Even though a huge part of what we do every day boils down to straight up matchmaking, it still feels a bit self indulgent to write an article on the topic of finding the right marketing partner. But it is something clients ask us. It doesn’t feel disingenuous to us because we know Switchback isn’t the right fit for everyone and everybody isn’t a fit for us either. It really isn’t any more complicated than the old KNOW – LIKE – TRUST adage. Working partnerships are about KNOWING the company you are considering working with. Once you have a basic understanding of them, you move on to seeing if you LIKE the people that make up their team. This isn’t something that can be forced. We all get ‘a feeling’ about the people we meet; some we like right away, others we feel leery about and we may not even know why. TRUSTING is the final, most critical piece of all. Trust in the people, the process, the guidance given and of course the quality of the final product promised.

The task of finding someone to work with can feel daunting. There is a lot that a potential marketing partner needs to answer for you and it might cross your mind to just try and do it yourself.

The task of finding someone to work with can feel daunting. There is a lot that a potential marketing partner needs to answer for you and it might cross your mind to just try and do it yourself. But think of the process as a casual drink with a new friend, and go from there. We approach these moments with as much curiosity and transparency as possible to make the most of our time together.

Relax and ask yourself the following questions when looking for a marketing partner:

• Do they come recommended by a trusted source?
• Does their website, blog or other social media reflect a company you feel comfortable with?
• Do they dig deeper to ask you questions about your company, raising points you may not even have thought of before?
• Do their core values align with your own? What do you share in common?
• Are they transparent and honest about what they can and can’t do? Everyone has things they are the best at, but do they know where those edges of their specialties lie?

These questions along with your determination to get the partnership going, and a good old fashioned gut feel can help you find the right partner for your needs.