When it comes to marketing, there is an abundance of ways to approach getting new customers. From SEO and word of mouth to customer referrals and partnering, the possibilities are endless, and they all have their own unique perks and privileges. One of the best ways to get new customers for free is to partner with another local small business. Keep reading to find out what this means and how it can help you.

Identify Partners

First, consider who you can partner with. You don’t want to choose someone who is considered your competition as they could take advantage of the relationship. You want to choose someone whose service or product compliments yours or is associated with the same industry. For example, if you are a hairstylist and don’t offer makeup services, partner with a Cosmetologist who does! If a client comes to you for a special event, you can recommend they go to your new partner to get their makeup done and vice versa. This mutual agreement can help both of your businesses grow and show that you have connections within your industry. If you already know the owner of the company, you are golden to pitch the idea; however, if you’ve never met them, ask for a meeting, or better yet, go and indulge in their services yourself to make sure they are great at what they do and pitch the concept then.

Decide on a Deal

The level of partnership is entirely up to you. You can agree to something as simple as leaving each other’s business cards by the front door, sharing your partnership on your social media accounts, or you could even agree to an email campaign sent to all of your customers on your partner’s behalf. Whatever you are most comfortable with is the best option. One awesome perk you can offer is a discount code for your partner’s customers; this will help sweeten the deal and make it easier to track how many of your customers were referred. We recommend starting small at first until you have a better grasp of the other company and their dedication to the cause. 

Get Started

So now that you know how to partner with a local small business it’s time to get started! Try it out with a trustworthy business and then continue to grow! Before you know it, your company will be the talk of the town. This type of strategy is a free way to increase your exposure and number of customers while building lasting relationships with other business owners.

Have you had success building brand partnerships? Share your story with us in the comments below!