Site to site cross-promotion . Good idea?
OK, of course collaboration and helping each other is a big part of the WA experience, but...
it often stops short of active partnerships between WA member businesses that recommend and link to each other's posts, guest blog or otherwise support each other on a long term basis. Most of us are on our own, unless we take action and reach out to others in our networks.
I've done that carefully so as not to fall into any MLM traps, or scare other members who may think I'm trying to set one for them. The potential rewards are great, from SEO to personal growth to big improvements in our businesses. Turns out that there are a lot of folks in WA that are open to collaboration, from business advice to feedback or even guest blogging.
I've done enough of this to get a feel for it, and at this point, I think I can recommend it when the business to business fit is right. Of course the chemistry must be a fit, too...
I would say it makes sense to cross promote if the two businesses:
- Have at least some niche target customers in common,
- Are NOT direct competitors (don't generally offer the same thing to the same folks)
- Have some different strengths, weaknesses and knowledge areas to compliment each other
- Have some non-content needs that the other can fill (site tech, product tech, language, etc.)
- And you seem to like each other's writing and enjoy interaction
I've found a few fellow WA members that fit this model, and the collaboration is very rewarding on a personal and emotional level. On a business level it is too early to say, but it has real promise. I'm going to keep at it, even though it is TIME CONSUMING, so when the collaborators (them and me) are pretty green (under a year).
My advice is - do this if you see the opportunity, and have a little time to budget for it. Realize that it IS a long-term investment, so don't let it eat up too much time, but keep at it. I think you'll be glad you did...
What do you think, and what have your cross promotion experiences been like?
I'd love to know who else is working this way...
Steve
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Yes, I like the idea and to me it is indeed logical. We are family, we are partners. If everyone stays authentic, there is no competition, but complementation.
I can see the benefit of doing this. I just don't believe I have my own site to the point I feel it needs to be at in order to do this and finding the time would be hard. I am literally in the process of writing three more articles for my site with two more being researched and several other ideas for more. Perhaps it is something to consider in the future.
For most of us, our site should be the first priority, Anita, so your assessment makes sense. That said, there is a lot of SEO benefit to cross promotion, if you can manage the effort and limit the amount of your time that goes into it. I believe that is doable, but my own experience does not prove it - at least not yet.
Oh, I believe that is true. I'm just not at a place yet to do it because I haven't finished the coursework yet. I've filed it away in my mind to try in the future.
You have a great weekend!
Just my thoughts, Steve. And actually, we have started. You have a request from me, and I have a request from you. It can be really more interesting in some(distant, I guess) future- readers/customers'conferences, contests, etc.I am never short of ideas, but often -of implementation of them.That's where some backup(or a friendly kick.lol) comes very handy...:)
My poem on your site will be my 3rd WA guest post, Vera. Lots of fun, and some work... Of course we are already helping each others businesses even before the actual guest blog cross promotion...
Of course... A lot of things go unnoticed tor others but recognised and appreciated by glad recepients.:)
Definitely something to consider as I progress into the new year. Thanks for sharing Steve! :-)
Bob King is already at motion, like Steve is, without making a big fuss about it.
You are doing more than you know, guys...Thanks...:))
Hi! Steve, What you described should be okay as long as there is no conflict of interest and time and resource allow.
Chin
It will, Chin; we are in full agreement.
Based on the positive opportunities of the WA platform and social network, avoiding conflict of interest is easy if one just pays attention - conservation of time and resources is another matter. That takes effort, planning and self control, and I must improve in all these areas to get the most from such joint venture efforts.
Steve
I see the benefit of cross promotion and collaboration, but in my case I need to make sure I have my set audience first before I do anything. It does no good if I'm sending the few people who visit to another site.
An understandable concern, Sam, but not really an issue for most of us. Fact is, with links back and forth between my site and another, both sites get more traffic due to improved SEO. This is give and take at its' best. The only way you lose more traffic than you gain, is if you don't manage your time, and fail to post on your own site while doing cross promotion.
I haven't collaborated yet but do see a great benefit in doing so. However you are right that it has to be of mutual benefit and the correct fit.
With Grace and Gratitude
Karen
Yes, Karen, that's the challenge. I've been very fortunate to find several people with businesses that are great fits with mine. Then the only challenge is to build a strategic friendship with them - when that works it is truly a thing of beauty!
Cheers,
Steve
Excellent concept Steve. I hope this can be embraced and developed in the new year.
All the best and more.
David
In my case it surely will be David. I'm addicted to the great feeling I get both from helping the other businesses and from benefiting from the support they freely share.
Best to you...
Steve
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It's a good idea, but remember that if you do something like a link exchange, you must disclose it per FTC requirements.
Interesting point, Jeannine. We are constantly doing link exchanges of a sort whenever we use the comment system, for instance. What sort of link exchange arrangement requires FCC disclosure? That seems a bit crazy, unless it is a very formal monetary trade...
Doing it via comments is a little less formal, but if the FTC notices a pattern, that you and someone else keep commenting on each other's site with links each time, they could get involved. The FTC doesn't care that actually dollars aren't involved - they care that anything of value is exchanged. So many have abused policies in the past that they are now cracking down on everything.
So am I to understand that commercials, PSAs, Advertorials and movie product placement without disclosure are OK on TV, radio, print media, billboards, truck panels and in my airline seat, but not on the web? I assume this is due to agency rules rather than laws, since some of these are local and others are handled by the FCC. Has it been tested in the courts?
The FTC believes that customers clearly understand that those activities are ads and thus do not require additional identification. That is not the case with affiliate marketing, where some people choose to only say "this post may contain affiliate links," when 99% of the population doesn't know what an affiliate link is. That's why the FTC is being so insistent on disclosure.
I agree that informing people that your site contains affiliate links is inadequate, when the readers don't know what that means. Any disclosure that is meaningful must be in language understood by the reader. My concern is in where one draws the line. If I link to Wikipedia or to a New York Times article, there is no need for disclosure, whether my sister works there or not. If I don't demand or expect monetary reward for a link, I can't imagine how disclosure is appropriate, so long as my content is curated for accuracy and to earn the trust of my visitors.
The contention that the public is fully aware of advertorial, sponsored "documentary" and product placement sponsorship is nearly impossible to defend. It is simply not true, and if it were, these forms of persuasion wouldn't work.
Has this form of regulation been tested in court? I must believe that it would be nearly impossible to defend such policies. This really stretches the limits of government intrusion on free speech. I can't imagine it would get as far as appeals, much less the supreme court.
Of course, if people simply lie and cheat for the sake of profit, it's great that authorities step in. Doing it simply because there is the possibility of bias is another matter. There is ALWAYS the possibility of bias. Every public communication is paid for by someone in some way. Even the guy yelling about the end of the world in a public park wears clothes that must be paid for, or carries a sign that had a cost...
You've gotten quite far away from our original item. You can find a lot of information about the topic in this FTC doc - https://www.ftc.gov/tips-advice/business-center/guidance/ftcs-endorsement-guides-what-people-are-asking