Because Business Is Personal
Let’s talk about the power of partnerships in growing an online business. I’ve met SO many amazing business owners, visionaries, and service providers since starting my business 3+ years ago.
We’ve commiserated about the ups and downs of entrepreneurship, we’ve sent referrals and resources, and we’ve connected on a personal level.
So one of my goals this year has been to formalize these relationships so they benefit BOTH our businesses more concretely. I’ve done this in a few ways.
Formalizing Business Partnerships
1️⃣ I launched an official referral program! I run it via Dubsado*, so it’s not an extra tool to learn or pay for.
I realized that besides past clients, skills-adjacent service providers could be an amazing source of vetted, qualified leads with built-in trust factor. (Looking at you web and graphic designers, copywriters, content creators, social media managers, VAs and OBMs, coaches, bookkeepers and accountants, etc.)
Recommending brand messaging strategy and brand values discovery directly supports my referral partners’ own client work. It also extends their ability to serve clients without needing to pick up a new skill or take on new offerings.
Basically, I give my referral partners 10% of the first service their referral books. And they receive a 10% discount off any projects with them as my client.
It’s spreading all the good vibes and keeping that money flowing between conscious and caring business owners! Wins all around.
Reach out if you’d like to become a referral partner—I have a super simple agreement and swipe copy I’ll send your way.
2️⃣ My Messages That Matter VIP Day was recently written into a larger scope, which was really cool. This might merit its own post at some point and I’ll share more once the project is complete, but basically, a branding pro had a client that wanted a FULL rebrand.
She has a whole ecosystem of service providers to make this happen and she specifically wrote my brand messaging strategy process into the package with her client. She was able to join in the full-day intensive with the client, which then informed her entire visual strategy. And the brand messaging guide I produced became the basis of her copywriter’s website copy.
So I got to stick to my tried-and-true framework and the intensive-style I like to work within, while being part of a full-scale project. LOVE this concept and want to do more of this.
If brand messaging strategy or defining brand values would make your client experience better, let’s talk about collaborating on a client project!
3️⃣ I’m creating a Collaborator Codex. I had a Notion database of jumbled notes from the past 2 or 3 years of meeting people, but I was constantly having to start from scratch when I heard someone needed x type of service. So, I’m in the process of cleaning up the database into something more searchable and usable.
First, I added more accurate and robust tags, fields for social links, website, etc, and an area to note their specific audience. That way I can type in these keywords or filter accordingly.
I also created templates for peer networking and sales calls so I can capture ideas more easily and organically during my conversations. This will remind me what to ask about and steer the conversation better. (Especially for those prospective client calls, when I sometimes get too in the weeds of their backstory and not deep enough into exactly how brand messaging and values can propel them toward their vision.)
Happy to share these templates if you’d like!
4️⃣ I already have an evergreen Resources page on my website where I share *mostly* affiliate links to tech tools, communities, courses/programs, and templates from other online business owners. I also share links to some brands that are worth supporting when you shop personally.
My intention is to add some of my most trusted and aligned referral partners to this page so that they’re not only highlighted and backlinked, but also viewable and shareable in one place. But I still need to get their ok and determine how I want that to look, so it’s just the links to resources for now!
Anyway, that’s how I’ve been leveraging partnerships this year.
I’d love to know how you use your network to grow your business and/or your impact.
And of course, let me spread the word about YOUR amazing offers. As you [hopefully] know, I have a Founder Friends section in my newsletter for exactly that purpose!
This is an excerpt from Toward Purpose & Progress, my newsletter where I share business tips, good news, shoutouts to Founder Friends, and other juicy snippets. Subscribe here for more rants, reflections, and resources.
