Have you ever seen a football team play with just one player?  Probably not.  The reason for that is simple: they just could not compete with one lonely player out on the football field.

The playing field in the world of business is very similar.  You are at a distinct disadvantage if you are trying to go it alone.  There is no reason why you should not be collaborating with other companies to “team up” on customers and bring in more business.  You can find a company that offers a product that compliments what you sell.  For example, if you fix car windows, find a body shop to collaborate with.  Or you can team up with a completely unrelated business in your area.

Regardless of who you team up with, the important thing is to actually do it.  Once you find a partner (or five) decide how you can help each other.  Here are some good ideas to get you started:

1. Use in-store promotional materials.  Print posters that promote your new business partner and hang them up in your store.  Or include a blurb in your brochures that leads customers to them.  And, of course, ask your collaborating company to do the same for you.

 

2. Offer complimentary discounts.  Make an agreement with the other company to offer discounts to your mutual customers.  Each time a customer comes in and says they were sent by your partner, or shows a receipt from there, give them a discount!

 

3. Combine your mailing lists.  If you engage in direct mail marketing, and your new collaborator does too, combine mailing lists!  This is a great way to help each other reach new customers and expand your marketing base.

 

4. Share the cost of advertising.  Some types of ads, such as newspaper ads, can be more pain than they are worth.  But if you can find a business partner to share the costs of such an ad with you, do it!  You both get effective advertising for half the price.

 

5. Use word of mouth to promote each other.  Have your sales associates mention your partner business as they cash out each customer.  Have your partner do the same at his or her store.  You would be surprised at how effective this can be!  If the customer is satisfied with your service, they will be likely to check out the company you mentioned, too.

 

6. Give away free samples of each other’s products.  If you can afford to do so, give some of your products to your partner business to give out to their customers.  Then take some products from them that you can hand out, too.  Free samples are a great way to increase interest in your business, and if there are two companies handing them out, even better!

 

7. Use your partner’s products as a prize to customers.  For example, run a contest for your customers to participate in.  Buy a product from your partner (unless they want to donate it to you) and offer that as the prize to the winner.

 

These are just a few ways to collaborate with another business to promote each other.  Experiment with these and any others you can come up with.  Team up on the competition!