You’re not alone. One of the biggest frustrations for online coaches, service providers, and course creators is finding ways to reach new people—without feeling like you’re stuck on a hamster wheel of posting on social media every day. The reality is, if you’re relying only on your existing audience, your growth will stall.
But here’s the solution: collaboration.
Collaborating with other business owners is a fast, effective way to grow your email list, build authority, and get in front of hundreds (or even thousands) of new potential clients—without spending a dime on ads or obsessing over algorithms.
Why Consider Collaborations?
So why should you even think about teaming up with other business owners? Isn’t that just working with your competition?
Not at all. Here’s why collaboration should be on your radar:
- Exposes You to New Audiences: By partnering with someone who has a similar but non-competing audience, you’ll reach people who might not know about you yet. You’re tapping into their warm audience and building trust through their endorsement.
- Builds Your Authority: When you collaborate, especially in visible ways like podcast guesting or summits, it positions you as an expert in your field. You’re borrowing credibility from your partner, which helps build trust faster with their audience.
- Saves You Time and Money: Growing an audience from scratch takes time or money (sometimes both!). But with collaborations, you can shortcut that process by leveraging someone else’s network. Instead of spending months trying to attract new people, one good collaboration can grow your list exponentially.
- Generates Sales and Referrals: Collaborations don’t just build your email list—they also drive sales. Whether it’s through joint offers, affiliate marketing, or simply being exposed to a new audience, you’ll see an increase in inquiries, sales, and opportunities.
9 Ways to Collaborate with Other Business Owners
Here are nine powerful ways to collaborate with other business owners and start building your email list today. I’ve ordered these from the simplest methods to more involved, so you can start wherever you feel comfortable.
- 1. Instagram Post Collaborations: A simple, effective way to get in front of a new audience. You can co-create a post with a business that complements yours, each tagging and introducing the other to your followers. Quick, easy, and expands your reach.
- 2. Freebie Swaps: You and another business owner exchange lead magnets and promote each other’s freebies to your email lists. This not only grows your list but also offers new value to your audience.
- 3. Joint Facebook or Instagram Lives: Go live with another business owner on social media to share insights, tips, or even a mini-training. Both audiences get to engage with you in real time, making it a great way to boost visibility and trust.
- 4. Podcast Guesting: Being a guest on someone’s podcast is one of the best ways to showcase your expertise and offer a lead magnet. This is a fantastic opportunity to get in front of an audience that’s already engaged and interested in your niche.
- 5. Summits: Speaking at virtual summits allows you to share your expertise with a targeted audience. These events can attract hundreds or thousands of participants, giving you the chance to offer a lead magnet and grow your list while establishing yourself as an authority in your space.
- 6. Bundles: Participating in a collaborative bundle lets you offer a valuable resource, such as a micro-offer or freebie, in exchange for email signups. It’s one of the fastest ways to grow your list—my Dream Journal added 493 subscribers in a single bundle.
- 7. Joint Masterclasses or Webinars: Team up with another expert and deliver a value-packed masterclass or webinar. This can be a great way to provide more in-depth content while growing both of your email lists in the process.
- 8. Affiliate Marketing: Allow others to promote your offers and get a commission for each sale. This works well with collaborators who have an aligned audience and can endorse your products or services.
- 9. In-Person Collaboration Events: Although more complex, these can include co-hosting workshops, conferences, or networking events where you get to physically introduce yourself to a whole new audience.
Not All Collaborations Are Created Equal
It’s important to note that not all collaborations will yield the same results. To get the most out of your collaboration efforts, you need a clear plan and the right offer.
Here’s the truth: a simple lead magnet or winging it on an interview won’t get you the results you want. You need to be crystal clear on your target audience and offer something that’s irresistible to them. Whether it’s a bundle, summit, or podcast, your offer or topic should address a problem your audience is eager to solve, with a clear next step for them to take.
If you’re not strategic about your collaborations—if you don’t have a strong micro-offer, polished landing page, or clear call to action—you could end up with a list of subscribers who aren’t really interested, or worse, no growth at all.
That’s where I can help.
In my Visibility Builders Society, I walk you through creating the right micro-offers and designing collaborations that actually grow your email list with warm leads ready to hear about your offers.
Ready to get started? Click below to join the Visibility Builders Society.
