Cross Promote – Share costs and prospect lists with a complementary, non-competing business. For instance, if you are a realtor, you could share the cost of a direct-mail postcard with a mortgage or title company. Or put links to a complementary business site on your Web site, and ask the other business to do the same. For example, if you send out brochures, both partners could include a brochure and/or business card of the other’s business.  Nothing is more powerful that a recommendation from a trusted source and if your cross-promotion partner has customers or clients, chances are they trust her or him and will listen when a suggestion to use another company is presented. When you cross-promote with another business you have the opportunity to reach a whole new circle of potential customers.  Some of the companies you could consider include to collaborate with a well-known company, competitors (not in your area, but in the same industry that serve a different market) and nonprofits you support.

Cross promoting or partnering reduces a small business marketing and promotion costs and also opens the door to implement techniques you could not previously consider because of the expense of doing so.  Read It Takes Two – How to Cultivate Profitable, Strategic Alliances To Increase Your Market Share for more tips on how to find Cross-promotion partners to serve your target niche.  

Want more ideas to promote your business on the WEB? Get a FREE copy of the 8-page Special Report Promoting Your Business on the WEB  TODAY!

  Apple took portable music to a whole new level when Nike and Apple teamed up to develop the Nike + iPod Sports Kit.   This kit is a media player/sneaker combo that allows runners to track their progress on their computers.   However, that isn’t the only benefit this partnership brought. 

The buzz around the product launch and deals with online stores at both brands generated “above average” demand according to both companies. Not to mention that both retailers have been able to leverage their partnership to sell and promote the product to a wider audience.  And users can download their training details from the Nike Web site, where they can maintain a daily logbook. All this is possible even when the user is listening to her favorite songs on the iPod. This mix of customer experience, media, marketing, and the ability to promote their brands in a variety of ways makes the Nike/Apple duo a perfect model for marketing and product partnerships.

Who could you partner with to bring your customers/clients a better experience?

Want to know how to create those partnering opportunities?  Read “It Takes Two – How to Cultivate Profitable, Strategic Alliances To Increase Your Market Share” 

Strategic Alliances & Partnerships ~ Find ways to participate in or resestablish joint venture partnerships. If you have worked with others in the past to market your business, now is a great time to reconnect and suggest collaborating. You could send a new mailing to one another’s lists or co-host an event. It is also a great time to strike up new alliances as other companies and individuals will likely be in the same boat and the idea of working with you will be more appealing.

Showcase Your Expertise ~ Public Speaking has the potential to get more business quickly, because you will already have built-in credibility by being the focus of the meeting. Events such as trade show seminars, local business associations meetings and nonprofit organization volunteer events are potential audiences that will get you in front of the right markets. 

Network, network, network ~ Networking is still one of the best ways to meet new prospects and if you play your cards right, one of the least expensive ways to market your company. Find out where your vendors and clients hang out and see if you can get an invitation.  Say YES to any invitation to meet new people, even if you feel a little bit uncomfortable because you don’t know anyone.

BONUS TIP: Get the book “How to Work a Room” by Susan RoAnn and read it forwards and backwards ~ it is filled with great ideas to meet and mingle even when you are shy. 

Marketing when business is slow should be easy and fun.  If you aren’t motivated to market your small business during slow times, how will you be motivated when business is good?