For many businesses, referral partners and subcontractors are more than just an extension of your services, providing high-quality work, they’re also a potential untapped resource for improving your online presence. If you’re looking for ways to boost your SEO without spending big money, collaborating with your trusted business partners can deliver real results in the form of high-quality backlinks, increased social engagement, and stronger relationships all around, benefiting both sides.
At Gazz Digital, we’ve seen firsthand how smart collaboration can be one of the best low-cost marketing tactics you can use. Let’s break down how to make the most of your network for better SEO, and why it’s a win-win for everyone involved.
Promote Each Other’s Social Media Posts
One of the easiest ways to get started is by promoting each other’s content on social media. It’s simple, free, and helps both parties reach new audiences.
Here’s how it works: when your subcontractor or referral partner posts something relevant for your audiences, whether it’s a project update, FAQ, or industry tip, (re)share it on your company’s social channels. It’s good to set expectations ahead of time with your partners that your expectations is they will do the same for your posts. This cross-promotion expands your reach, drives more traffic to your social properties and/or website, and signals to search engines that your business is connected to other local reputable brands.
The best part? Sharing and tagging each other is quick and easy. It keeps your social channels active with fresh, relevant content, enables you to get in front of new audiences who follow your partner pages and strengthens your professional relationships at the same time.
Add Partner Listings with Descriptions & Backlinks
Another highly effective and low-cost strategy is to create a “Partners” or “Our Trusted Community Businesses” page on your website, and encourage your partners to do the same.
These pages should include short descriptions of each company, and most importantly, a link to each other’s websites. These backlinks from other local reputable businesses are a solid foundation for SEO. When credible websites link to yours, search engines see that as a vote of confidence, helping boost your site’s authority and ranking.
You don’t have to limit this idea to just a single partners page, either. If you write case studies or project spotlights that involve your partners, link to their sites in that content as well. The more natural, relevant backlinks you can generate, the better.
Write Guest Blog Posts for One Another
A third smart tactic is to exchange blog content. Many small businesses and subcontractors struggle to keep their websites updated with fresh content. Offering to write a unique and relevant blog post for them, and extend the offer to have them write one for you, is a win-win.
When you write a guest post for a partner’s website, you can include a link back to your website in your author bio or within the content itself. Make sure the topic is relevant to both audiences and includes valuable information. No one wants to read boring bland content, be specific on topics you know and that are realistically of interest to your partner’s audiences. For example, if you’re a general contractor, you might write a piece about how you collaborate with your electrical subcontractors on safe, code-compliant installations. If you’re a marketing agency, you might write about the benefits of local partnerships for growing your brand.
Guest posts not only help generate quality backlinks but also showcase your expertise to a wider audience. Plus, they keep your site’s blog fresh, something search engines and website visitors look for.
Expanding Your Collaborative Marketing with Your Partners Can Deliver Stronger SEO & Stronger Business Partnerships
Leveraging your referral partners and subcontractors for SEO is more than just smart marketing, it’s good business and builds stronger relationships. These collaborations build trust and create more opportunities for everyone involved. Better yet, it doesn’t require a big budget, just a little creativity, clear communication, and a willingness to help each other grow.
At Gazz Digital, we help businesses like yours find these hidden opportunities to improve SEO and build connections that last. If you’d like help putting these tactics into action, or want to develop a bigger, more strategic SEO plan, reach out to us today. Let’s build something better, together.
