If you’re trying to gain traction for your brand, you don’t have to go it alone. You’ve got potential allies all around you in the form of the businesses in your area of Annapolis. Many brands and businesses that aren’t direct competitors will be happy to form a partnership that can boost your profile.This strategy has a lot of advantages, starting with the fact that you’re gaining exposure to a major new demographic. Expanding your reach and the power of your messaging is a major key to success, but it takes strategy. There are several ways you can maximize the benefit you get from promoting your brand through local business partners
Brand Partnerships
Before entering into a partnership, make sure you know what you want out of a partner. The ideal partner offers different products than you but has some crossover audience that you can work with. There are many forms of partnership, and it can be as involved or as casual as you and your partner want.
A good way to find an ideal partner is to observe what other businesses your customer base is interested in. Do they wear a specific brand of clothing? Do they frequently come into your business with bags of another local business? These are the clues that can help you find the ideal business partner for mutual benefit.
Exchange Product
Partnerships work best when there’s a tangible product that can travel from the hands of one business to the customers of their partner. You want to look for a product that is a low-cost investment and can easily be branded to place the company in the customer’s mind. Many businesses offer pens to local businesses, especially those where a lot of paperwork is done.
You’ll want to find a need and fill it. If your company provides a specific product, like coffee, look for businesses where coffee is served but isn’t the focus. A diner or grocery store can bring in a new clientele with a more comprehensive coffee program and you reap the benefits.
Throw an Event
If you’re looking for a higher-profile way to announce your partnership, throwing a party or festival can kick you off on a high. One of the benefits of this plan is that it gets people excited early and is a good way to unite large groups of customers and promote many businesses at the same time.
Not every event needs to be a traditional party or street fair. You can partner with other venues such as grocery stores, concert venues, or art galleries to create a promotional event that will reflect your business. To add more good press and create an incentive for people to visit, partnering with a local charity for a good cause can be a great start.
Special Collaborative Offers
There is nothing better than a special introductory deal to get people in the door, so creating a promotional package with your new partner can be a great idea, learn more about co-selling from WorkSpan. Offering a two-for-one deal can get people who might have passed on both to explore the new partnership.
If you don’t want a rush of business right away, you can spread out the benefit by offering discount codes and coupons that can be activated at any time—but only by visiting one of the two businesses first. This gives people an incentive to try new businesses and boosts the overall economy of your area.
Support Local Businesses
Of course, there’s one way to determine what the best business to create a partnership with is—which businesses deserve support? Local marketing is all about word of mouth, so why not give some support to the loyal businesses you’ve been appreciating? Make those top businesses your first stop when looking for a partner.
This has a number of advantages. First, you’re working with businesses you already know you can trust from personal experience. Second, you’re building a network of businesses you can rely on in a pinch and strengthening the local economy. Finally, the proximity makes it easy to share and build a customer base.
Stronger Through Partnerships
No man is an island, and no business exists apart from its financial ecosystem. The best way to ensure your business has a healthy, long-term, and successful customer base is to draw on the strength of the business world surrounding you. Find the businesses you trust, create a mutually beneficial partnership, and watch as you lift each other to a stronger position in the local Annapolis economy. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain.
