Turn Your Competitors Into Allies

This article was written by Kim T. Gordon of Entrepreneur.com

Some marketing pundits will tell you that your competitors are "the enemy." But those who think you have to "kill or be killed" to excel in business are on the entirely wrong track. Marketing never needs to be a blood sport. Studies bear out what most of us already know -- that entrepreneurs who focus on maximizing profits or increasing sales are more successful in the long run than those who fixate on stomping the competition.

The truth is, your competitors can be a great source of revenue, and forging competitive alliances can help you grow your business more quickly and easily. Need some ideas? Here are five ways to transform your competitors from adversaries to friends to increase sales:

Form a National Network

It can be a challenge to market a solitary, small business when facing down national chains. One solution is to forge alliances with businesses like yours in other cities or nearby towns that might otherwise compete with you in order to create a network with a bigger image and scope. ...