{"id":8931,"date":"2014-09-07T14:00:00","date_gmt":"2014-09-07T18:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.wework.com\/creator\/?p=8931"},"modified":"2020-03-30T19:00:08","modified_gmt":"2020-03-30T23:00:08","slug":"use-buddy-system-boost-startups-credibility","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.wework.com\/ideas\/professional-development\/use-buddy-system-boost-startups-credibility","title":{"rendered":"How to use the \u2018buddy system\u2019 to boost your startup\u2019s credibility"},"content":{"rendered":"

Trying to make it in the startup world can feel pretty lonely sometimes. With the old mantra \u201cit\u2019s not what you know but who<\/i> you know\u201d ringing in your ears, the pressure to network can be overwhelming.<\/p>\n

But what if you could find an older, wiser business partner? One who was well-connected and supportive, and who had the resources to give you a bit of an advantage. Wouldn\u2019t you seize that opportunity?<\/p>\n

Partnering with a larger company can give your startup the credibility, visibility, and relationships it needs to begin making its mark. Between the corporation\u2019s size and resources and your startup\u2019s innovation, you and your partner could do great things together.<\/p>\n

Take American Airlines, for example. Its Innovators<\/a> program takes startups like BuzzTable and Trunk Club and shows them off in its American Way magazine with ads and features. Target\u2019s program, The Shops at Target<\/a>, partners with small businesses and boutique stores to fill its shelves with limited edition and homespun products.<\/p>\n

These collaborations are mutually beneficial because they give smaller businesses the exposure they need while adding depth to the larger brand.<\/p>\n

You, too, can use the buddy system to cure your startup loneliness and propel your company to new heights. Here\u2019s how to get started:<\/p>\n

1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/b>Find the right match<\/b><\/h1>\n

Do your research to find a partner that\u2019s a good fit for you and your company. Many corporations have established programs designed to nurture startups and entrepreneurs, but reaching out to them will show you mean business.<\/p>\n

Getting connected with the right people at huge corporations can take a little detective work, but by using LinkedIn, connecting with relevant speakers at industry conferences, and reading who\u2019s quoted in company press releases, you can find the people you need to connect with.<\/p>\n

2.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/b>Get visible<\/b><\/h1>\n

The key to getting noticed by big businesses is being visible. If you\u2019re just sitting in your office waiting for partners to knock on the door, you\u2019re going to be waiting a long time. Snag the spotlight for your company by taking opportunities to speak at conferences and events, establishing a presence at industry trade shows, and writing articles that show off your company\u2019s expertise.<\/p>\n

3.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/b>Be a good storyteller<\/b><\/h1>\n

Corporations are always looking for help telling their stories to the world. Once you make a connection with a potential partner, let the company know that you\u2019re willing to participate in case studies or provide quotes, rave reviews, and positive word of mouth. The opportunity to connect its brand to an innovative up-and-comer will be too good an opportunity to resist.<\/p>\n

4.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/b>Master your marketing<\/b><\/h1>\n

As you buddy up, you\u2019re going to need to be on top of your marketing and PR strategy. Collaboration can open up lots of opportunities that didn\u2019t exist before. You might like to send out joint press releases or a monthly newsletter. Maybe you can help one another on social media by sharing a campaign and hitting both of your networks at once. Capitalizing on these marketing and PR opportunities is vital to mutual success.<\/p>\n

5.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/b>Be ready to seize opportunities<\/b><\/h1>\n

If you pair up with a big corporation, be prepared for a flood of new opportunities to come your way. A larger company can provide added visibility in the marketplace, a steady pipeline of potential customers and connections, and more effective ways of gaining new customers and larger contracts. So when you say \u201cyes\u201d to a new partnership, you should be ready to say \u201cyes\u201d to all the new business opportunities that may follow.<\/p>\n

The startup game can be a long, hard march alone, but it doesn\u2019t have to be. By partnering up with a larger corporation, you can make the journey a little less lonely and gain a lot more credibility early. So stop fighting the big dogs and start making friends. Your business will thank you.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Trying to make it in the startup world can feel pretty lonely sometimes. With the old mantra \u201cit\u2019s not what you know but who you know\u201d ringing in your ears, the pressure to network can be overwhelming. But what if you could find an older, wiser business partner? One who was well-connected and supportive, and […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1276,"featured_media":8935,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[43902],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8931","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-professional-development"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nHow to use the \u2018buddy system\u2019 to boost your startup\u2019s credibility<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"You, too, can use the buddy system to cure your startup loneliness and propel your company to new heights.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wework.com\/ideas\/professional-development\/use-buddy-system-boost-startups-credibility\" 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