Promoting others may seem like a foreign concept. You may think, ‘Promote others? Won’t that hurt my business, not help it?’ No, and I will explain why.

Have you had a customer that made a request for a certain scrapbook tool or item, but you didn’t carry it? What did you do? Did you refer them to another scrapbook business? Chances are you offered them something similar or just didn’t make a sale at all.

The problem with this is that this customer most likely went to another scrapbook business to find what she wanted anyway. Let’s face it, scrapbookers love their craft, and when they need supplies, they need them yesterday.

What if you had referred her to another business that offered that essential item she needed? You would have had her undying gratitude. She would remember that you helped her out in a pinch when she needed that final page to complete her daughter’s scrapbook.

Another reason you should promote others is because it will be reciprocated. There’s an old saying, and it’s really true: A good deed never goes unnoticed. Building a good rapport with your fellow scrapbooking businesswoman can create a “ping” effect. You refer customers that you can’t help to her, and she’ll return the favor to you.

Affiliate programs are another simple way that you can promote others. If your scrapbook business features stickers for scrapbooking, you could promote affiliate programs for books on scrapbooking with stickers on your website.

Promoting others is really a win-win situation for all. Look at it as a way to build good customer and business relationships.