As we get to the end of the year, this is a great time to think about the valuable marketing relationships you have built for your business all year long.  Your marketing partners – whether new this year or collaborations that have been developing a long time – are allies to your business.  Hopefully you have made a notable impact for each other.  As you think about the work you will do to wrap up the year, it is important to make a plan to acknowledge marketing partners.

Anyone who has heard me speak about small business marketing may realize that I love partnership marketing.  It is a type of marketing that any business of any size can do with any budget.  It can be layered onto every marketing campaign you execute to give you more strength and reach.  Not sure what I am talking about?  Read here! 

Partnership marketing is all about being proactive to build win-win relationships.  Like all relationships, relationships with marketing partners require nurturing.  Whether your allies are businesses or individual influencers, the work you have done together to boost each other’s frequency is surely more impactful than the work you would have done alone.

A great marketing plan is all about building community. Part of that process is making people feel appreciated. To acknowledge them. To give back and give gratitude to the community you created.  Any time is a great time to recognize your marketing partners, but what more natural time could there be than the end of the year?

A great #marketing plan is all about building #community. #smallbusiness #business #smallbiz #smb #biztips Share on X

So take a moment now to add this to your to do list if it wasn’t there already.  Not only is it a nice thing to do, but this is the kind of task that can pay dividends for you later.

Not sure where to start?  Make a list of organizations, companies, or individuals who collaborated with you in a meaningful way this year.  Be sure to add anyone who cross promoted with you and added another spotlight to the work you were doing.  These are your best friends in business.  They have proven that they have your back.

Once you have that list, it is up to you to decide how much time and effort you can dedicate to recognizing them.  Send them a special note if you are keeping costs down.  Get them a gift if you have the means.  Let them know you appreciate the mutual support and hope for more of the same in the future.

As much as possible, let them know the impact your business has seen because of the work you did together.  It’s satisfying to see tangible results that show exactly how much you helped each other.  Whatever you do, make it clear that you value the partnership and intend to remain a good partner.

Having a successful #business isn’t something any of us can do alone. #smallbusiness #smallbiz #smb #solopreneur #entrepreneur Share on X

Having a successful business isn’t something any of us can do alone.  It takes outside validation.  It takes clients.  It takes recommendations.  It takes funding.  It takes a community.  The people who are lending us a hand are enabling us to succeed.  Isn’t that worth taking some time to reach out?  No matter what obligations and deadlines are colliding at this time of year, fostering these marketing partners may be one of the greatest gifts you can make to your business for the future.

And if you are looking for more information about how gratitude fits into the sales or fundraising cycle, you’ll want to read this Marketing Tip of the Week on How Giving Thanks Pays Dividends.