Getting Opportunities by Being a Good Business Partner

This topic has come up several times over the last three months, so I’m going to do a quick and dirty post on this.

Maybe I should have called this How Not To Lose Opportunities…

So, harsh post, ahoy!

Let’s talk first about what’s in it for you.

Being a good Business Partner makes you easy to work with. We all know how rough the day-to-day business of publishing can be, and we look for people who make our lives easier.

SURE! Someone may be so successful you’d work with them even if they’re a pain in the pattootie, but I’m seeing more and more that this just is not true.

I can think of three crazy successful authors who people have said they’d never work with them again even for the opportunity because they were so difficult.

So, let’s make sure that’s not you.

CONTACT!

A few months ago I offered an opportunity for something and said, “If you’re interested, please make sure to email me at this email <specific admin email>.

Guess what percentage of people who contacted me emailed that email?

Roughly 40%.

That means that more than 1/2 the people — who wanted to take advantage of a FREE FAVOR — got in touch with me however was convenient for them.

Guess who got the opportunity.

BUT, maybe you’re one of those people who is like “So what, Bria! All you need is my info. It’s not my problem this is the easiest way for me to contact you and you’re just being stubborn.”

Ah, but it is.

It is your problem because you’re going to miss out. Let me tell you why.

Who handled the email

I actually had someone doing an admin trade work for me and was taking care of this. The information was being forwarded via that email address directly to her.

If you didn’t follow the information, you emailed someone not handling it. BUT, BRIA! I HAVE A BAJILLION THINGS GOING ON! Congrats – so do the rest of us! And guess what, at that time, I had someone doing my admin so I had a bajillion minus 4. I wasn’t adding 1 back just bc people can’t follow directions.

You never know if someone has delegated sorting initial responses for something.

Attitude

The next thing is, you’re seen as difficult.

How many times have you asked someone to do something reeeeeeaaalllly simple, only for them to do it exactly how you asked them not to? (All of you who are married and/or have kids deal with this hourly). Are you going to bring that person into your life as a business partner when you have easier options?

I picture running an entire project chasing someone for something I’m trying to do for them.

Nope.

Central Filing

If we’re organized (gives you all the side-eye) we have a way we keep things we’re doing centralized.

When we have things going to Twitter & Facebook & forums & personal emails…when we asked to have everything in this one central place, it messes with our flow.

Don’t be the flow killer. No one wants to work with her.

Work Ability

Whenever this happens, something this small and this stupid, I wonder if this person is so unorganized behind the scenes that she just can’t figure out how to get it done. I mean, she’s either unable or unwilling to follow simple directions….

It’s all about … the partnership

 

The best way to go into a business partnership is by asking yourself a few simple questions:

  • How can I make this run smoothly?
  • What do I bring to the table?
  • What does the other person / opportunity bring to the table?
  • How difficult will this partnership be?
  • Is the ROI of energy/time worth it?

And, remember, whether they’re doing it consciously or not, the other person is doing it too.

kk,
Bria

Comments

  1. Ugh. THIS. THIS. THIS. I used to had a weekly feature on my blog offering a mention of your freebie. I had a form to collect the info. I sent out a newsletter. All I asked in return was that if your book,was included that you let your followers know. Every week somebody messed up the form requiring me to play email tag with them to get the info right. Lots of people failed to promote their freebie. I finally gave up because it was more trouble than it was worth despite being popular with readers.

    • Bria Quinlan says

      Book Scout turned into a mess of this which is why I discontinued it. Also, angry letters from authors about their free advertising *sigh*

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