Strategic Partnerships Help Businesses Weather Economic Storms

March 13, 2010 - PRLog -- The earth's climate is changing (arguably at the hand of man), world cultures are diverging, markets are evolving, businesses are adapting (and if not, they're dying), and individuals are diversifying. All of this for a simple, singular causatum - SURVIVAL.

You may recall that in Maslow's hierarchy of needs, survival is the most basic requirement. Has not our society long since moved beyond this basal compulsion? Didn't we conquer survival and move forward toward the finer aspirations and challenges back in 27 BC when Julius Ceasar Augustus began his reign at the start of the rise of the Roman Empire? If not, then perhaps it was during the Rennaisance when great social, political and artistic movements brought humans to seek ever loftier pursuits beginning back in the 14th century? Why are individuals, businesses, markets and world cultures grasping for floatation devices in this, the time of the greatest technological revolution known to mankind?

Fear. And is that so bad? Fear can be a powerful motivator. But, is it wise to react based solely on fear alone? Of course, it's not. But fear is not all that drives man to extend his hand to his fellow man. Often, it is to help pull his brother up, and that is the greatest reason to join forces with another.

So, if some companies are doing well, why would they wish to extend their hand to help their fellow businesses? After all, companies are in business to make a profit, right? Why would a profitable business want to be in leaque with another company when things are  going good? "Because, it's just good business," says Bruce Livolsi, GM and co-owner of AAA Phone On Hold, a company that's a 26 year veteran of the on hold services  game. "We know we're not in business by ourselves. There are lots of related industries that work in synergy with message on hold - telephone service providers, message player  manufacturers, music licensing companies, phone system installers, just to name a few."

OK, so one company can't survive without the products and services provided by other companies. That's business basics 101. Tell me something I don't know.

Well, most likely you already know about strategic partnerships, but is your company involved in any? I mean, other than working with suppliers who provide the raw materials needed to assemble your products? Other than the freight companies who ship your widgets to the widget retailers who place your offerings on shelves for the masses to consume?

What about striking a deal with a company whose product can be enhanced by using your services? Or the other way around, working with a business whose product enhances your services? After all, you probably aren't the only company who does what you do. What if you could offer something to your customers that they would have to seek elsewhere to find, after they purchased your widget? Wouldn't that add value to your current offering? Would it appear that you were trying to make their lives easier? Of course, it would!

And, therein lies the benefit of strategic partnerships. Not a merger, no financial investment, but simply agreeing to steer customers toward each other during the course of doing business. Not just referring customers, but actually cross-marketing each other. Sure, you're going to reward them when their customer buys, and they'll do the same. But,  it's more important than just adding one more sale to the balance sheets. It's giving your customers more without having to drive around looking for it. They may not have even known that your product existed if your strategic partner hadn't mentioned it.

So, is that a good enough reason to seek strategic partnerships? If not, I guess you'd rather sail the seas of uncertainty alone, with only the light from your sole propietorship to guide you. Go right ahead, we'll send a search party out to collect the bodies after you sink. That is, unless the sharks get to them first!

Learn more about the Roman Empire at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roman_empire
Find out about the Rennaisance by visiting http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rennaisance
Enhance your brand image by making your phone work for you http://AAAPhoneOnHold.com
Read about new opportunities http://columbus.craigslist.org/sls/1635836031.html

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AAA Media, LLC provides multimedia services to businesses, including marketing, phone on hold services, telecommmunications, copy writing, and more.