Newcastle Chamber Update - March 17 2022
Gearing Up Your Business
To say businesses have gone through a very difficult time is understatement. The changes being made by the government are both beneficial and making moving forward a bit of a challenge. As business owners you can still require proof of vaccination, which will appease your clients that are vaccinated and feel safer knowing who is on premises with them. On the other hand, clients that do not want to show proof for whatever reason may chose not to frequent your business. What a conundrum? As owners we are faced with staff issues, increased transportation and merchandise costs, and shortages. 
Restrictions on businesses have been repeatedly introduced and dialed back in the province since early 2020, as the COVID-19 disease curve has risen and fallen.
The Ontario Chamber of Commerce commented on Ontario’s reopening plan on Tuesday by saying the province must use all tools to promote a sustainable and safe reopening and mitigate future problems.
“Our message to Queen’s Park is simple: focus on immediate measures that support business predictability and growth while building capacity within the economy and health care system to withstand future challenges,” Rocco Rossi, chamber president and chief executive, wrote in a statement.
Clarington East Food Bank
There is still a great need for donations of food and money. You can drop off food donations at No Frills, Newcastle. Financial donations can be dropped off at the Food Bank on Tuesdays from 11:00 am to 2:00pm and 3:00pm to 6:00pm and on Thursdays from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm.
SEO Perspective
SEO Perspective – Why You Should Join Your Chamber of Commerce
Joining your local Chamber of Commerce has many benefits. You can advertise your business, join local events, offer exclusive deals to other members and help create a sense of community with your business. 
One of the big benefits most clients overlook is the ability to have your business listed in an online directory. When you join a Chamber of Commerce, you will usually have a profile created in their online business directory under your business category. This profile can include contact information for your business along with a short description and a link to your website into your chamber profile.
Backlinks Are Very Important!
Links from your local Chamber of Commerce can be a huge boost to your Search Engine Optimization of your website. Chamber’s typically have websites that have been around for several years, are well indexed by Google and have large volumes of traffic. Google values these trusted links to your website when calculating search rankings.
Even if you have an existing SEO strategy or you are a brand-new business one of the key elements to google search is having strong, relevant backlinks pointing back to your website. 
These can come in many forms. Maybe you have contributed great content to a blog in your niche. It could come from any relationship, partnerships, or sponsorships you have with other groups and organizations. It can also come from local directories like that present on your local Chamber of Commerce website.
The cost for a small business to join a Chamber of Commerce is generally between $100 to $500 a year depending on the Chamber and the type of benefits they provide each business and the area they cover. 
If you have an online listing in your Chamber of Commerce business directory, contact your chamber to see what features you can use in your listing. Here are some common features you may find in a Chamber website:
  • Business Contact Information
  • Website Link
  • Secure Email Contact Form
  • Links to social network profiles on sites such as Facebook and LinkedIn
  • Short and Long Business Descriptions
  • Bullet points describing products and services
  • Logo and photos
  • YouTube video link
  • Up to 20 keyword search phrases to help your business’ chamber web page be found
  • Hours of operation
  • Map and directions to your business
Keep Your Business Information Up To Date!
We strongly encourage you to keep your information on the website current. You can maintain your contact and business description as required. Here are the instructions:
Step 1: Claiming a Business Listing -
Step 2: Logging in and Editing your Listing -
Events
A big thank you to the The Vatandoust Sirrs Team for sponsoring the FAMILY SKATE event. 
There are still garden plots available at the Newcastle Community Garden. Only $75.00 for the season, sign up today.
www.newcastlecommunitygarden.com/application-form
Do you have an event you want us to advertise?? Go to our webpage, newcastle.on.ca, use the events dropdown and send us the information.

If you have any concerns, please contact our webmaster,
Brian Rutherford:
Newcastle & District Chamber of Commerce | 289 675 0946 | Newsletter@Newcastle.on.ca |  www.Newcastle.on.ca