How To Create Solid Social Media Partnerships in 5 Steps? A True Story

We said it before and we will say it again: Social media is NOT about the media! It’s all about building relationships with people you do business with.

Can these relationships turn into solid partnerships? You bet!  Thanks to Twitter, Garious founder, Aaron Eden, met Chris Porter, a gifted social media educator, less than a year ago. Today, they are co-authoring a book!

How did they nurture their relationship so fast?

Aaron And Chris In a Nutshell

I figured that since Twitter sparked their relationship, I should introduce Aaron and Chris through their Twitter bios. If you want to find out more about them, you may check the On-Ramp Book Introduction.

At Garious, we hate talking theory! So, let’s get practical and dig deeper into…

Garious-Made 5-Step-Process for Cultivating Solid Social Media Partnerships

1. Take Initiative

It all started when Aaron created a cool Twitter account about Ralph! Aka the lonely office!

Then, this poor lonely thing started teasing Chris for some company. Ralph was obviously a great conversation starter because Chris took notice and they instantly clicked.

2. Break The Ice Before It Melts: Meet Offline!

Once they became acquainted, Ralph invited Chris to his first “no snob hob nob” networking event that he was so excited to attend! Finally, the two lingering souls met face-to-face

If you happen to live in the same location of an interesting contact, let go of the virtual barriers and meet in person! The very act of direct communication will take your relationship to a whole new level.  (The “no snob hob nob” is a networking event that Aaron held to showcase his vacant office. Cool! )

3. Dig For Commonalities

Soon enough, Aaron realized that Chris gives training sessions at The S.M.A.R.T. group of Arizona. Aaron is also a trainer in the same group (We shared some of Aaron’s presentations for the group in previous posts)

Call it a coincidence! Call it luck! This was a crystal clear commonality that enabled Aaron to quickly spot Chris’s passion for social media education.

4. Go For IT!

As they cultivated their relationship and trust, they didn’t hesitate! They started investigating different collaborative opportunities and their passion for training and education led them to interview many people to get a healthy dose of inspiration.

After rigorous research, it became so evident to them that businesses are hungry for hands-on social media training to help them create a measurable social media strategy.

They went for it and their social media education book is soon to see the light.

5. Make The Process Fun!

Yes, partnership is a strategic decision, but you can still make the process fun. I bet you would be flattered if a lonely office teases you on Twitter and then invites you to a “no snob hob nob” event! Adding the fun factor makes initiating social conversations super easy!

Warning: Partnerships Are Not Always Smooth Sailing!

Aaron’s road to a successful partnership was bumpy as he had made previous co-authoring attempts that didn’t meet success! So don’t expect to meet the perfect partner form the very first attempt, but the rewards of finding the right one are worth the effort.

(I will be interviewing Aaron and Chris about the book, and the latest Garious development in the near future. Stay tuned for that!)

What are your thoughts on the 5-step social partnership process? Did they resonate with you? Have you started a successful partnership through social media? Your valuable contribution is much appreciated.