This first question is fictional, but we wanted to include it to give people an example of what kind of questions they can ask and what kind of answers they can expect. All future questions will be from real people talking about their real situations.
How can I convince my partner that we should spend money on marketing? We run a daycare, and she says that the only way we can grow is through word of mouth. She says spending money on marketing would just be a waste. Help!!!
- daycare owner
Maybe it’s time to start your own day care? If that’s not an option, you should ask for a meeting time with your partner to look at the big picture of your business. Find some areas that would be wins for both of you and negotiate options. This isn’t really about convincing your partner to do marketing as it is about finding a way to work with your partner for a successful day care business model.
Once you have established some wins for both you and your partner, you can revisit marketing. Grassroots marketing may be a great way to begin your marketing as it’s low-budget and often very effective. Here are some steps to how that may look:
1.) Establish a list of businesses around you that may be willing to make announcements about your business in their newsletters or among their employees. Large employers, churches, car dealerships, etc.
2.) Split the list of potential businesses between you and your business partner and hit the phones. Ask for a time to meet to share about your business and talk about your community.
3.) Get to know your fellow business owner and find out if there is any way you can help them with their business. Then, specifically ask for one thing they could do to help you with yours (newsletter mention, coupon for a free day, open house invitation, etc.)
Good luck.
Tags: grassroots, partner
My first thought: Get a new partner. Great idea Silver Square!