Strategic Partnering

In last issue's You've Got Questions, I wrote about ways to find work in the early stages of starting a business. And I promised I'd write about strategic partnering this time around.

Strategic partnering with related businesses can help you build your portfolio when starting out. It can also fill your schedule as you grow. Many freelancers use partnering to find much, if not most, of their work.

Let me give you an example. As a writer and editor, I work with several web designers and graphics professionals. Often, their clients will deliver poorly written copy, or perhaps no copy at all. And that's where I can help my strategic partners. I give them a key resource by providing good, clean copy, the cost of which is built into their quote for the project. Often, the client won't even know I'm on the job. And when I need graphics work, or perhaps extremely complex web programming, I will rely on my partners to help me deliver a quality product for my own clients. We all win, because we can deliver better service.

Who you partner with will depend on your company. A house painter might partner with a carpenter to make small repairs. A landscaper could partner with a lawn maintenance company if it isn't a part of their services. A bookkeeper would do well to contact CPAs to offer to take on some of their basic accounting. Get a pad and pencil and write down all of the possibilities. Then create a plan for contacting as many businesses as you can in each category.

Resource Review

Publisher - IDG Books

Perhaps the most famous series of How-to books on the market today is the …for Dummies® catalogue from IDG Books. Don't let the name put you off; these books teach the basics in easy-to-understand language. Initially, this series concentrated on computer software, and it's still their strong suit, but they've branched out into many other areas. I always recommend them to clients when they want to learn about a new area. Visit their web site at www.dummies.com.

Quick Tip - Plan for Success

If you didn't write a business plan when you started your business, or if it is more than two years old, write one now. This plan is your roadmap to success. The process of writing requires you to organize your thoughts on many aspects of your business, and may well uncover areas that you haven't put enough effort into. Remember "Baldwin's First Law of Business": Plan the work, and then work the plan.

You've Got Questions

Q. - How does becoming better known in my community help get more work?

A. - When Eva and I moved to a small community in central Texas, I volunteered to write a weekly column for the Chamber of Commerce. This led to other work for two reasons: 1. It got my name in front of the community. And 2. It showed I was willing to volunteer time to help make the community a better place for all. Take stock of your talents and abilities, as well as your areas of interest. How can you combine the two with volunteerism to help create a higher profile for yourself? Chances are, you can find a way to do some good for your community while doing some good for your business.

Thought for the Day:

A turtle only makes progress when it sticks out its neck.
Author Unknown

End of Solutions V2003 #4 A Publication of:
Lane Baldwin Business Solutions
Our business is improving yours.™

Copyright by Lane Baldwin Business Solutions, 2003. Reprinting or republication of Solutions is prohibited without prior approval.

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