The Membership Blast — 011
A Single Partner Can Outperform Your Entire Marketing Budget
Hey friend,
Hope you’re staying cool. I’m writing this from a shady coffee shop patio here in Chicago.
I’ve been thinking a lot about partnerships lately. Not the basic kind, like a guest blog post. I mean real, strategic partnerships. The kind that actually move the needle. The kind that bring in customers in waves, not drips.
In my experience, one great partnership can have more impact than anything else in your growth or marketing strategy. If it’s the right fit, it can outperform every other campaign you’re running.
But it has to be the right partnership. And those are hard to find. A good marketer might only land one or two in an entire year that truly make a difference.
When I’m scouting for those, I ask myself three questions:
- Do we compete? If yes, hard pass.
- Do we complement each other? Their thing makes your thing stronger.
- Can we track the results? Unique links, codes, or landing pages are essential.
So what does this actually look like for a membership business? Here are a few examples:
Fitness memberships
Partner with a brand that fits your lifestyle focus, like a wellness app, meal planning service, or meditation guide. You bring the workouts, they bring the recovery.
Business & life coaches
Team up with service providers your clients already need. Think virtual assistants, accounting tools, or goal-tracking apps. You help them grow, your partner helps them execute.
Educators & course creators
Collaborate with someone who already speaks to your audience. That might be a niche podcast, newsletter, or YouTube channel. Swap guest content or share resources.
Digital product sellers
Bundle your templates, guides, or downloads with something that complements them. Like a Notion system paired with a Canva brand kit, or an eBook plus a live workshop.
Other membership business owners
Find someone in your niche who offers something different and trade visibility.
Example: A productivity membership and a mental wellness membership promoting each other as a natural extension of their offers.
Speaking of partnerships, we just launched a new one with a company called Pop Site to solve a big challenge we’ve seen for a long time. A lot of people sign up for MemberSpace with a great idea and a big audience—but no website. Or they don’t want to build one because it feels too technical, too slow, or just too overwhelming.
Now that MemberSpace is partnered with Pop Site, anyone can launch their membership…even without a website.
Here’s how it works:
- Create a MemberSpace account
- No website? No problem. Just select “Create a MemberSpace Site”
- A Pop Site is automatically created for you in seconds
Boom! You now have a website to host your MemberSpace on.
Check out our partnership with Pop Site in action!
So how do you find your own partner that can move the needle?
Here’s a simple process to get started:
Ask your audience
Survey your members, followers, or email list:
“What other influencers, products, or apps do you use regularly?”
The answers will surface trusted brands and creators you may never have thought of.
Look for natural alignment
Focus on businesses that serve the same audience but in a different way. You’re not looking for competition. You’re looking for synergy.
Lead with value
Start with what’s in it for them and their audience. Keep it simple—a bundle, co-promotion, or shoutout can go a long way.
Make it measurable
Use a unique link, landing page, or discount code. If you can’t track it, you can’t optimize it.
Start small, stay consistent
You don’t need ten partnerships. You just need one or two that really fit. Start small, see what works, and build from there.
Marvin
Chief Growth Officer
MemberSpace