In a world of ever expanding, expensive technologies it’s not uncommon for small businesses to feel like very tiny fish in a large, corporation-dominated pond. While giant companies seem to swim along quite nicely, solo entrepreneurs and smaller teams are hit by recurring waves of fatigue, financial difficulty and stifling competition.

It is diving head first into this digital age, without taking your competition into consideration, which causes many start-ups to drown amongst the masses.

At Point and Stare, we don’t have any competitors – this firm was built with a priority of collaboration as I believe this helps us all to grown internally and helps others grow externally.
As mentioned in other articles, as the boss you cannot do everything, plus, staff and facilities are very expensive especially when you’re based in Central London.

Here, we look at some important reasons to collaborate with your competition, rather than battling against them and how you can get started.

Scale
Whether through hiring remote freelancers or collaborating with similar businesses in the field, the old saying still rings true: two/ three/ four heads are better than one. Collaborating allows you to be open to new ideas, input and inspiration, giving all parties involved the opportunity to create something in one year that could take a lone business much longer.

Speed
At Point and Stare, we know that technology is advancing at lightning speed, whether through the Internet of Things, apps or virtual reality. For small businesses, this can be a costly, intimidating feat, especially when large brands always seem to be one step ahead. Collaborating with other businesses allows you the unique opportunity to tap into these technologies, a move that could ultimately take your company to the next level.

Self-Awareness
Admitting that you don’t have all the resources you need is an important step in taking your business forward. Recognising your strengths and weaknesses will allow you to evaluate not only what you have to offer others, but also where your business could benefit and grow with external help.

Strength
Good relationships are paramount to any successful business. From those all-important PR campaigns to word-of-mouth referrals, knowing and talking to the right people will take your business from strength to strength. Be social, be seen and, ultimately, you will sell.

So, how can you implement brand collaboration into your business strategy?

Get out there
To get you started, why not arrange a local community meet up? Or you could even join one of the many online business support groups and networking organisations. The fantastic benefit of these platforms is that they give you the chance to network with other business professionals in an informal and friendly environment, which in turn can lead to very positive (and arguably more organic) partnerships.
My advice in these situations is to never go in with the hard sell, but to strike up relationships and look for those around you that could help you pitch for bigger/ better work.

Polished presentation
And, of course, you have to also present yourself in a professional light as others could be looking for your services. As we specialise in getting your company online, we strongly suggest that you spend a good bit of time working on your website to ensure what you’re portraying is what others want to be a part of.

Get organised
When working on a new collaboration you might find they are using a new way of project management a file collection service or processes. It’s always good to learn new stuff, especially if you discover a better way of doing things.
Be open and at least try them and, if you’re not comfortable, be prepared to say no and offer an alternative.

If you need more information or advice on any of the above or you’re looking to beef up your online presence, contact Point and Stare today. You never know, we might be able to collaborate with you.

 
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