| In my latest audio program, Conquering Your | | | | publication. That means I get telemarketing help |
| Market with a One Man Army I detail hundreds of | | | | for free, while they get my expertise and a way |
| ways that a small business can Maximize its | | | | to tack a 20% commission on the end of every |
| marketing efforts. Of all the strategies included | | | | sale they make! Talk about win, win! |
| perhaps none is more powerful than the concept | | | | Strategic alliances as a way to drive traffic to |
| of forming strategic alliances with other | | | | each others business. |
| businesses. The purpose of such alliances is to tap | | | | Big companies recognized a long time ago the |
| into new clients and drive them to each others | | | | value of strategic alliances to drive customers to |
| business. To form new lines of low cost | | | | each other. Delta suggests that I sleep in a Hilton |
| distribution for your sales information and to tap | | | | hotel in all it's literature and recommends that I |
| into each others unique expertise. This can be | | | | rent my car from Avis. American Express sends |
| done at many different levels and the more | | | | me free membership in the Hertz and National car |
| alliances you make the better it will work. | | | | rental clubs and free membership specific airline |
| Strategic alliances as a way to get your message | | | | clubs if I fly that airline. |
| out cheaply! | | | | Driving traffic to your doors with strategic |
| I have a strategic alliance with Macho Products, | | | | alliances is not just the realm of big business. |
| they supply my karate schools with equipment | | | | Nightclubs and restaurants often form strategic |
| and distribute my sales literature to all of their | | | | alliances with cab drivers to bring business right to |
| clients for free. In return I promote their products | | | | their doors. A local hair salon was one of my best |
| and include their logo as a sponsor on events I | | | | sources of leads for my first karate school. While |
| run in the industry. I have the same type of | | | | an alliance with a well liked bartender can be a |
| arrangement with Markel Insurance who mail | | | | wonderful source of leads for just about every |
| information on my seminars to over 10,000 | | | | business in town. |
| karate schools in return for sponsorship of the | | | | In the speaking business I have alliances with |
| events and a free booth at my annual trade | | | | several other speakers who are experts on |
| show. Just the distribution of sales information | | | | topics that I am not. When we get a lead for a |
| alone to their customer base of karate business | | | | speaking engagement that does not fit our |
| owners saves me thousands of dollars a year in | | | | specific knowledge we pass it along to another |
| postage. | | | | person in the group. Also after one of us has |
| On a simple level I used to trade business card | | | | spoken to a specific group we always |
| ads with as many other businesses I could find | | | | recommend one another for future speaking |
| who published a monthly newsletter. In this way | | | | dates. |
| all the little boys whose sisters used to attend the | | | | With the previous three examples in mind ask |
| Irvine Dance Academy got a coupon for a FREE | | | | yourself: |
| trial karate lesson. While the parents of my karate | | | | Who could you form an alliance with to help |
| students got a free coupon inviting them to try a | | | | distribute you sales literature? |
| dance class. | | | | Who could you form an alliance with to share |
| Strategic alliances as a way to trade expertise | | | | expertise? |
| I have just formed a strategic alliance with Hitter | | | | Who could you team up with to drive traffic to |
| communications, they are Internet experts, I am | | | | each others business? |
| not. I have a strategic alliance with Martial Arts | | | | Once you have answered these questions and |
| World Magazine. I have provided them with mailing | | | | come up with a list of target businesses, be |
| lists and my professional expertise in the martial | | | | pro-active. Take the initiative to approach the |
| arts business in return for SIX free pages of | | | | other person and offer first, to help them! The |
| advertising in each issue. Next month I will travel | | | | residual benefit will be more than worth the effort |
| to Washington for a free consulting visit to a | | | | and as with all things in life you have to plant |
| company that publishes a national directory of | | | | seeds before they grow! Start planting yours |
| speakers. In return for my expertise they have | | | | today by initiating some new strategic alliances, |
| agreed to sell ads for my catalog of business | | | | you will quickly find your marketing costs reduced |
| products as an add on sale while selling ads in their | | | | and your traffic increasing! |