There is a serious epidemic afflicting small business owners. It’s called doeverythingmyselfinitis tilioverload-ifidus. If you suffer from this, or know someone who does, you know how deep the virus can be entrenched, how devastating the symptoms are, and how difficult it can be to cure a long time sufferer.

The root cause, of course, is a belief that “if I don’t do it, it won’t get done… and if I have someone else do it, it won’t get done right.” Although it is completely possible for a person to run their business solely on the fruits of their own labors, it also keeps the ceiling very low. Growth is hardly possible, and burn-out is highly probable.

A rising trend among small business owners, and it’s attracting a lot of media attention (wink,wink), is basically an old take on the barter and trade system. Our culture has moved strictly towards a system of purely goods and services for cash and only cash, but there are so many other ways to transact business. Many of the larger corporations have paved the way through co-branding, media sharing, and cross-promotion.

There is absolutely no reason why we can’t create this climate of networking in our own business communities. Here are the main points to remember when considering any type of a barter or cross-promotion:

-Make sure it is mutually beneficial for each partner. Don’t feel like you need to bring more to the table to sweeten the deal, this should be equally rewarding. Business people that offer intangibles such as holistic practitioners and attorneys tend to let themselves put more into the pot, not truly valuing the time they put in.
-Find those that play at what you work at. Think of where you are weak in your business, and network with those that have that as a strength. If you are a great interior designer, but you have poor marketing abilities, connect with a local PR/marketing firm and offer to redesign their office or living space and place their logo and contact information on your website and promo materials in exchange for their services.
-For a cross-promotion… Warning: with the wrong partners or methods, your efforts can backfire. You may irritate or even alienate prospective customers and supporters. Make sure you have a strong profile of your clientele and desired clientele so you can target their interests and needs.
And last, be creative and have fun! There is limitless possibilities so don’t be afraid to try approaches no one in your industry has done before. One of my favorite quotes is from Timothy Ferriss, author of The Four-Hour Work Week. He said, “It isn’t enough to think outside the box. Thinking is passive. Get used to acting outside the box.”
Bottom line, though, is the more networking you do, the more name recognition you get, and that translates to more money you can put into your pocket. So write yourself a prescription today, because the only cure for doeverythingmyselfinitis tilioverloadifidus is taking action. Utilize the many resources around you to simplify your life and grow your business.

Escrito en marketing « WordPress.com Tag Feed

Ir al contenido original

– Si te gustó el artículo, deja una marca social y enseñaselo al mundo. Todos te lo agradecerán, ¡No lo dudes! –