship, management, office productivity and more. The newsletter, which is sponsored by Arvest Bank, is available to the Chamber’s Core, Associate and Emerging Leader members (investment levels ranging from $500-$1,500). The Chamber also launched the Business University on-demand and webinar training program
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