Brand Partnerships: Examples and How to Get Started

What if your next marketing move could multiply your audience seemingly overnight? 

While brand partnerships can come with risks, the rewards can be substantial. 

When executed properly, a collaboration with another brand or influencer can dramatically increase your reach and credibility.

And consumers are on board: a notable 71% of consumers report enjoying a good co-brand.

But here’s the thing—it's not just for the big players. Small and medium businesses have just as much to gain from smart partnerships.

Demystifying Brand Partnerships

Modern brand partnerships are transforming marketing as we know it. They go beyond just sharing branding or co-promotion to forming creative alliances that tell a story, create unique products, and build deeper connections with audiences.

According to a LinkedIn survey, platforms like Instagram and Facebook are goldmines for brands looking to spice up their marketing strategies, with 75% of people turning to social media for shopping tips.

Plus, 69% of consumers trust influencers as much as their best friends when it comes to recommendations, highlighting the impact of influencer partnerships.

Take the partnership between Curology and influencer Hyram Yarbro, for example. This collab allowed Curology to tap into the influencer's audience, likely increasing their visibility and converting followers into customers. 

What’s exciting now is the speed and flexibility of forming brand partnerships. 

Thanks to social media, brands can quickly DM relevant influencers and creators to start brainstorming an idea and kick off a collaboration. 

The Role of Brand Partners

Brand partnerships thrive on clear communication, shared goals, and playing to each other's strengths. 

Each potential partner offers something different, whether it’s a unique audience, marketing expertise, or an established customer base, allowing the partnership to benefit your brand in multiple ways.

The true power of these collaborations lies in combining these strengths to create a competitive advantage that neither could achieve alone. For instance, if you have a great product but a small audience, partnering with someone with a large, engaged following but no product to offer could be the perfect match.

Types of Brand Partnerships

Brand partnerships come in many forms, each designed to meet specific goals. Choosing the right type can boost a brand’s impact.

Here are a few common types:

1. Co-Branding Partnerships: Two brands partner to create a new product, like Hershey’s and Betty Crocker, teaming up to make a special brownie mix.
2. Affiliate Partnerships: Brands earn commissions by promoting each other’s products through ads like links and banners.
3. Licensing Partnerships: A brand allows another to use its intellectual property, such as LEGO producing Star Wars-themed sets under Disney’s license.
4. Influencer Partnerships: Brands partner with social media influencers to market products through authentic content that reaches targeted audiences.
5. Content Partnerships: Brands collaborate on content creation to enhance their offerings, such as a travel brand partnering with a popular travel blogger for exclusive content.
6. Joint Marketing Campaigns: Brands from non-competing sectors come together to co-market complementary products or services, like a gym and a health food store offering discounts to each other’s customers.

To see these concepts in action, let's explore a few brand partnership examples that showcase the power of well-executed collaborations.

Successful Brand Partnerships That Made an Impact

It's easier than ever for brands to collaborate and turn creative concepts into tangible success. The following examples showcase how different brands have leveraged partnerships to enhance their market presence and achieve remarkable outcomes. 

Liquid Death’ Bold Collaborations

Liquid Death has disrupted the beverage industry with its bold and unconventional approach to marketing water. 

One of their strategies? To forge alliances that amplify their rebellious brand identity and deeply connect with intended audiences. And they do it often.

Examples of Liquid Death's Brand Partnerships

Pop Culture Influencer Partnerships

Liquid Death partnered with pop culture figures that speak their language, like Travis Barker, Netflix’s The Boys, and rock legend Ozzy Osbourne. 

This collaboration highlighted Liquid Death's electrolyte product in a memorable way, with Ozzy humorously warning fans not to snort the "death dust."

Co-branded Partnerships

Water and makeup? The collab worked as Liquid Death worked with e.l.f. Cosmetics to create a themed makeup collection labeled Corpse Paint. This surprising collaboration between a water brand and a cosmetics company proved successful, blending their distinct products into something uniquely appealing.

Liquid Death is redefining marketing with a strategy that’s enjoyable and entertaining. And it's paying off, as evidenced by its unprecedented growth. 

Visit Seattle and The Walking Dead

Visit Seattle partnered with The Walking Dead in a notable brand collaboration. This partnership involved Seattle native Jeffrey Dean Morgan, who plays Negan on the show.

By merging travel with popular culture and leveraging celebrity influence from Jeffrey Dean Morgan, this partnership captivated a diverse audience and enhanced Seattle's image as an exciting destination. 

Absolut + OceanSpray Co-Branded Products

In 2022, Absolut Vodka and Ocean Spray announced a brand partnership, bringing together two category leaders in the beverage industry.

This collaboration shows that the brands understand consumer preferences by merging two products that were already frequently enjoyed together: vodka and cranberry juice. 

This alliance also broadens its customer base and enhances brand visibility, effectively tapping into the growing market for ready-to-drink beverages.

Dove, Nike, and the Body Confident Sport Initiative

Dove, known for its commitment to body positivity, and Nike, a leader in athletic wear, have come together to launch the Body Confident Sport Initiative. 

This campaign encourages young girls to engage in sports by promoting body confidence and inclusivity in athletic environments.

Since the products from the two brands don’t directly compete, it was a smart way for both brands to partner between industries and reach a wider audience with a positive message.

The Dove and Nike brand partnership thrives by harmonizing their missions to empower young people and foster a positive self-image. 

The combination broadens each brand’s outreach, promoting diversity and improving engagement with audiences who value inclusivity in sports and personal care.

Now, let’s explore how you can launch your own brand partnership to tap into similar benefits and opportunities.

How Small and Medium Businesses Can Find Potential Brand Partners

Brand partnerships offer a fantastic way for small and medium businesses to expand their reach. Whether connecting in person or using digital tools, there are plenty of ways to find the perfect match.

The first step is a deep dive into understanding your customers. This can be achieved through audience research using surveys, customer interviews, and research tools. Gaining a clear picture of who your audience is will help you identify brands or influencers that align with their interests and needs.

Here are some other practical tips to inspire your collaborative efforts.

Tools to Discover Brand Partners

Navigating the world of brand partnerships doesn't have to be complex. Apps like Influencer Analytics and Audience Intelligence can simplify the search for ideal partners, making it easier to connect with those who align with your brand’s values and goals.

Influencer Analytics

Influencer Analytics is an app that lets you find influencers and manage your entire influencer marketing campaign cycle in one place. 

One of the standout features is that you don’t need a well-established brand to connect with influencers. Instead, you can easily filter influencers by category to find the perfect match for your campaign.

You can find influencers in a few different ways.

In the “Influencer Discovery” tab, search for influencers on YouTube, Twitch, Instagram, or TikTok. 

Once you choose a platform, you can use various filter combinations to search for influencers by various criteria. 

For example, the influencer’s category, country, audience size, and many others.

Or, if you don’t know where to start with the filters, you can use the AI-powered search feature to find influencers by describing what you're looking for in simple words (this feature can also be found on the home page). 

Simply enter your specific details in the text box and click “Create magic.”

After you click “Create magic,” the app will return a list of matching influencers. You can click on an influencer to view their profile. 

Here, you'll find valuable details such as publication frequency, view and subscriber statistics, estimated advertising costs, and more.

As you explore potential brand partnerships, you can save searches, create lists, and export them as needed.

To manage your campaigns, go to the “Campaign Management” tab, where you can run influencer campaigns from start to finish, monitor real-time performance, and evaluate the results.

Note: The Campaign Management feature is available as an in-app add-on feature for $69/month.

Audience Intelligence

The Audience Intelligence app helps you understand audiences on a deeper level by analyzing the demographics and psychographics of a brand or influencer’s followers. 

It uncovers their interests, habits, and the creators they engage with, making it easy to find influencers and potential brand partnerships that align with your goals.

To get started, name the report, enter the desired brand or influencer’s X handle, and click “Create New Report.”

The app will generate an overview of the brand’s audience.

For more detailed information on interests, demographics, audience segments, etc., click on any section in the report.
 

For potential brand partnerships, check out the "Top Brands" or "Top Influencers" sections. 

These will show you the most relevant brands and influencers your audience follows, helping you identify potential partners who align with your audience’s preferences. 

You can also apply filters to narrow down the data by specific criteria, like country, language, or audience size.

The “Affinity” score tells you how much overlap exists between the two audiences. A higher affinity % could show you which potential partners might make the most sense. 

Use the menu at the top to drill down into specific areas. 

For example, use the "Interests" and "Media Affinity" tabs to see what content and channels your audience engages with the most. This will guide you in choosing partners your audience already trusts.

Once you've identified relevant influencers or brands, you can reach out to explore partnership opportunities based on shared audience interests and values.

Crafting a Brand Partnership Pitch

Ready to approach potential brand partners?

Here's how you can make your first moves toward building meaningful collaborations that amplify your brand's voice and reach.

1. Craft a Personalized Message

Avoid generic pitches. Tailor your message to show genuine interest in the influencer or brand. Highlight how your values align and how a partnership could benefit both parties.

2. Be Clear About the Value

Explain how the partnership benefits them. Whether it’s increased visibility, access to a new audience, or shared content creation, make sure they see the upside for their brand or platform.

3. Address Potential Concerns

Partners may worry about fit, ROI, or brand reputation. Address these concerns head-on by outlining your shared goals and emphasizing the benefits of working together.

4. End with a Clear Call to Action

Make it easy for them to take the next step. Suggest a time for a call, or ask if they’re open to discussing further details.

Maximize Your Reach with Brand Collaborations

Brand partnerships are more than just a marketing tactic; they're a strategic way to scale your reach and impact. 

By leveraging these collaborations, SMBs and marketers can unlock new audiences and fresh opportunities.

Eager to find your perfect brand partner? 

Explore our Influencer Analytics and Audience Intelligence tools to kickstart your partnership journey. With the right insights and strategy, there’s no limit to what you can achieve together!