Partner for profits

At some point, most businesses, especially small businesses will find themselves in a position where they feel that they can't afford to advertise properly, or even at all. Unfortunately this can cause a vicious downward spiral because by not advertising your business will rarely increase.

The good news is that they sky isn't falling, chicken little. There is a fairly simple solution that will give you the opportunity to properly advertise your business despite your limited resources. If you've been networking then there is a good chance that you have a fairly substantial Rolodex® - flip through and find a few companies that are related to your company in some way. For example, if you run a clothing store then a good choice could be a salon or a jewelry store. If you own a furniture store, you may consider a home builder or an interior decorator. The idea is to find companies that share a common target market but are not in direct competition to share the cost of advertising with. This advertising can consist of anything from direct mail to magazine advertising and everything in between. For the most impact you should partner with one or two companies at the most.

Now get that Rolodex® out and get to work!