Become an Indispensable Marketing Partner 🤝🏻

So this week we’re focusing on building partnerships and the methods behind becoming an indispensable partner to your clients. Whether you're a marketing consultant or an agency owner, you may think of yourself as just a vendor providing services. But what if you could become an indispensable partner instead of a person filling a narrow role? 

Instead of trying to be everything to everyone, you can become a trusted advisor and connector that helps your clients find the right professionals to fill their needs for core services you don't offer. This approach allows you to solve challenges without developing every capability in-house.

For example, suppose the business you work for or a client needs campaign managers but isn't sure about hiring full-time employees. In that case, you can step in to find and contract campaign managers, handle time tracking and invoicing, and even manage potential culture clashes. This solution allows the client to test the waters before committing to full-time hires, and you've helped them do that.

By positioning your agency as a connector and resource hub, you can provide more value to clients while growing your own business. This approach allows you to go beyond your core services and build stronger, more resilient client partnerships. It's a strategy to help your agency thrive, even in uncertain economic times.

How To Make The Transition 🤷🏻‍♂️

First, make a list of your professional networks and industry groups. This could include LinkedIn connections, professional associations, and local business groups.

Now, think about what types of marketing professionals you know best (writers, designers, strategists, etc.). You should also listen carefully to client challenges, even those unrelated to your services. Pay attention to recurring themes or pain points where you might know someone who can resolve or alleviate them.

When you're ready to help a client fill an open role, start with the areas where you're most comfortable and have the strongest connections. This might be creative professionals if you're a content-focused agency or data analysts if you specialize in marketing analytics.

Finally, speak up and tell clients about your ability to connect them with other resources. Be transparent during this process. While it was acceptable for agencies to white-label services without disclosing it, today's approach involves being open about partnerships and connections.

Working With Contract Solutions Partners 👥

First, it's important to be clear about when you're simply making a referral vs when you're offering ongoing management and support. 

When you are ready to hire a contractor for a client, be sure to have the contractor sign a non-disclosure agreement to protect your pricing. This ensures they don't discuss rates directly with clients.

To make it worthwhile for clients to continue working through your agency, instead of hiring the talent you bring on to help them, offer additional value by managing the back-end work like payroll and reporting. 

Finally, charge a markup or placement fee for your connection services. Be transparent about this fee and ensure it reflects the value you're providing.

Tips To Build Your Professional Talent Network Strategically 📊

To build a valuable network, spend 20 minutes each day engaging on LinkedIn. This could involve commenting on your peers’ and colleagues’ posts, sharing insights, or reaching out to new connections. Look for secondary and tertiary connections—people recommended by those you already know. These can often lead to worthwhile relationships.

To connect with a wider circle of people who can help your clients, consider joining professional associations and groups related to your industry. Attend industry events and conferences to make in-person connections with people you are considering as recommended solutions partners.

Pro Tip: Keep a spreadsheet of freelancers and contractors you can call on for various projects so you can quickly assemble teams for client needs.

Q&A

• So, are you ready to harness being a indispensable partner using the techniques above for your business?

• Do you have any pain points I can help you with smoothing out regarding partnerships?

• What do you think you could utilise a partnership for and how would it impact your business becoming a valued partner?

Whenever you’re ready, here’s how I can help you:

1. Book a {10 MINUTE} Business Power Call with me, to arrange working together to make your social media videos stand out online as I tweak your approach, and analyse how to improve your current video, business strategy or marketing.

2. Don’t have time to create yourself? Focus on your business, whilst we focus on create content that you’ve always dreamed of. Get in touch to find out more.

Until next Friday, love to you all!

My Partner Services
Sky Adsmart  | Cheekymonkey Marketing  |

Fire an email back to me at [email protected] and let’s keep the chat going 👌🏻