5 Steps to Nurturing Empowered Partners? who will send you consistent referrals for years to come.

5 steps to nurturing Empowered Partners? who will send you consistent referrals for years to come.

If you are frustrated with the quality of your networking relationships, the lack of consistency in referrals or introductions, or the overall lack of results, there is a key networking relationship that can turn the tide.

The Empowered Partner?

You may have heard the term “power partners” in connection with good networking.?These are people who send each other referrals and are cheerleaders for each other in the marketplace.

Empowered Partners? are key networking relationships that follow a particular formula for success that I’ve developed over the last 8 years of facilitating and engaging in hundreds of networking events. Most importantly they Empower each other to take action by providing each other with clear information and goals.

Recently, one of my Empowered Partners? helped me book over 16 speaking engagements in 90 days!

These are the 5 steps to creating Empowered Partners? who will send you consistent referrals for years to come.

1.??????Identify Your Empowered Partner?

2.??????Explore Partnership Possibilities

3.??????Come to an Agreement

4.??????Follow Through

5.??????Follow Up

??Step 1 -?Identify Your Empowered Partner?

An Empowered Partner? is someone who either (a) shares your ideal client or (b) is connected to your ideal client.??It’s also helpful to have complimentary services that your clients both need or want.?If you are a Logo Designer, it could be helpful to partner with a Website Designer for example.??If you are a Speaking Coach, you might make a great partnership with a Business Coach.

What’s even more important, however, is that they must be willing to be your champion.?

The only way you’ll establish this is through building rapport - having 1:1 conversations, and empowering each other with key information about your values and your business. When you are clear about who someone is and what they do, you can more easily decide if you want to collaborate further.

In my Empowered Business Networking Mastermind , we start by filling out the Empowered Partner? form, which has key information including ideal clients, ideal referral partners, how you like to be introduced, and links to key resources to get to know each other better.

Then, we hold specific Empowered Partner? Mastermind conversations to go deeper in identifying who might work well together, so we can move on to Step 2 - creating outside-the-box ways to collaborate and increase visibility.?

??Step 2 – Explore Partnership Possibilities

Here is where you get to be creative!?If you love collaboration, there are so many fun ways to cross-promote and create more visibility for each other.

This is just a list to get you started.

·????????Interviews (Podcasts or Live video)

·????????Joint Webinar or Online Event

·????????Co-Write an Article/Blog post

·????????Invite to write for your Magazine

·????????Host as a Featured Speaker on your Stage

·????????Create an Affiliate Rewards Program

·????????Invite them to be a Guest Expert for your Online Program

·????????Bundle Your Services (for a discount)

·????????Share Speaking Leads with each other

At Empowered Business Networking, we encourage collaboration over competition, understanding that everyone is unique, and working together is the best way to generate opportunity.

As you mastermind ideas, the details will need to be finalized so that expectations are met on both sides and it feels like a reciprocal relationship.

??Step 3 – Come to an Agreement

It’s up to you if you want to have a verbal or written agreement.?It depends on the size and risk associated with the collaboration and how complicated it is to track the details.

What’s important here is to agree on a few key points.

1.??????What actions you both are willing to take? (that feel reciprocal)

2.??????How frequently you will take those actions??(once a week, once a month, something else?)

3.??????What Copy/Tools/Graphics/Links will you provide to help facilitate taking action?

4.??????What affiliate fees will be given and under what circumstances? (if any)

With one of my current Speaking Empowered Partners?, we send each other one speaking lead each week.?We have specific language we use to make that introduction, and I track who I have introduced to her in a special document so that I can effectively engage in the next steps of this process.

?

???Step 4 – Follow Through

Now that you have agreed to support your Empowered Partner?, what systems do you have in place to ensure you are doing your part?

Whatever system you choose, I highly recommend:

1.??????You block time in your schedule to engage in Empowered Partner ? activities.

2.??????You use a Task Management System and/or Virtual Assistant to help support you.

• Want to make consistent introductions??

Make sure you are clear about who they want to meet, how they like to be introduced, and how often they want an introduction. Track the history of introductions and create a list of future introductions so you are not feeling pressured to come up with a name on the spot.

• Want to collaborate on an event?

Set clear deadlines and calls with your Empowered Partner? to remain clear about expectations and address issues quickly. Agree to a marketing campaign that feels doable and reciprocal. Consider a written agreement if affiliate fees are being paid.

• Are you regularly interviewing various Empowered Partners ? on a podcast, live video series or radio show?

?Utilize a Virtual Assistant to schedule your interviews and handle the details so you just have to show up. Find ways to repurpose content and schedule out that content so your partners get more exposure. Consider asking for a testimonial that points back to their interview on social media accounts.

• Have an affiliate program??

Use a CRM and/or virtual assistant to track affiliate fees for you.?Consider a standard affiliate agreement as part of registration to become an affiliate. Always pay your affiliates on the agreed-upon schedule. Never mess with people's money.

Following through will build trust and ensure that you not only establish yourself as a fantastic Empowered Partner?, but word will spread, and doors will open more easily for you.

At Empowered Business Networking, we are actively encouraging best practices around cross-promotion and collaboration, and we are holding our members in a container of ongoing support so that they can follow through and dramatically improve their networking ROI.

The final step to success is receiving consistent referrals for to come is Follow Up.

??Step 5 – Follow Up

Part of following up for me is doing frequent assessments.??This helps me build on what’s working and make changes when needed.

Are the introductions you are making producing results for your partner?

Did your joint virtual event help produce leads??

Unless you assess, you'll struggle deciding what to adjust so you can improve.

A standard assessment formula I learned from my business mentor, Heather Dominick is:

1.??????What is going well?

2.??????What is not going as well?

3.??????What will I do differently as a result of what I’ve learned so far?

After you assess this for yourself, schedule a call with your Empowered Partner?. Ask them the same questions and ensure that the relationship is remaining valuable for both parties. If they aren't receiving as much value, you have the opportunity to adjust based on what you've learned along the way.

If you would like to meet high quality networking professionals who are serious about creating Empowered Partnerships?, visit my virtual, international networking group?Empowered Business Networking . We allow guests to visit the?first Thursday of each month from 2-3:30 p.m. ET.

Stephanie Bonte-Lebair

Stephanie is a classically-trained singer turned voice, presentation and sales coach.?She moved to New York City and performed in operas, musical and cabaret before creating her business,?The Empowered Voice .?For over 20 years, she has helped singers, speakers and business professionals leverage their voice for more influence, authentic connections and increased sales.?She is an award-winning Certified and Licensed trainer with Codebreaker Technologies (#1 Trainer in 2020), helping sales teams close more sales in less time.?She is the Founder of?Empowered Business Networking , a virtual, international networking group that also trains its members to become better at networking and speaking.?Whether performing on stages or speaking in the boardroom, Stephanie’s mission is to help people be the voice of their passions.