Chamber News


What has a sleek design, intuitive navigation, engaging content and a whole host of state-of-the-art features? Don’t be so quick to shout out the name of your favorite luxury car. In fact, these are just a few phrases overheard to describe the recently unveiled MACC website, interactive kiosks, and ambient video system (AVS). The three technology based components, as you’ll learn later, are at the heart of an effort by MACC to provide more robust exposure and a competitive advantage for our local business community. Since early last year the Chamber has been working behind the scenes alongside VisitMonroeville and the new Monroeville Convention Center with Monroeville-based technology development firm, Omniprox, and Murrysville-based software development and IT consulting firm, IQ Inc., on a project that redefines the standard for Chamber of Commerce member contact systems.

Cutting right to the chase, for MACC members there are two words that sum up the new website and kiosk system in a nutshell – ADDED VALUE! At a time when most every business is looking for ways to better deploy their marketing dollars and gain additional brand recognition, membership in MACC just became an even better investment. The enhanced market exposure offered through the new system is provided as an additional member benefit at no cost. A price I’m sure we can all agree works within the constraints of any budget.

Through MACC’s new website, members can manager their company profile visible to thousands of people each month who come to the Chamber’s website in search of local businesses. Customize your company’s presence by adding photos, creating a description of what you provide, uploading your logo, and creating discount coupons with just a few easy keystrokes.

Although it’s not traditionally a service provided to members by most chambers of commerce, customizable web profiles have been around for several years. What makes the MACC system so unique is that it feeds our members’ company profile and special offers to interactive touch screen kiosks strategically placed near high traffic areas within the new Monroeville Convention Center. You have to see the kiosks to truly appreciate the system. But for our purposes here imagine Avatar, a casino’s virtual black jack dealer and a Sheetz MTO sandwich ordering system somehow spawned an offspring and you start to get the picture. Add to that the AVS system – a series of large screens (think movie theater size) within the Convention Center available for mass promotion of upcoming events and local businesses – and you begin to understand the impact potential for reaching a variety of new markets.

In just the first year of operation over 500,000 people will visit the Monroeville Convention Center while attending events that range from industry trade shows to the sports and outdoor shows. The unique opportunity before Chamber members is that many of those visitors will be looking for a local business during their visit. The interactive touch screen kiosks allow visitors to easily find a local business to fill their need. At the kiosk a user can print, text message or email your company’s customizable profile and special offers in real time right on the spot. And only members of the Monroeville Area Chamber will appear on the website and kiosks, giving members exclusive access to thousands of potential shoppers and clients.

Like any new technology-based program, the true strength of this system is in giving our members the ability to provide up to date and relevant information to users. With that in mind please take a few minutes to visit the new MACC website to create your company details. Adding information to your profile is a snap. For those of you familiar with other website profile systems, you’ll find the MACC member section very intuitive. For those not as “computer savvy,” don’t be intimidated. Here’s a step by step guide for reference.

1) Visit www.monroevillechamber.com
2) Click on the “MEMBER LOGIN” link at the top right hand corner of the site.
3) Once on the member login page scroll down and click on the link titled “LOGGING IN FOR THE FIRST TIME?”
4) At the prompt enter the primary email address associated with your MACC membership. Hint…check the hard copy MACC directory or call the Chamber office to be sure you’ve chosen the correct email address for your company.
5) An email will be sent to your primary email address containing a temporary password to access your online member account.
6) Back at the member login page, use your primary email address and temporary password to login.
7) Once you’re logged in you can add text about your company’s products and services – click “MODIFY DESCRIPTION”; you can also upload your company logo and photos – click “MANAGE LOGO/PICTURE”; or create a special offer available to website visitors and kiosk users – click “MANAGE COUPON.”

If you experience any difficulties or would like a more in depth tutorial, call MACC and we’ll be happy to walk you through the process. In addition, the Chamber will be hosting a hands on training session for members who want to learn more about how to best utilize the features of the new site. That session will occur on Thursday, March 18, from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the MACC training center. To attend this session, RSVP by calling 412-856-0622.

As a chamber member, I hope you are as proud of this new enhancement as I am to present it. As always, MACC appreciates your feedback. Please let us know what you think. Drop me a line at camond@monroevillechamber.com or call me at 412-856-0622 and share your thoughts.