Have you ever wished you could make your brand more well-known among your local community, but just weren’t sure how to go about it? Let’s face it: brand awareness is difficult to build among the wider public, but it can be even more challenging to get noticed by people in your own backyard. But there is good news: local partnerships can be an incredibly effective way for brands to become better known in their local area.
Whether a brand is large or small, local partnerships can help it to stand out more in the local community. So long as the partnerships are carefully orchestrated, partnerships can be a great way to help local residents become more aware of a brand. That, in turn, can can lead to increased sales, customer loyalty and brand recognition.
Whit Are Local Partnerships?
Local partnerships are alliances between a brand and another local business or organization. Generally speaking, these partnerships are formed to promote each other’s products or services, gain new customers or grow sales.
In other words, both parties stand to gain something through the partnership. And since the two entities are local, the partnership ideally benefits both of them as well as the local community.
How Can Partnerships Work?
There are different ways that partnerships can “work”:
Cross-Promotional Events
This is one of the most common types of partnerships. Both parties might hold a joint event, or one might host an event that includes features or promotions for the other party. For example, a local salon and a local spa might each hold an open house/sale at the same time so that attendees can learn about the other local business.
Sponsorships
One of the best ways to create brand awareness in a local area is through sponsorship. Many types of local organizations, such as schools, local sports leagues, and community groups, are always in need of extra funds to operate. And since many of these organizations often solicit local businesses for sponsorships, sponsoring an event or project can be a great way to make a brand name more visible in the community.
Joint Marketing Campaigns
This is an effective strategy when the two partners share a target customer base. They can combine their resources to create a marketing campaign that would be more effective than what either party could do alone.
Benefits of Local Partnerships
Local partnerships can bring a number of benefits to a brand such as:
Faster Growth Projections
Local partnerships can help local businesses to grow their customer base more quickly. Since the two entities are working together and both are benefitting from the partnership, the amount of marketing and advertising needed to grow the business is reduced.
Enhanced Brand Awareness
The best part about local partnerships is that two brands can increase their exposure locally while simultaneously driving traffic to each other’s businesses. As long as the partnership is managed well, both parties can create a mutually beneficial relationship.
Cost- Effective Advertising
Compared to hiring a professional advertising agency, creating partnerships with local businesses can be a cost-effective way to get brand exposure. The two parties can each contribute something to the cost of the advertising, making it easier for both parties to afford.
Local Partnerships Can Be Key to Brand Success
When you consider all the possible benefits, it’s easy to see why local partnerships can be such a powerful tool for brand development. Building stronger networking connections in the community can be key to every brand’s success. And as an added bonus, it can also lead to stronger, more genuine connection with local customers.