Canoodling Owls by barkingbirdart

Getting an endorsement from a well-respected source can lead to a huge growth in your business. While many brands think of celebrity endorsements as the holy grail, you need not limit your search for endorsement prospects to the rich and famous.

PlaySportsTV.com, an online retailer of coaching videos for parents, teachers, and other volunteers, has partnered with numerous organizations to grow their brand. They’ve secured a partnership with the National Council of Youth Sports, offered discounted rates on their products to city athletic leagues and participated in a giveaway with 11 Burger Kings in Erie, PA.

PlaySportsTV may not have NFL pros promoting their wares, but they have well-respected organizations in their corner; organizations with direct connections to the brand’s target market.

Do It Yourself:
Make a list of other business or organizations you could partner with to reach your customers. Do you sell baby clothing? Why not partner with a company that sells maternity products. If you sell custom wedding invitations consider trying to form alliances with wedding planners.

Start by making a list of all the organizations that have relationships with your target market. Then try to think of how you’d like to approach them and what you have to offer them in exchange for their help. Will you offer their audience discounts? Will you make a charitable donation? Will you offer products for a sweepstakes?

Send queries to the groups you’d like to partner with, proposing a mutually beneficial relationship.

Tried This Tactic?
Have you formed a valuable alliance with another organization? Tell us about your experience in the comments below.

<< Read Part 1: Self-Promotion
<< Read Part 2: Twitter
<< Read Part 3: Giving Customers VIP Deals
<< Read Part 4: Expanding Your Line
Read Part 6: Well-Timed Campaigns >>
Read Part 7: Stimulating the Senses >>
Read Part 8: Harnessing the Press >>