Where do you look for the appropriate alliance?
One of the most asked question is "Where do you find a good alliance partner?" It is actually fairly easy. You can find potential alliances by taking some time to research potential partners. Remember that you should start by focusing more on finding the potential partner than you do on implementing the alliance.
You should rely on your own business relationships and referrals from your current customer base or contacts. It is through referrals that the best possible linkages are obtained. Yes, there are other ways to get potential partners and those can also be explored, it is just that they take a little longer to cultivate.
Looking at the associations you belong to is one way you can add candidates to your list. Only choose those that are not offering the same product or service as you. Trade groups, such as trade organizations are an excellent source as well. Your local Chamber of Commerce has many members and you will find several potential alliance partners in their directory.
You should also search job boards for companies that are looking to hire in your area of expertise (especially if you are a consultant). The important thing is that you make an extensive list of candidates.
Having made a first draft of possible candidates, the next step in your careful planning is to make sure that the potential alliance partner is open to adding your products or services to their current line of business. You also need to make sure that there is sufficient profit for the alliance to work. Besides profit, there also needs to be a market for what each of you offer.
Once you have made your short list of candidates, make sure that you do some research into their business ethics, customer testimonials, and general business dealings. If you do your homework, you will have a better chance of finding the right alliance partner.
Bette Daoust, Ph.D. has been networking with others since leaving high school years ago. Realizing that no one really cared about what she did in life unless she had someone to tell and excite. She decided to find the best ways to get people's attention, be creative in how she presented herself and products, getting people to know who she was, and being visible all the time. Her friends and colleagues have often dubbed her the "Networking Queen". Blueprint for Networking Success: 150 ways to promote yourself is the first in this series. Blueprint for Branding Yourself: Another 150 ways to promote yourself is planned for release in 2005. For more information visit http://www.blueprintbooks.com
whole house cleaning Deerfield ..Are you a motivational speaker who consistently gets rave reviews... Read More
We all know that competition is an ugly word but... Read More
What are the benefits of using a Freelance Consultant /... Read More
Part of the power plan is making sure you have... Read More
Q: I really want to start my own business, but... Read More
If you're looking for start-up capital for your business, but... Read More
If you discovered the bottom line in your business depended... Read More
If you own a mobile truck washing, pressure washing or... Read More
Mr/Ms, 'not me' is often on holidays in your business.... Read More
Writing a business plan is a fundamental step to ensuring... Read More
Think of all of your business ideas as tiny seeds... Read More
You are probably hard at work promoting your business (and... Read More
When we speak of branding most of the time people... Read More
You have spent considerable time pulling your business plan together,... Read More
The bad things starts with the letter 'O'?.like Obstacles, Obstruction,... Read More
When it comes to cost, how much can you afford... Read More
You've heard it before; we're living in an information age.... Read More
$elling $elling $ellingWhat makes a great sales person? Well, the... Read More
A few years ago, I visited Beijing for the first... Read More
Tammy, a skilled and gifted horticulturist, called me to discuss... Read More
Whether you are an Entrepreneur or Business Professional there are... Read More
Where do you find more customers?How do you compete with... Read More
Having a successful business means also having a good working... Read More
Here are seven ways for owners of small businesses to... Read More
"If at first you don't succeed, then skydiving definitely isn't... Read More
home cleaning services Des Plaines ..Franchising Corporations need to maintain an iron fist when it... Read More
In this series of articles I'm going to show you... Read More
When working from home, it is usual to find that... Read More
No matter what kind of small business you have, you... Read More
When starting a business, you have to determine the method... Read More
No matter type of business you operate you've got to... Read More
If you are in the pressure washing business and are... Read More
Take advantage of world politics today and start your own... Read More
Don't let your customer satisfaction research initiative collect dust on... Read More
Paper Shredding Business Opportunities are blossoming up everywhere because in... Read More
Whether it has been thrust upon you by external market... Read More
Shipping materials can be expensive! Even the styrofoam "peanuts" can... Read More
According to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, since... Read More
New Franchisors and Entrepreneurs need to watch out as they... Read More
How often has someone thought of starting a business based... Read More
The challenges of the small business owner are well documented.... Read More
Here is an interesting case study of a company, which... Read More
Sacred cows take a long time to die. We get... Read More
In many industries, image is one of the last things... Read More
If you are a small business you know that you... Read More
Small business success is very similar to learning to walk,... Read More
In franchising an individual desirous of their own business will... Read More
1. Look Over Your Shoulder ? Of course, Punxsutawney Phil... Read More
When small businesses fail, the wreckage is often assigned to... Read More
An observation while returning home from a seminar: Getting away... Read More
Small Business |