Hundred thousands of small and midsize business in the US struggle like virtually never before. Waiting for a government bailout might be just an illusion for some – totally unacceptable for others. If small businesses don’t want to fail terribly, they must start building their very own business survival kit.

Our business climate is very rough. Time is of essence. After a complete re-examination of your own business model, products and services, it is time to think outside of the box. It might be advisable to do something you never thought necessary or possible.

One of the promising ideas might be to initiate your own local or regional strategic alliance. This does not mean that you should necessarily create another membership fee association. Most business people hate this, unless it is really beneficial to them.

Promotional Strategic Alliance

Some business people may consider a formal or informal business generating strategic alliance with business friends, clients and maybe even your competitors. If you explain your concept, many people might be inclined to join without mandatory financial commitments. Such a strategic alliance could mean:

  1. A synergistic business development forum
  2. Business promotion and advertising cooperative
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Who should join?

Quality – not quantity is the motto. It would be useless to attract everybody you know. Many people contacts are useless because they cannot think outside their own little world. Who should join your alliance?

  1. Sophisticated, out of the box thinking business people
  2. Businesses who can contribute something to the organization
  3. “No more business as usual” thinkers
  4. Business owners and executives with new ideas
  5. People who can offer new strategies and approaches
  6. “Doer” personalities

Mission Statement

Your new business alliance must have a very clear mission statement. Nobody can waste his time with fruitless conversations and people who love to listen to themselves.

  1. Formal or informal association
  2. Local or regional strategic business alliance
  3. Strategic business cooperative
  4. Visionary group of business people and companies with specific goals
  5. Idea sharing mode
  6. Joint business development
  7. Joint marketing and advertising
  8. Joint media communications and Public Relations

Sooner Better Than Later

Since we are already in a deep recession – and many prognosticate even a terrible depression – we have no time to lose. This is why:

  1. Our current business climate won’t change anytime soon
  2. We cannot expect any government solutions
  3. We are desperate for some kind of competitive edge
  4. We are forced to reinvent ourselves
  5. We need cooperative help of a strategic business alliance
  6. We have no substantial investment or marketing budget
  7. We must promote our business and generate sales and profits
  8. We must recognize that the motto “No ad – no biz” still is valid

How To Get a Competitive Edge?

A synergistic business alliance could open you new doors, deliver valuable business ideas and save you on many services. How?

  1. Exchange business experience and information
  2. Try a cooperative marketing approach
  3. Start doing business with each other
  4. Consider offering barter deals
  5. Initiate cooperative Public Relations campaigns
  6. Take advantage of a group discount through the association

Start Promoting Your Business

Everybody knows that our promotional budgets are virtually non-existent. However, you still must find a way to do it. Considering the market situation, many suppliers are going to cut their rates to the bone because they need business too.

  1. Try no-charge media, marketing and PR advice some consultants offer
  2. Consider doing Public Relations
  3. Update your corporate brochures
  4. Revisit the need of a company newsletter
  5. Use professional photo and video services to sell your products
  6. Rethink your advertising concept
  7. Get a contemporary web site
  8. Get a solid marketing and PR plan

Business Development forum

A strategic business alliance can be an excellent business development forum. You could meet on a monthly or quarterly basis, exchange information, discuss trends and develop common approaches to develop new business in your area.

You must discuss aspects such as:

  1. How to cooperate in a joint business development
  2. How we individually exchange our information to benefit all
  3. How to assign specific tasks to each member
  4. How to discuss specific business ideas and proposals
  5. How to do more business with each other

Some people say, this is the kind of things most local chambers do. Theoretically, yes. Practically? Not really. How many people do you know who really benefited from chamber networking?

The problem is that the most chambers are mainly interested in your membership fee. Furthermore, most of their meetings and discussions are much too general. What business people need is much more focus on how to survive in today’s violent business environment.

Don’t leave it to others. Do it yourself – with people you know and trust. Focus on only one most important thing: How can I survive in this rat race?