Kimberly Davis, Director of Sales, Extended Stay America Premier Augusta, found some “secret sauce” to help her compete with CSRA hotels and Airbnb’s that allow longer stays for guests.
Davis is a graduate of an ongoing marketing program offered by the Augusta Metro Augusta Chamber of Commerce.
She says each presenter brought unique expertise, practical marketing strategies, and real-world insights.
”The Small Business Marketing Academy was an outstanding experience that exceeded my expectations,” she said. “I left every session with valuable takeaways that I could apply directly to my business. The program expanded my marketing knowledge, strengthened my confidence in promoting my brand, and provided a deeper understanding of how to effectively engage customers and support business growth.”
Enrollment is open for the next Small Business Marketing Academy, which begins July 28 and runs through December. The program will review, reflect, and expose business owners and managers to different resources, professionals, and subject matter experts to pump up your marketing game. Topics include Branding Basics, Essential Marketing Plan Ingredients, Marketing with Technology and Media, and Advertising.
Chamber President and CEO Angie Cox said the academy is geared toward small businesses, but it can benefit medium and large businesses as well.
“Each month is focused on a different aspect of marketing, everything from digital to print to social, etc. To all of the new marketing and advertising venues and methods that people are maybe not as familiar with,” she told ABD. “As the Chamber, we are blessed and fortunate to have a plethora of members who are specialized in all these different areas, and we provide these speakers and these presenters to you at a fraction of what some of their speaking fees might be.”
The day-long, monthly sessions are in a roundtable format and are held at the chamber’s office at 1 10th Street, just off Reynolds Street. It will teach practical marketing strategies with real-world tools. It will help a business just starting its marketing plan and those looking to refine an existing plan. Attendees will have a customized plan tailored to their business at the end of the academy.
“On top of that, the cohort really learns from each other, too,” Cox explained. “They can run stuff past some of their classmates and say, ‘Does this look good? Is this what we learned? Would you suggest this? Are you having trouble with this?’ They could even collaborate on a marketing effort together. So, oftentimes it’s the friendships and the relationships that are formed within the academy that last long after the academy ends. The graduates always rave about how much they learned.”
The academy is offered twice a year. The next one will begin in January.
The academy is open to both chamber members and non-members. Tuition for members is $150, and $300 for non-members. Anyone wishing to attend must register by July 18. Participants must submit an application and pledge to attend all classes.
Registration and more information are on the chamber’s website www.augustametrochamber.com. From the home page, click on Events and select About Our Programs.
