One of the best things a Marketing Introvert can do is to very carefully choose a half dozen good strategic partners. Because marketing is hard for you, it is a great idea to set up relationships with people who are willing to send clients your way. Here are three tips for choosing strategic partners:
- Who do you know who “knows everybody?” Think about people who are active in the Chamber of Commerce. Serve as the President of a networking or business organization. Seem to have a golden rolodex and can hook anyone up with someone else. These people LOVE to network. Approach them and ask for 10 minutes of their time to tell you about their business and let you tell them about yours.
- Think about who has the same target clients that you do but are not in competition with you. One of the best strategic partnerships I have ever seen was in a leads group where 11 of the members all provided services to home owners: realtor, mortgage person, carpenter, roofer, carpet installation, handyperson, professional organizer, housecleaner, electrician, plumber and landscaper. When one of them found a new client they were frequently able to give that person a referral to one of their strategic partners.
- Check membership directories. If there is an organization you belong to that puts out a list of its new members every month, be sure to go through with a highlighter and mark the new businesses that might cross your target clients’ path. Here’s a tip: new members often get swamped with calls from other businesses welcoming them in. Wait a month before you call them and stand apart.
Remember, return the referral favor if you can. If you can’t, be sure you generously thank people who send business your way and/or find other ways to help them and their business. Start your own “golden rolodex!”
