Collaboration Over Competition
Anyone who knows me, knows I am a big believer of collaboration with others, over competing with them.
Why?
There is enough work out there for all of us, and clients look to different people for different things. So why shouldn’t we be collaborating with each other?
Collaborations mean we can use each other to get in front of a wider audience. So by utilising both of our audiences, we can create an even bigger community online, and therefore a bigger support network. What’s not to love about that?
This support network that gets created, consists of likeminded individuals. This is great for when we need advice. It gives us someone or multiple people to lean on when needed during this sometimes lonely journey that is being self-employed.
Collaborating with other people has helped bring me numerous business opportunities, that I never would have dreamed of being able to get. Whether that be featuring some of my favourite brands in gift guides, leading to working with them in a professional capacity, or a model call that has resulted in a longer lasting working relationship with potential clients. Collaborations have brought me so many opportunities that I never would have got otherwise. In fact, it is fair to say that I’ve found that collaborating with other photographers, and businesses has done nothing but bring more opportunities, not less.
There are a number of ways you can collaborate with other people and businesses, as well. These include:
Hosting a giveaway
Guest blog posts
A group chat of other likeminded individuals where you can bounce ideas off of one another
An exchange of services - perfect if funds are tight
Live question and answer sessions
Joint Facebook and Instagram live
Joint business venture - can you collaborate to create a new business package?
Regular power hours - I have a couple of these, where I spend an hour or two on FaceTime/Skye/Facebook Messenger with a friend where we do nothing but chat and work. This keeps us accountable, and gives us a healthy dose of reality too!
Collaborating with other businesses doesn’t have to be overly complicated. You just have to find the right opportunity that suits every business involved.
If you would like to collaborate with me, please email beth@bethlhicks.com