The internet is a cruel place. It won't forgive a mistake to easily and it won't soon forget that mistake either. The one thing that can help you is a good friend. Friends are those who are there for you when you need them the most. In the internet, a friend is a little different. In fact, an internet friend may cut and run at the first sign of trouble. Therefore, we must all develop strong internet friends who will stay there through out.

How is this possible? Simple! Partnerships.  A partnership is worth a lot in internet marketing. They are as close a form of word of mouth that is possible in a b2b relationship. But what do partnerships bring? Simple, brand awareness and brand credibility. Sometimes the cheap ploy of adding your logo and "Sponsored By:" to the logo of your industries forum can go a long way at generating more traffic. "Who is this company? why do they get to sponsor?"

 This helps add brand equity in the chicken and the egg scenario. You know, the scenario where you are a new site, but no one shops with you because every internet shopper feels safer at the bigger e-commerce sites everyone knows. Subconsciously, you equate form sponsorship or "search brought to you by" or other relationship advertising  with big e-commerce sits because if they advertise, they must be big and serious about what they do.

It really is amazing what you think subconsciously.... for example cheap vs inexpensive. I say cheap you think "poor quality, not made well, cost cutting to be less expensive." Whereas if I say inexpensive, you think "not expensive, good quality at an affordable price," things of that nature. Well, words aren't the only thing you do subconsciously, you also look at every cue you see and analyze the brand in your mind. Crappy web site, hard to find content, message different across medias, no advertising at all, people will think you are a fly by night operation who doesn't have what it takes to compete on the internet... and in fact, they just might be right.

 So remember, your friends will help you gain traffic and indeed sales, so make sure you do what it takes to make friends with other companies all over the internet. I'll blog more about the best ways to do this and stratigies to find the right places to partner with.