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{"id":1279,"date":"2010-11-02T07:15:17","date_gmt":"2010-11-02T07:15:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/darrenslaughtercom.stage.site\/?p=1279"},"modified":"2010-11-02T07:15:17","modified_gmt":"2010-11-02T07:15:17","slug":"use-opm-to-market-your-business","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/darrenslaughter.com\/use-opm-to-market-your-business\/","title":{"rendered":"Use OPM to Market Your Business"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>I’ve gotten a lot of e-mails lately asking how much contractors should spend on advertising, which has led to an informal series of posts<\/a> on the topic. But let’s face it, there’s no fun in watching ad budgets, you want to spend as much as you can to let the world know about your good name right?<\/p>\n

Enter co-op advertising!<\/strong><\/p>\n

Thousands of manufacturers, distributors and wholesalers from almost every product you can think of in the trades sets aside a little scratch to give to contractors like you to be used in your construction marketing program. Co-op funding, short for cooperative,<\/em> is second only to referrals<\/a> as the best way to get new clients or customers for your contracting company, and even better if you are in startup mode.<\/p>\n

Unfortunately, many of you either don’t know about co-op programs or how to use them to your advantage. Or maybe you didn\u2019t even know that you had money available to you? Maybe your distributor told you in the past that you didn\u2019t buy enough to qualify. Well, I am here to tell you, manufacturers want their products sold and you probably do have dollars waiting for your somewhere, you just need to start asking your suppliers.<\/p>\n

What’s the downside?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Well, one of the disadvantages to co-op is that it is riddled with paperwork and is a bit of a pain in the ass to administrate. So if you suck on the paperwork side of the house, you better let someone else manage it, but don’t not<\/em> do it. Using co-op the right way will give you an opportunity to move your company forward while using someone else\u2019s nickel to do it. Just know that it’s going to take a bit of work, but in the end free advertising is free advertising.<\/p>\n

How do you get paid?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Well, co-op programs are like snowflakes with all kinds of restrictions, but reimbursement typically takes the form in one of three ways (there are others):<\/p>\n