If you follow me on Instagram, you’ve probably seen how much I care about community and collaboration. Collaboration can help you grow your business and improve your services. Here’s how you can collaborate with other businesses. You’ll also find some relevant samples and tips for the best partnerships!

Small business collaboration examples

Combine your services to offer a complete package

For example, I’m partnered with a few website developers. They offer complete, signature packages to their clients that include my copywriting services. They’re not writers, but felt the need for this service within their packages. They wanted to deliver a completely refined website, including the content, and by partnering up with Salted Pages, they’ve been able to do so. This gives them the benefit of being a one-stop-shop for their clients, and brings in more business for my company.

The photographer (and now friend) that I exchanged services with

Trade your services

I love small business trades, especially when you’re just starting out as you don’t have the capacity to pay someone, but you can often trade services of equal value. In my first year, I traded website copywriting for a brand photoshoot. I’m also in discussion right now with a podcast manager to do a similar trade. Who out there could use your help, and what could you ask for in return from them? Is there an Instagram coach who could use your copywriting services or is there a virtual assistant that you can coach?

I even rented a table for my photoshoot for free by trading some of my services!

Create a referral system

Referral systems are great for growing your business. There are many structures. Some businesses offer kickbacks in the form of monetary bonuses when you refer them. Others simply ask that you return the favor, without exchanging money. And sometimes, it’s simply an unwritten rule that if you know someone and trust them, you’ll refer business to them when someone needs their services. I prefer the latter two to keep it a bit simpler. It’s also encouraged to send gifts and thank you notes for referrals.

Ask to exchange guest blogs

A simple collaboration may entail guest blogging. Perhaps you have an idea that caters more to someone else’s audience, or you’d like someone else to offer their expertise on your blog. This can be a paid service or a free exchange.

Share someone else’s expertise

Similar to the blog, could you ask an expert to share their knowledge on an Instagram takeover or on a podcast? Would you be able to teach their audience something too?

Business benefits of collaboration

Increase visibility

Partnering with another business can give you the opportunity to tap into their audience. This increases your visibility, which can help you grow. The more brand awareness you have, the better. This is one of the biggest advantages of business to business collaboration.

Receive honest feedback

One of the major benefits of a partnership is that you have someone within your circle who can give you honest feedback. Is there any way you can serve your clients better? Could you have communicated something more clearly? Both parties should be encouraged to give kind, yet honest feedback.

Two dear friends that support me!

Obtain more support

I don’t have to tell you that running a business can be lonely. Collaboration, really in any of the forms above, can help you feel less alone, and more embedded in a community.

Grow your business

Ultimately, cross company collaboration will help you grow your business. You can learn and grow from each other, tap into each other’s audiences and identify ways to help each other. The best collaborations are those in which both parties are equally excited.

Tips for business collaboration

The best small business collaborations are those that:

Offer equal value

Make sure that the services or products exchanged are comparable in price or time so that no one feels like they got the short end of the deal.

Partner with someone at a similar level in business

Find those who are at the same stage in their business. Are you in your first year? Find someone else who is too and see how you can help each other!

Have a clear structure & contract

What are you exchanging? What are the terms and conditions? When does the partnership end? Have a clear contract in place. This will protect both parties and ensure that the entire partnership is documented. If you forget what you offered to give them, you should be able to refer to the contract.

Keep your eyes peeled. You never know where you’ll find the next collaboration. If I were you, though, I’d start on Instagram. Good luck my friends! Comment below if you have any questions on how to collaborate with other businesses. And if you’re not signed up for my newsletter, add your name to the list here to receive more goodies like this post.