Get Other Businesses To Promote You To Their Customer List
When it comes to reaching new customers, one of the best moves you can make is getting other businesses to promote your offer directly to their customer lists. Think about it: these people are already shopping at local businesses, and if you’re partnering with the right businesses, they’re likely the kind of people you’d want as your customers too. So why not tap into that?
If you’re unsure where to start, check out our articles on How To Find Referral Partners and How To Easily Connect With Referral Partners. They’ll walk you through identifying and connecting with potential partners. Once you’ve got a few in mind, here’s how to make the most of those connections.
1. Provide an Offer to Each Other’s Customers
This is the key piece. You’ve got to make it easy for the other business to want to promote you. The simplest way? Offer their customers something exclusive. Not only does this make the partnership appealing to both businesses, but it also gives both customer bases a reason to pay attention.
If you and your partner use ShareSites, sharing offers becomes even easier, as it provides a streamlined way to create and share your main offer.
Example: Say you’re a wellness center teaming up with a local juice bar. You could offer their customers 20% off a service, while they might promote a special deal on their juices for your clients. Both businesses get exposure, and both customer bases get something of value.
2. Choose the Right Communication Channel: Email or SMS
Now that you’ve got an offer, you need to figure out the best way to get it in front of people. When it comes to reaching customers, email and SMS are two of the most effective channels. But they’re different beasts, so choose based on what fits best with the relationship and the audience.
Email: This is the lower-resistance option. It’s less intrusive, perfect for a more detailed message, and allows you to include images, links, and a bit more personality. Most partnerships will find this channel suits them well.
SMS: If the partnership is stronger, SMS might be your play. It’s immediate and direct—people tend to open text messages right away—but it’s also a bit more personal. You want to be sure your offer is strong enough to justify that approach.
3. Provide Ready-to-Use Promotional Content
Don’t make your partners do extra work. They’re probably busy, so make it as painless as possible. That means handing them the email copy or SMS message, ready to go. The easier you make it, the more likely they are to follow through.
Email Example:
Subject: Local Business Spotlight: Exclusive Discount at [Wellness Center Name]
Body:
Hi [Customer’s Name], We’re thrilled to support local businesses like [Wellness Center Name], so we’re offering an exclusive deal just for you! As a customer of [Juice Bar Name], enjoy 20% off your first visit to [Wellness Center Name]. Whether you’re looking for [service details, e.g., “a relaxing massage or yoga session”], they’ve got you covered. Claim your offer here: [ShareSite link] Thanks for supporting local businesses! Best, [Juice Bar Name]
SMS Example:
“Support local! Our friends at [Wellness Center Name] are offering 20% off just for you! Claim it here: [ShareSite link].”
4. Schedule the Promotion and Agree Upon a Time
Here’s where the rubber meets the road. You need to align on timing to ensure your promotion has the maximum impact. Figure out the best date and time for both businesses, and use a tool like HighLevel to schedule the emails or SMS blasts. Getting on the same page ensures the promotion feels cohesive to customers and increases the chance of positive results.
5. Measure the Results
Once the promotion goes live, it’s time to see how it performs. Track open rates for emails, click-through rates, engagement with the offer, and—most importantly—the number of leads generated. This isn’t just about knowing if it worked; it’s about learning what works best so you can refine the approach for future promotions.
Final Thoughts
Getting other businesses to promote you to their customer lists isn’t just a nice-to-have; it can be a game-changer. By creating offers that genuinely benefit both businesses and providing content that’s easy to share, you create a partnership that adds value for everyone involved. If you keep things streamlined and stay on top of your metrics, you’ll have a recipe for success that both you and your partners can use to grow.