Create a List of Community Partners

Start thinking about area businesses, nonprofits, influencers, networks, and other community organizations who may be interested in your services. Allow yourself to be creative and open to possibilities as you create your list. These organizations may have never collaborated with a service like yours—what can you offer them that helps them better serve their stakeholders (or shareholders?)

As you develop your list, here are some helpful considerations:

Understanding Your Target Audience

• Identify shared values: Do you have shared values? Do your services align with the mission and values of the organizations?
• What do they need?: What are their specific challenges and goals? What can you do to help the organization better serve their constituents?
• Can you tailor your offer? Can you customize your services to address their particular pain points?

Ideas for approaching them

• Can you offer a free consultation or pilot program? While offering something for free should be limited, there are times when it can make sense. Perhaps you simply need practice offering a newly honed skill, or maybe you see the potential for a long-term relationship and a free offer helps open the door for both you and the organization to test the waters.
• Do you have success stories you can share with them? Are there examples of how you’ve helped similar organizations?

Hopefully after 10 minutes you’ve gathered at least a few new prospects for whom you can effectively build meaningful partnerships.