Help each other through Cross Promotion
If there was a way to gain exposure for your own business and help a fellow business person gain exposure at the same time –all at a reasonable cost – would you do it?
It’s a win-win concept, and that is why cross-promotion has become a huge trend in the world of marketing. Joining forces with another credible business allows both of you to expand through each other's customer base.
Take for instance, the relationship between the McDonald’s Corporation and the Walt Disney Company. McDonald’s continuously creates entire marketing campaigns around Disney’s most recent film releases. McDonald’s produces commercials, happy meal toys and in-store displays featuring each blockbuster’s lovable characters. McDonald’s patrons begin to associate their favorite fast food with the Disney film and film goers begin to associate the characters and movie experiences that they enjoy with McDonald’s restaurants. Children who see McDonald’s in-store displays and commercials ask parents to bring them to see the movie and children who see the movie ask parents to go to McDonald’s so that they can get the latest happy meal toy. As a result, both companies thrive.
This cross-promotion marketing by McDonald’s and Disney is obviously a large-scale example, but it can also be done on a local scale. Partner with a local, non-competitive business that offers different products or services than yourself, but has a similar demographic. For example, an automotive repair place and a nearby sandwich shop could benefit from partnering in a marketing campaign. Real estate agents and lenders often partner to gain business, as do contractors and suppliers.
Here are some simple cross-promotion ideas you can apply to your own business:
• Promote one another by hanging signs or posters on your walls, windows, or products.
• Merge mailing lists and send out a joint promotional postcard.
• Share printing costs with double-sided rack cards or counter displays.
• Place each other's coupons or flyers in shopping bags.
• Reward your patrons with your partner's product or coupons when they make purchases and ask your partner to do the same.
• Place links to one another’s websites on your websites
Allow us to help you find a company to cross-promote your business with!
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