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

---

A Great Marketing Model ? Utilizing the Power of OPM

Staying ahead of the marketing curve seems to be a... Read More

The Advantages of Full Color Brochure Printing

A brochure can be a great promotional tool, whether it... Read More

Small Business Pricing Strategies

Think the best way to get more customers is to... Read More

Top 7 Ways to Get Your Products in the Hands of Celebrities

Celebrities are the tastemakers that drive brand awareness and usage.... Read More

Another Commercial? Dont Touch That Dial! Watch & Learn

When commercials come on the television do you get up... Read More

How Nearly Going Broke Taught Me The Value Of Niche Marketing

If you want to learn how effective Niche Marketing can... Read More

Turbo-Charge Your Viral Marketing- Five Easy Ways

The world of marketing has changed. With increasingly better educated... Read More

How to Use Direct Response Post Card Decks as a Valuable Market Research Tool

Market research specialists have discovered a new tool which enables... Read More

Viral Marketing

Viral marketing involves the use of surf-exchanges, and if you... Read More

A Common - Yet Easily Avoidable - Marketing Mistake

December is a month in which many organizations make plans... Read More

Customer Retention with a Personal Touch

Personal contact with customers is a crucial element in the... Read More

Using a Contact List Profitably Part One

In previous articles, we discussed the generation of a contact... Read More

Pricing Strategies in Marketing

Price is an often overlooked marketing strategy, as many tend... Read More

The Battle of Positioning -- Altruism or Paranoia?

Competition in the past has embodied such beliefs of "kill... Read More

4 Sales Strategies with Your Trade Show Exhibition Booth

Trade show booths can act as an excellent source for... Read More

Thinking About More Business

What does an old Russian joke have... Read More

The Name Game

Pop quiz! If you have to say goodbye to your... Read More

Wise Man Marketing

It's a sunny morning and you're sitting in your office.... Read More

The Use of Bar Code SMS in Mobile Marketing, Advertising, CRM

Anybody that frequents shopping malls are familiar with the bar... Read More

How To Conduct Effective Online Surveys

Although they are inexpensive and product fast results, online surveys... Read More

Step by Step Guide to an SMS Campaign

SMS is good for:? Short lead times and immediacy ?... Read More

My Marketing Budget Is Small - How Can I Make The Most Of It?

Regardless how small or large your budget is, there are... Read More

When, Why, and How to Use Mailing Lists

Mailing lists may be the cause of more heartbreaks than... Read More

Writing Guarantees that Sell

"This offer is good but can you guarantee it."Why write... Read More

Uncover Your Hidden Markets

Want a simple, low-cost way to boost your sales? Just... Read More

11 Ways to Turnaround a Cash-Strapped Business or Practice

This past weekend I received a disturbing message from a... Read More

Mortgage Marketing to Realtors ? Creating a Memorable Positioning Statement

Mortgage marketing to Realtors involves having a crystal clear position... Read More

7 Simple Marketing Tips

Here are 7 simple marketing tips to help you boost... Read More

Your Marketing Message - Could You Wring More CASH Out Of It With This Ancient Japanese Discipline?

When it comes to your marketing message, the little things... Read More

Business In 2010: A New Face of Marketing

The term "internet marketing" was virtually non-existent a short 8... Read More

What Does Your Business Address Say?

If you are operating a business from your home and... Read More

Marketing On The Cheap: Become a Joiner

Recently I wrote an article on the benefits of joining... Read More

Marketing Manual Sample Outline

The key to success in any business relies a large... Read More