“I get by with a little help from my friends.” If you do not know, that is from a very famous song by The Beatles. It is true in life, and it is true in business. The most successful entrepreneurs in the world did not get where they are today by not leaning on others in their industry when they needed to learn, grow and move forward in their business. Your business will have its fair share of competitors, but tapping into your sources of collaboration and knowledge has so many benefits. Make sure to also tap into all you can from this source, BizOp. We will discuss a little about how collaboration is crucial and what resources are available to help you as you navigate your business.
Sharing Is Caring
Should you share the secrets of your trade? Probably not. Should you share your stories of success and struggle with businesses like yours so that everyone learns and grows? Absolutely! While not with direct competitors, consider joining forces with those with a similar vision. Some of the most successful companies in the world work in collaboration with one another. Do you not believe me? Check out this list of powerful brand partnerships.
- Nike & Apple
- Taco Bell & Doritos
- Starbucks & Spotify
- Pottery Barn & Sherwin Williams
- Amazon & American Express
Above is just a sample of the collaborations out there that use each other’s platforms to create even more massive success. If they can do it, you can do it. Maybe just on a bit smaller scale. Let us dive a bit deeper into what I mean.
How Collaboration Creates Success
Businesses have been forming alliances and creating collaborations for decades. The concept is nothing new, but it has elevated as social media engagement for businesses has become a necessity. Most have (and should) a website, Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter at the very least. These platforms are an easy way to collaborate. If a business offers a service or product complimentary to yours, you work together to cross-promote on your platform, offer discounts, run contests or giveaways. The options are endless. Here are a few examples of how to tap into achieving successful collaboration.
- Coffee shops & book stores – Offer discounts when a customer comes in with a receipt.
- Gyms & smoothie bars – Offer a free first smoothie when a customer gets a punch card after showing their gym card.
- Auto shop & local car wash – Sell coupon books at your shop for car washes. Coupon book purchase gets a discounted oil change.
These are just a few examples. With some creativity, you can come up with hundreds more! These deals should all feature prominently on your social media. They will be shared and build up your following.
If you are looking for a little more in-depth help and articles on building your brand and business, check out sites and online forums. One that is routinely posting new articles to help those looking for small business opportunities is BizOp. They have a great depth of knowledge and information available to check out.
