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Hey Spencer!
I try to make my proposals as engaging as possible so hopefully you enjoy looking through this.
There’s a video outline, but also a fair amount of information you can expand out - so feel free to only consume what’s most interesting to you (I find it varies wildly person to person!)
Anything else you need, just shout!
Cheers
Dave
The Scope
Just in case videos aren't your thing, I just want to reiterate what I said on our call that I would love to work with you. I'd enjoy it and I'm sure it'd offer massive value. With the space that you're in and the degree of trust needed in the sale, Nearbound and word of mouth is always going to be your best (and potentially only) source of new business. That said, it will also complement and enhance all the brilliant brand work that you've already ben doing.
Moving through this proposal, I've outlined both my partnership and referral methodologies because, while linked, they are unique strategies in their own right. I've then put forward some suggested ways of working together. I believe the best starting point is my Nearbound Navigator product, which you can find more details on specifically here before moving on to client / network referrals, which is where there will be the quickest wins, and then moving on to a broader strategy from there. All this could be uncovered during the strategy piece, though.
How Do We Work Together?
It’s mostly hands on coaching, training & consultancy. All live sessions are high energy, highly interactive, and implementation focussed - not just theory. We’ll map out processes, agree positioning, decide on target lists - as much as we can do in session, we will. And all can be delivered in-person at your offices, online, or hybrid.
As well as the direct support you’ll also be provided with a comprehensive framework documents and accompanying worksheets, detailing each aspect of the either the partnership or referral framework. They’ll also be an action roadmap that details each individual action to take, either now or in the future. I provide you with a repeatable, scalable, process you’ll be able to replicate and build upon.
Strategic Partnerships
However we work together on this channel it will be based around my DANCE framework, which helps turn these relationships from friendly handshakes into something structured and scaleable. It consists of 5 different routines, each with their own steps. It’s been honed over many years of practical, on the floor, experience. Based on some big success, but then also mistakes either made or, more often than not, witnessed when scaling my own partnership focussed agency.
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There’s 3 main things to think about here and it sets up everything else that we work on:
Why are you partnering? We need to be crystal clear on the outcome you’re looking to achieve. How highly qualified do you need the leads to be, and at what volume?
We need to know what a successful partner program looks like for you so we can help you achieve it.
Who’s your ideal client? Again, we need to be as specific as possible, if we don’t know who your ideal (or chosen target) client is, how can we uncover who the perfect partner is?
Who are your Perfect Partners? It’s not about saying we won’t work with anyone else, but about really identifying where we focus our proactive efforts. Where they’ll pass the right quality of lead, at the right volume, and at the right time. It’s much more than just having the right audience for you; it’s about the nature of their relationship, how they communicate, their values, and so much more.
We’ll not only uncover who they are, but also your unique Partner Value Proposition which allows you to engage with potential partners quickly and effortlessly before implementing the rest of the framework with ease - ensuring the success you’re looking for.
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For a partnership programme to flourish, and then scale, you need to ensure you have the behind the scenes set up in order. From internal systems, software and personnel, to the structure of your agreements - covering things like how we reward your partners.
We’ll make sure no stone is left unturned so you can be sure of delivering a consistent level of service to your partners.The simple things really do matter, get this wrong and your partners will immediately lose trust, get it right and you’ll have partners for life.
You may not be ready to have everything in place on day one, but we’ll ensure there’s a road map to best in class that will serve you well along the way.
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Your partners could become as important to the future of your business as your most key clients, so we need to make sure you treat them as such.
Communication is key and we’ll look at the various channels each partner type will need to ensure a rock solid relationship is formed that only builds over time.
From setting expectations at outset, and a seamless onboarding process; to reviews and regular updates that keep you front of mind, and the partnership moving in the right direction.
It’s about getting the right mix of automation and personal contact. Functional messages and value add communications. Formal reviews or forming relationships.
We’ll ensure your partners are left feeling loved, valued, and informed; so that when they’re approached by other potential partners there’s not even a thought in their mind about working with anyone but you.
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A successful partnership doesn’t just happen. You need to help your partners connect their audience to you. Do the heavy lifting, make it easy for them, and you’ll reap the rewards.
Don’t, and you may well find your partnership experience an underwhelming one.
Depending on the partner and how they engage with their audience you’ll need to provide the right level of support.
Is this internal marketing support?
Partner facing materials where you share the benefit of your experience to enhance the ability of the partner and their team to refer you.
Or
Is it external, customer facing support?
All the materials and activities your partners may need to connect you with their audience through successful co-marketing campaigns.
From static materials like sales emails, to more immersive experiences like events.
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We’ll look at all this and more, including how you can integrate part of your offering into your partners own processes so the lead generation process happens seamlessly and repeatedly.
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With confidence in your partnership offering, and the road map to an even stronger programme, it’s time to build your partner acquisition strategy.
Using the partner value propositions we identified during the Discovery stage we’ll cover how to get your first partners on board, how to then leverage them and your network to grow your partner base, before looking at advanced strategies to scale your programme when the time is right.
Within this we’ll look at the supporting materials and messaging required - but by this point it’s all systems go.
Our simple 3 step process will provide you with all the partner leads you need to grow your programme and your business.
Client & Network Referrals
This is all about helping your existing and previous happy clients, and your wider audience, to help you - because they do want to.
Key to this is building a culture of referrals within your team. Referrals is a customer success activity, not just a sales one.
This comes from tackling any people issues with blocks around requesting, receiving and responding to referrals, and then the systems and processes that help embed these behaviours so that it becomes second nature.
Here’s an overview of what would be covered:
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Understanding any individual blocks around being pro-active in asking for introductions & reframing the mindset to remove ‘the ick’.
Also recognising the drivers of why people refer in order to be able to engage with them in a more meaningful and value based way. -
Looking at the range of people available to us. Identifying the low hanging fruit and discovering new opportunities for growth through people as yet untapped.
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how to humanise your requests so referrals feels comfortable for all.
You’ll learn the specific ways to make it easy for your would be introducers to refer you - all done in a completely human way (People refer you for what you do, not what you sell)
We’ll look at simple ways to be super specific without being salesy - great for immediate introductions.
And we’ll also discover your situational niches - the new way of looking at referrals that makes them all about solving problems not just sales funnels. This is the key to receiving consistent introductions to not only your ideal clients, but ones that are ready to use your services. -
Understanding the right time to ask (hint: it’s often much earlier than you think).
Working through your customer journey, starting from their first contact with you, to pinpoint the ideal times that referrals could be requested and highlight new opportunities to add value and create the ‘wow’ moments that facilitate introductions.
We’ll also look at the supporting messages and content that back up the personal requests to help build a culture of referrals both internally and with your audience. -
The words we use are everything - for both us and the people on the receiving end. We’ll work on the tones and tactics to use in each different scenario - both from an ongoing perspective, but also looking at specific campaigns that can be run for some quick wins (be that broadcast messages or personal contact).
This is also where we look at the systems and processes that sit behind the human first approach. How are referrals being tracked, followed up on, and the culture embedded.
What are my options?
As mentioned at the top of this piece I think the Nearbound Navigator session at £500(+VAT) would be a great place to start. Where we go from there would be up to you but here are some options.
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Following the Nearbound Navigator or other one off sessions: a mix of live sessions and additional support / accountability via digital channels to ensure you take action and make the progress you need.
Starts at £500 for 1 hour session per month, with a 20% discount on each subsequent hour required within that month (£400/£320/£250).
Minimum 3 month commitment. -
For up to three people where referrals are still being led from the top.
A full day (can be split into shorter sessions) where we work through the framework together to leave you with the confidence, skills, and systems to be asking, and receiving, ideal client referrals consistently.
Backed up by outside of session support and an accountability / review session to make sure you implement! -
6 month programme
Over 6 half day sessions (typically over the first 3 months) we work through the framework together live, completing as we go, all you’ll need to do outside of our time together is implement - be that moving the agreed system/process from our notes into practical use, producing a piece of agreed marketing material, or having conversations with agreed contacts.
We do as much as is possible in session so you can get on with scaling your partner channel outside of our direct time togther.
As we run through the framework the relevant members of your team are encouraged to get involved - this is all about ensuring you implement.
As much as we’ll methodically build the structure of your programme if you have live partners or opportunities we’ll make sure we work on those to deliver ROI as quickly as possible.
6 × 1 hour live support / check in sessions are included within the package, typically used over the second 3 months and support outside of sessions is provided to support you and your team (or keep you accountable!) with the implementation.
Partnership Testimonials
Next Steps…
If you’d like to go ahead or want to chat anything through you can let me a know a good time for this by dropping a message to dave@collaborationjunkie.com or call on 07904 330628. We can set dates and get moving pretty quickly!
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Over the course of his career, Dave has developed hundreds, if not thousands, of partnerships. From growing his own membership organisation to 2000 members almost entirely through referrals and strategic partnerships, to providing access to the SME market for global brands such as Regus & Volvo, reaching nearly 1 million business owners along the way.
Dave's previous business was a customer engagement agency that helped connect business services providers to their target market by working with organisations that already had a community of their audience. Facilitating all the marketing support to make sure the right quality of leads were provided at the right time, in a way that added value to all concerned. Whether it be with big brands or new start ups, tailored introductions or prospects at scale (we delivered over 10,000 digital marketing leads to Yell over a 2 year period) we offer experience of lead generation partnerships from both sides of the coin.
And not all that experience has been positive. We learned as much from the mistakes made or witnessed as the successes. We've learned the hard way so you don't have to.
In 2020 (pre COVID) Collaboration Junkie was born. Helping ambitious business owners leverage their credibility to get high quality leads, on a consistent basis, from trusted 3rd parties - making Lead Generation an enjoyable process!
Over the last 5.1/2 years we've worked directly with well over 100 business owners and their teams, the majority being in the agency space. Our sweet spot is successful brands looking for their next stage of growth - leveraging their brilliant reputation within their chosen sector to build exciting partnerships, and a culture of referrals within their teams, that means introductions from both partners and clients scales alongside the business.
Want to know a bit more about Dave as a person? Click here!
