Given that we're almost halfwhere through 2009, it's a bit late for our predictions for this year.

But I don't want to be a bad sport, standing at the sidelines when everybody else makes predictions, so here goes:

This brand alliance promotion really rocks.

Most of the companies who are looking for cross-promotion are to a certain measure interested in link building.

After all, link building is an essential ingredient for search engine optimisation.
Off course, like all ingredients, it should be added with moderation.

Here's a little free tip for everybody who wants to promote their blog (like we do).

I must have reviewed a couple of hundreds of cross-marketing classified ads untill now.

Time to share some best practices I've spotted:

Clear title - Specific cross-marketing offer - The right categories, with moderation

Craiglist.com - the classic example of a local classifieds website, thinking global. Great community atmosphere on a no frills utilitarian website.

When two companies engage in crossmarketing or co-operative marketing, they both put their reputation at stake. Why? Because they basically recommend each other to their respective client base.
They're not liable for each other, but if one of your clients is dissapointed because of another firm you recommended while crossmarketing, this client is more than likely to hold this against you.

How to protect yourself? I'm afraid there is no easy solution to this.

•  mesh-box, a german blog focused on big brands doing marketing alliances or co-branding
• entrepreneur.com, a very valuable US source of marketing information
• crossmedialog.nl, a dutch group blog on cross media and cross marketing
• Guy Kawasaki, a VC with a very sound view on marketing

The niche marketing barter deal marketplace is not going to work if companies can't define their niches properly.
Because everything starts with a proper definition of your niche. Once you know that, you will be able to see which companies match your niche.

Here are some of the main niches:

Nothing good ever comes for free. Neither does search engine optimisation.

• from 5 to 10 thousand and more for an initial year of search engine optimising
• from 200 a month to a nice percentage for your search engine advertising

How do you get the most for your money?

Barter marketing is often a cheap, original and effective way of reaching your target group as a marketeer. You need to find a company with a similar/idential target group as yours. Then you strike a deal where you will promote the other company to your clients/members. The other company will then promote you in return to their clients/members. If done well, you’re both better off. No or little cash is exchanged. And the marketing is usually quite credible.