StartUp Founders: Convert Your Customers Into Partners & Advocates

Converting customers into partners is one of the most effective ways for founders to accelerate their sales process. When a customer has a vested interest in your success, they become more than just a paying customer. They will go above and beyond to help you succeed by providing testimonials, references, case studies, and even becoming an advocate for your brand.

Building a relationship with your early customers is crucial in creating this dynamic. You must establish enough goodwill with them so that you can ask them to become your partner. It’s important to consistently communicate with them about your product and its value, listen to their feedback, and incorporate it into your product, operations, or processes. By doing so, they will feel a direct line between their feedback and your product’s success.

It’s not just me who believes in the importance of customer partnerships. Industry luminaries like Steve Jobs also understood the value of building a relationship with their customers. Jobs once said, “Get closer than ever to your customers. So close that you tell them what they need well before they realize it themselves.”

Remember, your customers are your biggest asset, and treating them like partners can help your startup succeed.