Make your business more appealing by getting involved with other businesses

Why not give yourself another competitive edge by associating your small business with something that catches people’s interest? Establishing a relationship with another company or organization does a few different things for you and your business. First, it puts your company name in front of more potential customers. It can also help to establish your company’s credibility. Thirdly, and perhaps the most important reasons to associate with something interesting – is that it’s fun. You should be involved with a business that you have fun running, and shouldn’t be doing it if it isn’t fun.

Focus on having fun and the outcome (money) is more likely to be what you have hoped for. Subsequently, you can pick and choose the types of companies and organizations that you might want to be connected with. If you haven’t already developed unique relationships that separate you from your competitors, start brainstorming about who you might want to deal with immediately. Your first step might come with looking at some popular websites that generate a lot of traffic, and evaluate who they are associating themselves with.Some companies might partner with similar companies within the same industry. Another company may be committed to giving back to charitable organizations in their community. If you end up coming together with a charitable group, you might incent potential customers to invest in your business by donating a small percentage of their purchase toward that charity. People are very careful with their money, but are often times more willing to participate when they are standing behind a cause that gives back.

Be creative though, think about ways that your company might be able to help a company in a totally different industry. Perhaps you are a construction company that is capable of building a set for a movie. Why not find a company in the movie industry that has filming locations available, and see if you can put their logo on your website? Most companies would be happy to have the additional exposure – they might even do the same for you – and of course you might end up finding some additional jobs.If there are well respected unions or organizations that you can join, it’s another way to raise your credibility. If you become part of a particular group they might let you place their logo on your site. This will indicate to customers and potential buyers that you are an industry player and have associates in the industry.Remember to have fun, and the possibilities are limitless. In fact, there are probably hundreds of different companies and groups that will allow room for some sort of partnership. It’s just a matter of you putting in the time to think about how you can help others, while they help you.


© 2008 eMarketing 4 Business LLC

Don’t be afraid to bring back old school business tactics

Over the years a number of owners have gotten away from some of the oldest business tactics in the book. Now that we are able to contact people so conveniently with cell phones and email, owners are not handing out their business cards as often as they used to. This is a fundamental lapse in business tactics, as you may be missing out on potential customers every time you are away from home or the office. The best way to do business is by doing it 365 days a year. You never know who you might run into when you are at the grocery store, a ball game or any other place that involves people.

The first way to ensure that you are doing business year round and marketing all the time is by ordering yourself some business cards in considerable bulk. It might be one business card alone that pays for this cost one hundred times over. The second way to be sure that you don’t miss lucrative business opportunities and potential deals is by making sure that you always have business cards both in your wallet and in your car. Even if you are out to dinner and realize you don’t have a card on you, you can pop out to your car and grab a few to hand out. The best way to do business is to go find the business, and not make it come to you. You never know who you will run into that might run into. Always carry business cards with you and be sure to hand them out to anyone and everyone, including family and friends.
© 2008 eMarketing 4 Business LLC