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How to Create Brand Partnerships (Strategy including Outreach Template, Strategies and Tips)

Jul 7, 2022

You think that you must to be an influencer for partnership with a brand? Don't!

Brand partnerships are an incredible source of income for instructors, course creators as well as experts and entrepreneurs too. All it takes is being aware of the best ways to maximize the many, numerous (many hundreds, a lot of!) opportunities available.

Afua Osei is a Partnerships Strategist who helps trainers, course designers and entrepreneurs develop the techniques, processes and confidence to secure connections with brands they wish to work with. Co-Founder of She Leads Africa, Afua developed relationships with brand names which have generated nearly $1 million in profits for the organization via innovative branding partnerships. These include Facebook, Google, Unilever, Visa, and L'Oreal.

Photo collage featuring headshot photo of Afua Osei, She Leads Africa logo, screenshot of homepage, and an ad for a partnership the brand did with VISA

Take a look or skip further into the future, to find all the vital information you need about brand partnerships -- and the best co-branding scenarios to help learn how to do it...

What exactly is a brand cooperation?

Brand partnerships are an agreement that is strategic between two or more firms. Brand partnerships are designed for both businesses to provide an additional value to their services and services.

As per the conditions of the brand-partnership It could boost the visibility of brands, open new markets, or boost recognition for the brands that are involved.

Which is the best illustration of this? Remember when you were young and you went to McDonald's to get a Happy Meal. Your fries and burger came with an adorable toy. Often, these toys would be linked to an exciting new film. Disney paid for toys, and in return the children would be excited for the movie. It's a brand-partnership in the making!

McDonalds toys featuring Disney's Encanto character
The perfect example of brand-led partnership with McDonalds using toys that feature the Disney Encanto character

A brand partnership occurs when you're compensated by an organisation, a corporation, a nonprofit, or a business. (These generally referred to as co-branding or brand partnerships however, for all motives, it's any time you have an corporate client.) Brand partnership is the partnership that you create in conjunction with another company -- but not with consumers.

     Brand partnership of all varieties    

There are a myriad of ways to collaborate with brands to increase your company's reach and increase the amount you earn. Here are three types of partnership with brands ideal for entrepreneurs, educators, and experts.

     Marketing of content    

One way to create partnership with your brand is to collaborate with an alternative company for content. Develop relevant content for or alongside another company, such as videos, blogs whitepapers as well as whitepapers and podcasts. It is your goal to produce top-quality content that will promote your brand and expertise as well as enhances the partner's branding too.

     Co-branding    

Co-branding is a different type of partnership between brands that involves collaboration with brands to develop a new product or to improve the existing one. The goal of this kind of collaboration between brands is to develop products that can be beneficial to the audiences of both brands.

There are loads of examples of co-branding. Here at , we love collaborations with co-brands as they provide new products and expertise for our customers. Check out this partnership we had together with Neil Patel to create a course for course creators on creating a sales funnel for webinars.

     Sponsorship    

Sponsorships are another typical kind of partnership between brands that could be extremely beneficial to earn money for designers and entrepreneurs. It involves promoting the business which is the partner by way of example, sponsorship of webinars, content, conferences, or podcasts.

A good instance of collaboration between a brand and consumers comes from Danielle Desir, founder of The Thought Card, a podcast that is focused on personal finance. The podcast was able to reach around an 80,000-plus downloads since after its launch, she began to sign various partnership agreements with travel companies.

Her top endorsements for Danielle are from the tourism boards from cities like Rochester, New York, and Tempe, Arizona. Danielle also has worked with companies like Expedia to develop pay-per-click content. Danielle is now earning enough income from these kinds of brands that she is in a position to quit her job to become a content writer full-time.

     How do you secure an endorsement contract for your company (step-by-step tutorial)    

Your business is in existence and you have an idea. You've got the names of clients who you would want to work withSo what's holding you from forming an agreement with a particular brand? Why are you not getting in touch with them? Afua shared her tips on how to get a brand-related partnership. She also shared the steps she follows to craft a persuasive pitch.

1. Make sure you are aware of the items that you are selling

The initial step towards getting an endorsement partner is to determine the services you're providing the brands.

Right now, you probably already have a B2C product that's targeted towards customers, such as an online education program or coaching program. How can you make it work for other brands and businesses? What do you have to offer companies by utilizing your existing products as well as your know-how?

What you sell to a corporate customer or branding alliance is likely to fall under two categories: experience and experiences.

     Information    

In this instance, let's suppose that an organization with national significance is looking to assist students in high school with financial literacy. If you are a specialist in finance, might be able to convince the bank that you are the representative of the program , and then deliver an educational course for high school students, for its benefit. It's a case of co-branding that you've leveraged your expertise to create an effective brand alliance.

     Experiments    

Another alternative is to build experiences. They can bring people together online or offline. A brand partnership founded on experiences includes bringing your brand partner into the experience you design to them. For example, an gathering, retreat, or even a workshop.

If, for instance, you're a food-related podcast that focuses on cooking by regional chefs, you could organize an event in conjunction with a brand-partner cooking demonstrations and live demonstrations including food tastings, demonstrations, and more. It's an example of an experience-based brand partnership.

Your opportunities to work with brands rest on the ability of you to translate your expertise and expertise into something that allows you to work with brands of other varieties. It is important to consider where each brand might work well. What ways can you work with them and integrate them into your brand's identity?

What ever your industry, your specialization, field or topic it's possible to build a relationship with a brand that will benefit your company. However, to make it work, it is essential to determine what services you'll provide and what you want your product is going to look like, as well as how you're going to pack it to ensure it can be used by an enterprise client or an established brand.

2. Opportunities for research partnership

When you've collected all the details you require on what services you might be able to provide to companies as well as the opportunities you can benefit from, the next step is to look at possible partners for your brand.

Find the ideal brand partner is always the first step after conducting a thorough investigation. Create an inventory of at the very least five companies that you'd like to partner with. Check out their offerings and what they're currently offering. If they've worked with brands before, look at the details involved in that and the types of businesses they've worked before.

The more studies you conduct The more research you can conduct, the more effective. This way, you'll be able to ensure that the message you send is pertinent and relevant.

3. Develop relationships with companies

Next step is to build connections. To establish a brand-partnership the first step is to build relationships with potential client.

A majority of companies will meet you prior to the time they decide to invest into a brand collaboration. They'll probably want to have reviewed your work in order in order to provide them with an idea of who you're like in addition to the tasks you can do. It's an easy approach to be sure you'll do exactly what you claim to be able to do before you sign your name the paper.

The ability to establish relationships with brands' partners using a variety of tactics, but the two primary factors that decide whether or not the brand will accept it is your name and your network.

Reputation

If you are able to secure the collaboration with one of your brands, you'll be able to make it an example to demonstrate the quality of your work to other brands. Brand partners that follow will be impressed with the excellence of your effort and may get enticed by the opportunity to work with the brand.

Network

Your network can also serve as a crucial tool in creating connections with your company's customers and partners. To expand your reach, you should be active in areas where your potential customers are such as the LinkedIn group, networking occasions such as webinars, sponsored events.

When you meet brands on the job, be sure to introduce yourself and discuss your work. According to Afua says, it can be as simple as

Hey, I'm who I am. It's the thing I'm passionate about. I'd like to know more about the organization you work for and see if I can assist should I find that I could add value.

If you're able build trust with an essential stakeholder of the company that increases the chances that you will be able to establish an alliance with the company at a later date.

4. Make your pitch distinct

After you've established an concept of the brands you want to target and established a rapport with them, you'll have to make your pitch. (Because the brands will not be aware that you're willing to work with them until they hear from them you're ready to work. )

The message you present to your customers doesn't have to be complicated. The pitch shouldn't be complicated or long. Remember that a pitch can be the beginning of a conversation. It's an opportunity for you to welcome the audience, present the benefits of your proposition before opening the conversation to see whether the company is a good fit.

Here's the handy template Afua makes use of to sell companies as partners.

Paragraph 1. Who are you and why are you talking with them?

Everyone's busy, so be quick and to the point when you pitch your brand partner. In the first paragraph, it's important to be precise -- tell your potential brand partner exactly what you're expecting from them, and what you're hoping to get from a relationship.

Be sure to include:

  • Your Name
  • Your name is your brand
  • What are you looking for from them

Try this:

My name is Afua I'm an entrepreneur and digital media entrepreneur and also a strategic partner. I'm reaching out as I'd love to work with you at your upcoming conference as a keynote speakers.

Paragraph 2: What's what qualifies you to be qualified?

In the following paragraph, you tell the brands what they should expect from you to make them choose your company. Credibility? How do you know you are competent to ask for anything? What is it that distinguishes your business from others?

There are probably a lot of people contacting exact same firms, and it is important to be explicit in your mail, DM, or message. Be sure to highlight your advantages. in. Make it clear to brands exactly what they should know about the reasons why they should work with the company.

If you've had success producing results for your customers then you should mention this on the page. In the example above, if you've sold your product in 3 countries or been featured on a variety of large media outlets Include that information in.

3. How are you planning to aid them?

The third paragraph is your chance to outline what a brand-partnership will benefit them. What will you be able to do? What do you bring to the partnership? What can you do to make a brand-partnership beneficial for both brands?

Discuss with your brand's potential collaborators how you can support with particular needs in case you have the ability to increase sales, training employees or boosting awareness of the brand, or anything else entirely. Connect to the image of your brand and how you can do for them.

Paragraph 4: The next steps

It's now time to conclude your presentation. Let brands know the next steps to be following, for example, scheduling a meeting and arranging for a meeting or asking to be directed to someone else at their workplace.

Your goal is to reach someone via the phone, via a Zoom call or at an event because this is when you'll be able tell them who you're and what you're about.

Subject Line

Your bonus pitch will be the subject line. Everyone should know what you want from them in the subject line.

Take note of busy individuals and your subject lines need to be brief and concise. The ideal is to use no more than nine words or 60 characters.

It is crucial to keep your pitch concise and clear. The more concise your pitch, the more effective.

5. Maintain relationships for the long run

The key to success in a model of branding partnerships is keeping the same consistency. The success of your business is built upon your ability to sustain relations over time with your brand business partner.

When you secure a brand partnership and execute your plan, it's not the finalization of your partnership. In the ideal scenario, you'll be able turn that single opportunity into multiple possibilities. Brand partners could refer you to various brands you could collaborate together.

If you're able to keep your conversation going and your relationships alive, it's possible to transition the connection between your business and customers from an event that happens once and then becomes a long-term engagement.

Track every possible relationship with your company by making use of a spreadsheet, so you're able to see who you're talking with, to whom you've pitchedto, as well as those with whom you're having negotiations. It is also possible to use apps like HubSpot and Salesforce to track your conversations.

Be aware that anyone who refuses your request in 2022 could make an appearance with a new proposal in 2023, perhaps even 2025. Keep in touch with each brand partnership, no matter if it's now an partnership with a brand, or otherwise. It's hard to tell how things are going to unfold in the future.

     3 tips for experts to ensure your brand's first partnership    

Once you've got the fundamentals established, it's now time to start to network and explore the partnerships that are available there. Before you send email to your contacts, Afua provides a few final tips to be aware of.

1. Don't wait until you're an influencer.

One of the most common mistakes entrepreneurs make is believing that they must be an influencer to gain a brand partnership. Many entrepreneurs don't take advantage of co-branding opportunities because they aren't confident that they're in best position to succeed in winning that company.

Influencers have become the most well-known and significant company partners however, you shouldn't be attempting to compete their influence. In order to secure a partnership with a brand to your company the only requirement is to be able to tackle challenges, be prepared to take advantage of opportunities, and have strategies to convert potential partnerships into sales.

2. Do not rely solely on your social media followers

In the same way that you don't need to become an influencer to be able to sign a deal with a company as well, you do not have to depend on social media outlets for locating potential partners. Don't sit around waiting for brands to approach you. Take action. Concentrate on making connections and establishing your network in order to create opportunities to pitch brand collaborations.

After you've made a name for yourself and earned a name then you'll need to connect with companies you're keen on. This is the most effective way to get a deal, even if you only have a small number of Facebook users.

If you're seeking an alliance with a brand, it's not necessary to limit yourself to your specific niche or your industry. There's an array of brand partnerships that stretch far beyond your present field.

Don't be limited by taking a look at companies who are in the same business as you are- the greatest possibilities can be found in completely different areas.

     Three of the most successful co-branding methods    

What could a lucrative brand partnership look like? What is the real opportunity in the market? Take a look at these three instances from some most successful partnerships between companies with co-branding that took place over the last few years.

1. Ade Hassan - Nubian Skin X Adobe

If you're seeking ideas for collaborations with your brand, look no further than Ade Hassan, the founder of Nubian Skin. Entrepreneur from within the UK, Ade established one of the first hosiery that was flesh-colored along with underwear designs for women of color. Nubian Skin's clothes were used by Beyonce in the Formation Tour, featured in every major fashion magazine as well as in stage productions on Broadway.

Ade was able to secure a huge branding alliance with Adobe to develop a class for entrepreneurs to start their own business. Ade can be described as an entrepreneur in the field of fashion but not a style influencer. Ade was able to negotiate the brand's partnership with a global technology firm by virtue of her work as a business owner.

2. Julissa Prado - Rizos Curls X Microsoft

One of the top co-branding models to co-brand is Julissa Prado, the founder of Rizos Curls, a hair service that encourages natural hair and celebrates curls' natural beauty.

After establishing Rizos Curls Julissa has made a number of brand alliances, including them one in partnership with Microsoft 365 to publicize their Microsoft Office suite. This collaboration involved Julissa providing her tips regarding efficiency, avoiding burning out and also presenting Microsoft software. Despite being a beauty businesswoman, Julissa has used her expertise and knowledge to create an alliance with an international technology firm that's completely out of her field of expertise.

3. Tonya Rapley - My Fab Finance X Headspace

Maybe you've heard of Tonya Rapley, another Think In Color speaker and founder of My Fab Finance on financial education for millennials.

After establishing her company, Tonya secured a brand partnership with Headspace for the creation of an online program for mental health and financial wellness that includes budgeting basics, dealing with debt and mindful spending. Tonya utilized her expertise in finance to establish her brand and develop a successful partnership opportunity for co-branding, which included the creation of the content needed for a highly popular application in the field of mental health , which is a sector in which she is an expert, as well as an established international brand.

HTML0 Brand collaborations are expected to be in the near future...

Are you an entrepreneur, course creator, expert or coach, then you can benefit from many types of brand partnership opportunities to your business in order to increase your profit as well as your reputation as a brand. A partnership with a brand will completely change your company by opening the door to a an entirely new market.

Do not fret if you're an influencer! No matter how many following on social media it's possible to start with finding a brand partnership today.

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