For some agencies, collaborating with others can feel a bit strange – you want to do the work, and get the recognition that comes with it.

But actually, collaboration is becoming a more and more powerful tool for both new biz and growth – and it’s something worth tapping into.

There are two main types of collaboration this session will focus on. First, the power of partnerships. 

“Partnerships work because there’s trust,” says Dave Plunkett, founder of Collaboration Junkie, which helps businesses work more collaboratively, especially when it comes to partnerships and lead gen.

“Somebody’s trusted me with their audience, their clients, or their strategy, and that’s a huge responsibility. And when they’re done right, everyone wins. The customer gets the best solution, the partner wins because they’ve added value, and you win because you’ve earned that trust.”

Though getting started, and finding the right partnerships, can feel a bit of an uphill battle to begin with.

“The number one thing on the partnership side is understanding your ecosystem. Look at where you sit in the customer value chain and identify where the most effective partnerships lie,” advises Dave.

“They’re a new biz tool, but they’re not just about sales. They’re about value creation. You’re putting the customer at the heart of the solution, and that’s what makes them so powerful.”

We’ll also be talking about referrals, which for agencies like Search Seven, are working wonders.

“Referrals for us are huge – they’re normally about 78% of our business,” says Gavin Willis, the agency’s CEO and founder.

To gamify this referral scheme, last year Gavin launched a charity referral league, which has further boosted their referral drive.

“We run it like a Premier League table. You get one point for a qualified lead and three points for a lead that closes. It’s a great way to gamify the process and keep people motivated,” he explains.

“And the system doesn’t just generate leads – it creates a ripple effect of value. We’re raising money for charity, rewarding our referrers, and building strong relationships.”

Join us for this marketing and new biz mastermind, as Dave and Gavin share their experiences and insights on turning partnerships and referrals into reliable, and valuable, growth engines for your agency.