Get Marketing Help Without Paying A Dime
Here's a great way to market and have FUN! Whether you are the
1-on-1 person or the person who loves to be in front of a group,
focus on building relationships. Relationships, especially in a
service business, are imperative in building your business.
There is a business relationship called Strategic Partnership.
Let's look at the difference of formal Partnership vs. Strategic
Partnership
Definition: Formal Partnership
"A legal contract entered into by two or more persons in which
each agrees to furnish a part of the capital and labor for a
business enterprise, and by which each shares a fixed proportion
of profits and losses." www.answers.com
Strategic Partnership/ Strategic Alliance
Creating a win/win situation for both parties. Looking for
someone who matches your values and integrity. You have an
understanding of each other's expectations. You have a common
audience and commitment. You share resources and may even create
a program together. By aligning with different strategic
partners, your visibility increases by the number of each
person's database. Hence, you get to market for someone else and
they are marketing for you. I can't tell you how many
entrepreneurs have told me how passionate they are about someone
else's business and they could easily market them. Well, now's
your chance.
Here is a great example I use in my program. It's called
Lemonade for Sale. Yes, this is for entrepreneurs -- the "big"
kids who want to have fun with their marketing.
Several kids have a clubhouse. It's in need of repair so they
create a Lemonade business to earn money. Their first 3 days
they show an increase in business and their income from their
sales is mounting. All of the sudden, on the 4th day, sales drop
like a ton of bricks. They started doing a little research and
found a juggler at the end of their block. All of their
customers were watching the juggler.
One of the kids had an idea. She approached the juggler and
proposed a win/win strategic partnership. He moved his
entertainment right next to their lemonade stand and they made
more sales than they did all week.
I'm going to leave it up to you.
1) What do you think was the win/win in this partnership
agreement? Want the answer? See the link below in the resource
box. 2) What would you have proposed? 3) Just to get your
thoughts in the right direction, think of other strategic
partnerships you see everyday. Write down five.
I'll give you a hint, depending upon your geographic location...
Caribou Coffee and Brueggers Bagels.
3 Key benefits of Strategic Partnerships:
* Share Costs (if any) * Expand your database with barely any
work involved * Having someone to toss ideas back and forth is
invaluable and FUN!
Who do you know that compliments your product or service?
How would you search out a possibility on the Internet?
How will you make your approach?
Do you have a win/win in mind? If not, it's OK. Here's an
approach I often use:
Email: Hello. I was on the Internet searching for __________
and I came across your website. I'm very interested in hearing
more about what you do. Would you like to take a look at my site
to see if there is a connection? I would be very interested in
opening up a conversation.
Phone: Hello. My name is _______________. I saw your
presentation and was very interested to hear more about your
business. We may have a connection. Would you be interested in
talking?
Make your marketing FUN!