Stronger Together: Creative Collaboration Ideas for Small Businesses

By Belle Wong
The Hartford Small Biz Ahead
Originally Published: August 14, 2024 | Updated: August 20, 2024

Think you have to go at it alone as a small business? Think again.

Growing your business can be hard work. But teaming up with businesses that offer complementary products or services can help you tap into new customer bases and expand your reach. The bottom line: Success can be sweeter when shared.

Here are 10 creative ways to team up with other businesses to boost your brand and grow together.

1. Cross-Promotions and Discounts

Make your business stand out while giving your customers a little extra savings. Partner with another business to offer special deals to each other’s customers. This not only drives traffic to your business but also builds community by introducing your customers to local favorites.

Ideas to get you started:

• Make discounts exclusively for each other’s customers.
• Design coupons or digital codes to distribute at checkout.
• Include offers in newsletters and share on social media.
• Track redemption rates and gather customer feedback.

Picture it in action: With each coffee purchase, Beanie Brews gives out coupons for 10% off at Page Turners, a local bookstore, while Page Turners does the same in return. They place each other’s flyers at their counters and promote the discounts on social media. The result: Customers flock to Beanie Brews for their morning coffee and then to Page Turners for a good book to go with their coffee.

2. Joint Referral Programs

Referrals work. Dropbox, for example, exploded in popularity through customer referrals. Team up for a joint referral program with another business to enhance credibility and attract new clients through mutual endorsements. You’ll also strengthen your local business connections and foster a sense of community.

Ideas to get you started:

• Discuss how to track referrals and decide on rewards (for example, thank-you gifts or discounts).
• Make sure you fully understand each other’s services so you can make confident recommendations.
• Distribute referral cards and promote the program through various channels.
• Hold regular check-ins to assess and make improvements.

Picture it in action: Over coffee, Lucy from Pixel Perfect, a web design studio, and Max from Click Boost, a digital marketing agency, discover they’ve referred a mutual bakery client to each other. This leads to a lightbulb moment: Why not create a joint referral program? They hand out eye-catching referral cards and track each referral meticulously. The collaboration brings in a wave of…[MORE]

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To read the entire article by Belle Wong at The Hartford Small Biz Ahead website, visit: Stronger Together: Creative Collaboration Ideas for Small Businesses