Marketing Beyond Borders

Hey marketers!

Did you know there's a new term for B2B marketing? It's called "Trade Marketing"!, trade marketing is a sure way to up your game in today's competitive business environment.

Alternative marketing strategies for small businesses.
Most small businesses today are struggling with low profit margin, on top of that, the actions of competitors jostling to get customers pose a very serious risk to small businesses.
One of the ways to overcome this challenge is through brand alliance. Brand alliance is the partnership between two similar businesses operating in different industries. The ultimate aim however is to make profit and get a fair market share. So let's say you are in the real estate sector, you need to find a brand that seek to serve your interest and that of your customers or client. So for the small business in real estate, you can partner with a credit loan company such that people can take a loan to finance the purchase of properties. Brand alliance is good, the challenge that may come with this concept is that when the brand you are in alliance with experiences crises, you brand automatically experiences crises.
One way to avoid this is to be cautious of the brands you align with.

Tips for avoiding this challenge

1;conduct research on the company you wish to align with. Every business minded organization must have online presence, look up the company name, location, employees, and company registration number.

2; make contact with the organization to discuss your ideas. Most businesses will not partner if they don't see opportunities in your business. Convince them to key into your business. Make them understand the need to partner with you.

3; request to get an office space in the organization. This would ease the difficulty in contacting you whenever their client expresses interest in your business. They too can get office space in your business place. Remember, you are in partnership so it is mutually inclusive.

This would help to increase profit on the long term as well as increase your customer base because their customer automatically becomes your customer!. Remember, everybody needs a home. So while your business is there to make it possible for them to own a home, their business is there to make it possible to finance their home!...

A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF BRAND ALLIANCE
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"Dear Esteemed Customer, in a bid to serve you better, you can now receive excellent service delivery @ all SLOT outlets in Lagos. Thank you for choosing Airtel"
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Don't forget to stay in touch by commenting on today's tips. Let's hear from you, what you think. You can also add your own marketing tips!
We shall discuss more tips on this series next week. Keep reading.

" five successful tips for startups"

1. Be innovative. So many people have attempted to define innovation according to their level of understanding. Truth is, innovation is the end product of 'creativity', creativity is the ability to connect to seemingly the unconnected. So once you have unidentified a need in the society and your business is set up to address such needs you must know that you are not the only person to have done so!, yes, so many people may have identified same and consequently, must set up businesses to meet such needs. However, innovation is not something that has never been done before, it is simply something that is presently done differently!, that is why innovation is the end product of creativity!

2. Solve a problem. This is entirely true. Every business is set up to solve problems not create further problems. Your business must solve a specific problem for its clients or customers. Here at Marketing Beyond Borders, our business is to help your business grow and we do that in some many ways and we have got so many referrals by solving people's problems. So, your business must focus either on a specific problem and find ways to solve them, that way, customers are happy, your revenue is up the sky!

3. Be diligent. "Show me a man who is diligent in his job and I will show you a successful man". You must be diligent in what ever you do. Patience they say is a virtue. Be consistent in your approach to solving problems with time, your startup will grow into a big firm. It doesn't matter how long it takes, with diligence and the application of right strategies, your business will surpass its current stage.

4. Delay the gratification. Yes, you must delay the gratification from the business. Do not eat up all your profits at a go. This is bad. I've seen businessmen who eat up their profit and their business is no more today. You need to save, you are gonna have to make expenses but you need to save a bulk of your business profit. Do not think about buying a car worth 2 million even when your profit is probably 5 million! No!. Delay the gratification!.

5. Do CSR. Whether you like it or not, at some point you will have to do coporate social responsibility no matter how small the business is or how small the market may seem. By CSR, we don't mean building roads or doing something big, no, start small. Give little hampers, participate in environmental sanitation, buy parkers, brooms, etc. The truth is; a lot of your customers live in your immediate environment and to keep them, they must love you and your person. They may patronize your business because you have what they need but they don't like your person. The moment there is a competition, you will loose them.

You can share your thoughts on this tips. Add yours, these tips are not limited. Join the conversation.