What are the best strategies for building a network of trusted partners to grow your small business?

In my experience, the best thing you could ever do to find your ideal partners and grow your small business is to build out your 'Dream 100.' This strategy involves creating a list of the top websites, forums, message boards, Facebook groups, Facebook influencers, Instagram influencers, podcasts, email newsletters, blogs, and YouTube channels of the top authorities who share your target audience but don't offer the same products and services as you do. Once you identify these individuals or companies, reach out and quickly determine the problem you could solve for them. Then, create a strategic partnership that puts your products in front of their audience.

Put an actual list together of partners you want to work with. Partners you inspire or aspire to work with. Methodically reach out and make connections. Share with them your vision and hear their vision.

Consider what you have to offer the prospective partner. Is there a reciprocal referral opportunity? Do your values align and can you extend your company brand or good will to endorse this business? Should you? Ensure you understand and mitigate the risk to your brand!

Find 20-30 businesses in your local market of a wide variety (Hair salons, Breweries, Roofers, Plumbers, Gym Owners Etc.) and see who has the highest ranking on google reviews and yelp, contact them and ask to speak to the owner (if the owner does not work on site) let them know you love what they are doing and would love to get a business card or a flyer that you could share with your network, offer to meet for coffee and learn about their business. Notice you're not asking them for anything but want to support them organically, that will eventually parlay them to ask you what you do for business and so on. It's an easy open to add to your network as well as showing genuine interest without "needing" anything from them.

Be observant. If potential business partners catch your eye take time to learn their strengths and weaknesses. Pay attention to what others say about them. Use organizations such as Chambers of Commerce and other professional organizations to identify like-minded people who offer products and services that could complement our offerings. Look for common ground and mutual goals and benefits. Don't replicate what you already have.

While I do agree that offering value is key, I also know that this can sometimes come off as disingenuous. I find that it's important to be upfront about your reason for reaching out to someone rather than offer 'value' only for the purpose of asking for something in return later. So in essence, yes, do have something to offer but don't try to use that as an angle to build a relationship with someone under false pretenses.

Adding value is key to establishing any business relationship. It has to be real. Empty promises or no follow through will quickly end a relationship. Your potential partner's time is the most valuable asset they have so don't waste it. Be concise and upfront with what you can offer and what you would expect in return. If there is not alignment, it is often best to acknowledge it and move on. I find that there are plenty of potential partners out there so find those that there is value to both arties and don't try to negotiate a "one way street".

Begin with a mindset of how you can help them instead of how they can help you. The rest will follow. It is amazing how far a simple genuine question like "How can I help you?" can take you.

Adopt a contributive mindset. What are a few ways you could powerfully contribute to a few businesses or owners you respect and admire. (It's better if you don't see a way that they could reciprocate). Look for ways to add value to your community. Endorse and give positive reviews and share referrals. Do the work to be understanding and respected by your teams. This authentic contributive mindset will create the gravity of trust that will attract quality people into your life - and elevate the quality of connections you make. Strangely, this may get you out of your worry about finding more clients for yourself - and allow you to see solutions that comes from helping others solve their problems (that you also share) first.

Provide answers to common questions. For my tax speciality, details on BOI reporting, tax deferred exchanges, pros and cons on entity choice, etc. are good info to provide to target influencers. Remember influencers for a small business are not those with a million followers, but locals with 100s of your potential clients.

Maintaining strong business relationships requires more than just transactions. My experience has taught me that personal connections, politeness, and genuine engagement play a vital role. By fostering trust and being the person your partners or clients remember as "the good guy (or gal)," you increase the likelihood of cooperation, referrals, and fruitful collaborations.

I always say that communication is like the glue that holds together a network of trusted partners. It's the key to making sure everyone understands each other, shares the same goals, and avoids any hiccups along the way. It's like having a smooth conversation that builds trust and makes sure everyone is in sync. Communicating expectations at the beginning is also very important.

It’s been my experience through the years that regardless of what communication style you choose it’s always best to follow up with an email in order to create a history of paper trail. Many valuable ideas can be brought up in a conversation, and when that conversation is revisited, there could be a misinterpretation or misconception of the outcome of what was said. Following up and following through via email can create a valuable resource for accountability and reflection .

It’s not what you say, but how you say it. Make sure to be self aware of your messaging including body language. Sometimes you have to “read between the lines” and be mindful of how you respond to correspondence. Just because you can say something doesn’t always mean you should say something especially, if it could be hurtful or just unnecessary.

Business relationships have to begin just like personal relationships. Getting to know what mutual ground you share as well as what unique traits enhances the interest. Just like in the Art of War, you must know where you stand and where they stand but in this case to clarify common ground instead of annihilation. Communication clarity, meaning having the same definition and vision is paramount.

I Love collaborations!! Collaborating creatively is one of the best ways to expand or scale up a business or project. You not only get to learn new insights, new perspectives, but you get to gain a new network of meaningful relationships. Make sure you team up with others that can add value rather than adding egos and make sure You are also adding value. Choose your niche, share your knowledge and choose others that are willing to do the same🙏🏽

I believe we are really talking about a team which consists of individuals with different skill sets working together for a common goal. Utilizing individual skills, a team becomes greater than the sum of their parts. That being said, the weakest link comes to mind. A team is only as strong as their weakest link. A team must set a common goal, but individuals must also have personal goals to ensure success.

Your customer will always trust with a little before he trusts you with a lot. It's actually to your advantage and as said, you understand better your value proposition and also the risks associated with the client.

Collaboration is not just about working together, but also about working collectively. It involves people working as one team instead of many individuals, which can be complex without the right strategies in place

Though collaboration is quite 'cool' term at the moment, it's not necessarily the best next step for every business seeking partners. It may be years before a project comes along that works for both organisations. I've found that having a regular mentoring connection meeting is a great way to build trust and truly discover the true value or each partner. Connect as a group of complimentary (non-competitive) business leaders and jointly problem solve. This builds shared trust, respect and a true understanding of how to best engage with each organisation. Most critically, ensure a binding confidentiality agreement is in place before any real business to business discussion kicks off.

Refer customers to your local partners and encourage them to do the same for you. Implement a referral program that rewards both parties for successful referrals. You can bundle your products or services with those of your local partners to offer attractive packages. For example, a restaurant could partner with a nearby spa for a "Dine and Relax" package. Offer discounts on your products or services exclusively for your local partners. This can incentivize them to engage with your business more frequently. Celebrate important milestones and anniversaries together. Recognize your partnership's successes and the impact you've made on the local community.

To add here, gratitude goes along way with anyone. So long as they are a good actor, versus a bad actor in your network, you’ll always get further showing that you are grateful and appreciative of those who do good business. When you have a positive thing to say to a person, one of my favorites, being that they are a consummate professional, it’s remembered. Second, when you refer them, and help them, improve their financial situation, and further their business, you have a friend and partner for life. Never attribute to malice what can be explained by innocent or ignorance .

This is huge for me because I have such a large team. It's so important to remember and help everyone who got you to where you are. Nobody can do anything huge and impact the lives of millions without help. Appreciate everyone who helps you because it's very difficult to stay at the top forever.

Acknowledgment and positive feedback is more than courtesy, it's a fundamental driver in building solid relationships. If we look at it from a psychological standpoint, showing gratitude creates a sense of validation, it improves confidence/self-worth and positively impacts the overall relationship dynamics. When we express genuine appreciation, we reinforce belonging (Maslow's Hierarchy), which encourages further collaboration Gratitude isn't just a nicety, it's a strategic element that creates the foundation of long-lasting partnerships, it helps to build trust, encourages open communication, and cultivates a collaborative environment where mutual support thrives. We could all benefit from giving a little more.

In my best seller book “People Centered. leadership” I talk about the A.R.T. of Leadership Appreciation, Recognition and Trust I believe team members are starving for A.R.T. In most companies today!

After you done the basics like attend industry events, such as conferences and meet ups, you need to be genuinely curious about other people. Talk to people with the only goal of leaning something about them, especially their purpose and values. If you share similar purposes and values, that person may be a great potential partner for you.

There are no shortcuts to building a business network: 1) Give 1st, then receive. 2) Expect to give 5-10 times before receiving. People are busy and focussed on themselves and their families first….not you. 3) Plan a network that compensates for your delivery gaps. Brutally honest personal analysis is needed to identify your true gaps. Tame your ego to do this. 4) If after the hard yards of relationship building with a network partner, end this relationship and move on if it is not working. You will know in your heart if it is working or not. 5) Most of all, realise that a quality network built around your core delivery pays off via retention of your clients. Referrals from your network to you build over time. Trust = Speed.

Building trust for SMEs involves networking at industry events, utilizing online platforms like LinkedIn, and clear communication of business goals and values. Consistent delivery of high-quality products, meeting deadlines, and prioritizing long-term relationships contribute to reliability. Mutual benefit agreements, customer referrals, and regular communication strengthen partnerships. Face-to-face meetings, feedback loops, and continuous improvement further foster trust, creating lasting relationships built on transparency, reliability, and mutual respect.

Living in a rural area, one important strategy that's been a game-changer for me is not to be discouraged or deterred when I've been unable to find existing communities/networks/groups that align with my vision, values, and goals. Instead, I view it as an invitation to start something new. Step forward. Invite others to join you. Make it a welcoming and inclusive environment. There are almost always others looking for the same things as you but they're waiting for someone else to take the lead - they are waiting for you. I've found referrals and collaborations come organically in the process of being of service and building these new relationships.

-Attend industry gatherings, meetups, and events to meet potential partners face-to-face. -Consider becoming part of industry groups or associations to expand your circle. -Offer something valuable to potential partners without expecting anything in return right away. -Think about projects you can work on together as a trial run for your partnership. -Refer clients their way when it makes sense, and they'll likely return the favor. -Show you care about making things better by seeking input from partners. -Be adaptable to changing needs and circumstances.