What's Your Partnership Maturity Score?

I understand the difference between a strategic partnership and an informal referral — and I know why that distinction matters for building a consistent system.

I actively see other non-competing businesses as potential partners — and I'm always looking for new collaboration opportunities in my market.

I have addressed the internal blockers (time, confidence, fear of rejection) that typically stop business owners from pursuing partnerships consistently.

I have a written profile of my ideal partner — including the audience they serve, their industry, and the complementary services they offer.

I know exactly where to find potential partners (LinkedIn, events, local networks, SaaS tools) and I use these channels to build my pipeline consistently.

I have a scoring or evaluation method to assess potential partner fit quickly — so I don't waste time pursuing weak partnerships.

I have a clear, written partner value proposition that explains what I do, who I help, and what partners gain — in 2 sentences or less.

I have a partner one-pager or offer document I can share with prospects that covers: my ICP, services, incentives, and how the partnership works in practice.

I have a defined commission or incentive structure for partners — and I can articulate it clearly and confidently in any conversation.

I have a documented partner programme with defined rules, tiers, and benefits — not just an informal arrangement that relies on memory and goodwill.

I have a structured onboarding process for new partners — every partner gets the same professional welcome, materials, and briefing from Day 1.

I track referrals, partner activity, and programme performance in a consistent system (spreadsheet, CRM, or affiliate tool) — not just in my head.

I have a proven outreach message (for LinkedIn, email, or DM) that opens conversations without sounding like a sales pitch — and I use it regularly.

I have a structured follow-up sequence (2–3 touchpoints) for partner prospects — so I don't lose potential partnerships due to lack of follow-through.

I run first partner discovery calls with a clear structure — knowing what questions to ask, what to listen for, and how to agree on a concrete next step.

I have run at least one joint marketing activity with a partner (webinar, content, email swap, event) in the last 6 months that generated leads.

I know which co-marketing formats suit my business and I choose campaigns based on partner readiness, audience size, and realistic ROI — not just what sounds impressive.

I measure the results of co-marketing campaigns (leads, revenue, new partners) and use that data to improve future campaigns.

My partner communication runs on a consistent cadence (monthly email, quarterly call, ongoing channel) — not just when I remember or when a problem arises.

I track KPIs for my partner programme (active partners, referrals/month, conversion rate, revenue) and review them on a regular schedule.

I have systematised rewards and recognition so high-performing partners are consistently acknowledged and motivated — without manual effort each time.

I have a written partnership agreement covering referral terms, commissions, duration, and what happens if the relationship ends — even a simple 1-page document.

My commission payment process is clearly defined: the trigger event, timeline (e.g. 30 days), payment method, and what happens if a client cancels or disputes arise.

I handle data privacy correctly when sharing client information with partners — including appropriate consent and GDPR / data protection compliance.

I use AI tools (ChatGPT, Claude, etc.) to accelerate partnership tasks — researching prospects, drafting outreach, creating documents, or analysing data.

I use automation tools for outreach sequencing and follow-up (HubSpot, Apollo, or similar) — so timing is handled systematically, not manually.

I have a CRM or tracking system where all partner relationships, referrals, and communication history are logged — so nothing falls through the cracks as my network grows.