How to Get a 100% Return on Your Marketing Investment Guaranteed!

One of the most effective ways to market your products/services is to create strategic alliances. Strategic alliances are partnerships with companies who sell to a client base similar to yours but they sell different products/services. The idea is to find partners whose clients may also be interested in your products/services.

Many times people will casually agree to spread the word about each other's products/services. This is the idea of 'you send me clients and I will send you clients.' This isn't very effective for the following reasons:

1. The agreement is vague and undefined.

2. One or both of the people may not fully understand what the other does.

3. People are busy and forget.

4. Both people may be waiting to 'get something' first before they get into action to help the other.

5. One of the people may be more interested than the other.

6. There may be a higher value for one person than the other.

To eliminate all of these issues, simply create a specific offer for potential strategic alliance partners. Offer to give something to your partners for every person they refer to you who ends up purchasing your products/services. This can be a percentage of your fee or total purchase, some of your products/services, or something else you mutually agree upon.

The motivation for partners to send you clients isn't only about what they will get in return. It is just a way to thank them for their effort, let them know that you are serious about the alliance, and to create commitment.

Think about it, you're probably currently spending money doing some kind of marketing or advertising. There is no way to know for sure that you will see a return on this investment. When you create strategic alliances your investment is guaranteed because you only 'pay' once you have a new client.

What's more, strategic alliances leverage marketing efforts because a partnership allows you to market to many people via your partners (one-to many) instead of one-to-one.

Strategic alliances are a triple win. Your partners win because they are able to be a resource and help someone find what they need as well as receive an incentive for their effort. The person who buys the products/services wins because they find what they need. And you win because you have a new client.

Get started by simply thinking about companies you know who may be potential partners and contact them to see if they are open to the idea. An alliance doesn't have to be complicated and in most cases a written agreement isn't necessary. The goal is to create alliances with people you trust and who trust you.

Here are some examples of strategic alliances:

* Nutritionist and a Personal Trainer or Gym

* Employment Recruiter or Language School and a

Relocation Agency

* Tax Advisor and a Financial Advisor

* Artist and an Interior Designer

* Massage Therapist and a Hair Salon

* Professional Organizer and a Moving Company

* Consultant and a Trainer

* Website Designer and a Copy Writer

In order for your partners to give you a genuine referral it is important that they have sampled your products or experienced your services. If they understand firsthand the benefits of your products/services it will make it easy for them to tell others about you.

These are just a few ways your strategic alliance partners can help you:

- Mention your company in their newsletter

- Give a coupon for a sample of your products/services

- Send a letter to their clients introducing them to your products/services and perhaps offering them a special deal

- Add your website link to their website

- Simply telling clients about your company when the opportunity arises

If your partners want to create their own specific offer for you in return for you sending them clients, that is great as well. It is an added bonus and it isn't a requirement in order to create a beneficial partnership because the agreements are separate from one another.

By now you can see the value of creating strategic alliances. So what are you waiting for? Look through your contacts and see which companies might be perfect strategic alliance partners for your company. Then get into action and contact them!

(c) 2005 Stephanie Ward

Life & Business Coach Stephanie Ward helps business owners set their profits on fire! Get your free monthly profit tips plus bonus report at: http://www.fireflycoaching.com

---

Second Dose Of Marketing Vitamins

Organizations often get stuck in neutral when it comes to... Read More

Is Your Marketing Working...

That is the question, you should be asking yourself. Many... Read More

Like Brushing Your Teeth

What do the following things have in common: brushing your... Read More

Practical Advice to Generate Successful Campaigns Using Merged Lists

You could end up with poor results when designing a... Read More

The M-Word (Marketing) Phase 2

Last month we looked at what you need to do... Read More

How Much Is Your Popcorn Worth? Powerful Lessons In Marketing & The Psychology Of Selling - Part 2

NB: You can read part one here: ... Read More

Top 3 Reasons Why Your Headlines Fail

Many professional copywriters estimate that the headline contributes to 80%... Read More

Marketing ? Like a Game of Chess

Have you started thinking about your Valentines Day Promotion yet?It... Read More

How to Tie a Tie and How To Kiss - What Do They Have In Common?

How to Tie a Tie and How To Kiss -... Read More

Get More Clients From Networking - Follow The Rules Of Dating!

If you're a business owner, you probably spend quite a... Read More

Sales and Marketing: Can One Exist Without the Other?

Simply put the marketing people and the sales people depend... Read More

Maximize Your Lead Generation Efforts by Recycling Your Leads

The basic lead generation process is pretty much the same... Read More

Coupons that Work

Turn a coupon into a business card (or vice versa).Coupons... Read More

Free Sample Sales Letter: Example of How to Write a Persuasive Business Marketing Letter

Here is an example of a business-to-business sales letter mailed... Read More

Set Your Business Apart With A Unique Selling Proposition

Unless your company has absolutely no competition now or in... Read More

Business Marketing Strategy

The term business marketing strategy might sound like it is... Read More

Build Relationships

Personal marketing makes it easier to sell, by building relationships... Read More

John Kerry, Amazing Direct-Marketer!

If you want to uncover a little secret about how... Read More

Marketing Without Ego

Our ego can get in the way of marketing our... Read More

Business Postcard Marketing: 35 Ways to Use It

Postcards are an effective way for many business owners and... Read More

Five Cheap Tricks for Promoting Your Business

If you're like me, you're always looking for ways to... Read More

15-Minute Marketing: Lots of Results in Little Time

Do you think you don't have enough time to market?... Read More

What IS the Difference Between Marketing and Sales?

There seems to be a never ending argument among marketing... Read More

Packaging Trends You Cannot Overlook (Part #2)

Part #26) Food safety is becoming paramount.What this means to... Read More

Your Ideal Client

A lot of small businesses make the mistake of thinking... Read More

Take The Test: Does Your Marketing Copy Sell?

Your marketing materials must grab your prospect's attention long enough... Read More

How to Make Profits With a Commission Mailing Business

There are many mailorder publications that will list... Read More

21 Ways To Expand Your Subscriber List

Expanding your subscriber list, whether it be for your ezine,... Read More

Developing a Contact List- Part Two

In a previous installment, we spoke about how to come... Read More

What Are People Buying Online?

Benefits, that's what!Whether you're selling in print or in person,... Read More

Marketing in Business and Commerce in the New Consciousness

The point is what you give to another you give... Read More

How To Create A Complete Referral Marketing System

These steps are taken from the Referral Flood Marketing Program.... Read More

Small Business Pricing: Setting A Price For Your Product / Service

The importance of pricing can not be underestimated as incorrect... Read More