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Co-Marketing with a Complementary Business
The Sprocket Report
This article has been updated on 9/14/2021 with the article entitled “Grow Your Business by Joining Hands in Win-Win Partnerships.”
Who wants to waste time and money wooing people who will never be customers because they simply don’t want or need what you’re selling? That’s why the first step of any advertising campaign is to determine your target market. If only someone had already identified that target market and primed it for your marketing message! Oh, wait – they did.
You already have leads, followers, past customers and other contacts, but to grow your business, you need to also grow that contact list. Guess what? All those business owners you meet at networking events have the exact same problem as you. The solution could be in joining forces.
You don’t have to buddy up with your fiercest competitor, although in certain circumstances that may be a good option, but working with businesses that are complementary to yours can reap great benefits for both of you.
If you sell teapots and she sells tea, undoubtedly you share the same target market. But your inventory doesn’t overlap and customers will be pleased to buy from both of you. Marketing together makes a lot of sense. Her contacts are already pre-qualified leads for you and vice versa. And you can share marketing costs as well if you plan a campaign together.
- Hey, mortgage banker looking to expand into a neighboring town! Meet realty professional who is a specialist there. We’ve known you both for years and think you’ll work well together.
- And senior care giving expert, we’d like to introduce you to a moving company that focuses on helping seniors downsize. While you’re here, say “hello” to a real estate broker who just received senior services accreditation.
- But our favorites are the businesses complementary to our own: professional coaches, advertising agencies, printers, accountants and many other service suppliers for the business owner. Together, we provide a suite of support to help owners run their companies more efficiently for achieving greater success. We are thrilled to offer tips in every Sprocket Report by our guest bloggers who share their professional expertise with our clients. It expands the network for everyone – win-win-win!
Brainstorm a bit to figure out what businesses might be complementary to yours, and at your next networking function, listen more and talk less. You’ll get beyond the superficial “elevator speech” and really start to make connections. Even if you don’t meet someone complementary to you right away, you’ll find yourself introducing people to each other. You’ll be known as a matchmaker and your own network will grow.
We’re always looking for guest bloggers, so feel free to contact us if you have an article to share that is of interest to business owners. And we’d love to share our tips with your clients as well! As you know, we’re always happy to help!
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Kate Gingold
I have been writing a blog with web marketing tips and techniques every other week since 2003. In addition to blogging and client content writing, I write books and a blog on local history.
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I have been writing a blog with web marketing tips and techniques every other week since 2003. In addition to blogging and client content writing, I write books and a blog on local history.
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