San Luis Obispo Business
September, 1999

New Chamber web ads expand member marketing

Banner advertising on the world wide web is the wave of the future, according to the experts. The Chamber has jumped on board and will begin offering banner advertising to members on its corporate and visitor web sites in early October.

With roughly 300 hits per day on each site, advertising on the Chamber's sites has been in high demand. Members, realizing the magnitude of web-users and the potential economic return, have been anxiously awaiting the start-up of banner advertising through the Chamber.

"This is an opportunity for members to broaden their reach," commented Cecilia Paredes, the Chamber's Internet Manager. "Savvy businesses are catching on and realizing that advertising on the web is the most cost-effective way to reach so many potential consumers."

Jupiter Communications, an Internet commerce research firm, reports that as the online population has grown, and the amount of time people spent online has risen, online advertising revenues have already surpassed those for outdoor (billboard) advertising. By 2003, the amount of dollars spent for online ads will exceed cable advertising ad revenues and equal roughly three-quarters of current radio ad sales.

Ad space on the Chamber's sites will be sold on a quarterly basis. The cost to advertise will be $150 per quarter or $550 per year, for those who want to take advantage of a discounted rate. Banner ads on the homepages of these sites will cost a little more.

Banner advertising on the corporate site will coincide with the launch of a new look for slochamber.org. New Image Technologies, a local website developer, is currently putting the finishing touches on the two year old site. "

We just felt it was time for a change," explained Chamber President/CEO Dave Garth. "Technology is constantly changing and evolving and if we want to keep pace with everyone else, we need be open to re-creating ourselves."

Members interested in banner advertising on the Chamber's web sites should call Cecilia Paredes at 781-2776.

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