Last year was a busy one for the San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce, especially online. Here’s a look back at some of the Chamber’s proudest accomplishments in 2010.

The Chamber focused on staying ahead of the technology curve by focusing on the search engine optimization of its websites as well as strengthening its social media presence (find the Chamber now on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, Flickr and more.) The Chamber also presented its brand new online Business Directory, complete with an individual web page for each of its 1,400-plus members.

With absolutely no paid advertising, the Chamber’s tourism website, VisitSLO.com, received an incredible amount of traffic in 2010. Overall, VisitSLO.com received an astonishing 121,159 visits (100,808 of which were absolute unique visitors) and 438,688 pageviews. This site continues to rise to the top of search engine results, thanks to the efforts of the Chamber’s staff.

In January, the Chamber named former San Luis Obispo City Manager John Dunn as Citizen of the Year at 105th Annual Dinner.

In February, the Chamber websites (VisitSLO.com, SLOChamber.org and SLO-Business.com) won the second-highest honor from the Western Association of Chamber Executives.

In March, the Chamber was one of the leading organizations behind “Make SLO Fast,” the movement that attempted to bring Google fiber to SLO.

In April, the San Luis Obispo City Council commended the Chamber for its Economic Vision document and endorses the document’s six-point economic strategy. And the San Luis Obispo City Council adopted a city-wide “no-smoking” ordinance; the Chamber played a key role on the task force and lobbies for the ban.

May was an especially busy month for the Chamber in 2010. The Chamber hosted its annual Mixer Showcase on May 10, the largest business-to-business tradeshow on the Central Coast, which featured more than 130 booths and was attended by thousands of community and business leaders at Embassy Suites Hotel.

Also in May, the Chamber hosted its annual “State of the City’s Economy” with a new segment that offered participants key tools in management, marketing and sales, and finances; took a group of 20 to Sacramento to lobby key leaders, both elected and administrative, on important issues that effect SLO businesses; and hosted a Sheriff candidate’s forum, the first of three candidates’ forums hosted by the Chamber throughout this election year to help inform members.

In June, the Chamber opened up advertising space for members only on three of its most popular and highly-trafficked websites: visitslo.com, slochamber.org and slo-business.com.

In July, the Chamber received “Community Spirit Award” from United Way of SLO County for inspiring hope and creating a brighter future in San Luis Obispo County.

In August, the Chamber announced a fun trip to Ireland for Chamber members scheduled for spring 2011.

In September, the Chamber went mobile with SLO-Business.com; and in partnership with the city’s Tourism Business Improvement District, launched a hospitality training program called My San Luis Obispo.

In October, National Geographic’s “THRIVE” hit book stores – a proud moment for the Chamber after working with the author for more than a year to explain why SLO is such a “happy town.” The Chamber also in October supported County Visitors and Conference Bureau with the inaugural Sunset Magazine’s Savor the Central Coast. And Leadership SLO Class XIX graduated; the program geared up for its 20th year beginning this month, interviews were conducted and Class XX was selected.

In November, Measure H was defeated! The Chamber, along with other members of the community, worked hard to defeat Measure H and keep the Prado Road alignment on track for completion. The Chamber played a key role in the inaugural Central Coast Economic Forecast, the successor to the UCSB Economic Forecast.

Also in November, the Chamber awarded six businesses a 2010 Green Award for their efforts in sustainability leadership. The businesses included: Elemental Herbs, Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center, San Luis Obispo Botanical Gardens, Avila Bay Athletic Club and Spa, Solarponics and Tolosa Winery.

In December, the City Council adopted a new Historic Preservation plan for the city, for which the Chamber advocated and had a major influence in drafting.