/iblai-marketing-co-marketing
Find co-marketing partners, plan joint campaigns, and structure partnerships
that earn pipeline for both sides.
Step 0: Context Check
Read .agents/product-marketing-context.md (or .claude/product-marketing-context.md
on older setups) first. Only ask for what isn't there.
When to Use
- Finding potential co-marketing partners
- Brainstorming campaigns with a specific partner
- Planning joint launches or promotions
- Evaluating partnership fit
- Structuring co-marketing agreements
Partner Identification
1. Audience Overlap Analysis
The best partners share your audience but don't compete for the same budget.
Ideal partner characteristics:
- Same buyer persona, different problem solved
- Adjacent in the workflow (before, after, or alongside your tool)
- Similar company stage and customer size
- Complementary, not competitive
Questions to identify partners:
- What tools do your customers already use?
- What do they use before/after your product?
- Who else is selling to your ICP?
- Which integrations do customers request most?
2. Partner Scoring
Rate candidates 1-5:
| Criteria |
What to Evaluate |
| Audience fit |
How closely does their audience match your ICP? |
| Audience size |
Do they have reach worth partnering for? |
| Brand alignment |
Would you be proud to be associated? |
| Engagement quality |
Active, engaged audience? |
| Reciprocity potential |
Can you offer them equal value? |
| Ease of execution |
Partnerships team? Track record? |
3. Where to Find Partners
Integration ecosystem:
- Your existing integration partners
- Tools in the same app marketplace category
- Platforms your product plugs into
Adjacent categories:
- Tools that solve the problem before yours
- Tools that solve the problem after yours
- Tools used by the same role but a different workflow
Community signals:
- Same podcasts/newsletters sponsored
- Same conferences exhibited
- Same communities active in
- Whose content your audience shares
Data sources:
- Crossbeam or Reveal for account overlap
- Customer surveys ("what else do you use?")
- G2/Capterra category neighbors
- Job postings mentioning your tool + others
Campaign Types
Content Partnerships
| Format |
Effort |
Lead Sharing |
Best For |
| Co-authored blog post |
Low |
Shared byline, link exchange |
Thought leadership, SEO |
| Joint ebook/guide |
Medium |
Gated, split leads |
Lead gen, deeper topic |
| Research report |
High |
Gated, split leads |
Authority, PR |
| Guest newsletter swap |
Low |
Each keeps own leads |
Audience exposure |
| Podcast guest exchange |
Low |
Each keeps own leads |
Relationship building |
Webinars & Events
| Format |
Effort |
Best For |
| Joint webinar |
Medium |
Lead gen, product education |
| Virtual summit panel |
Medium |
Multi-partner exposure |
| Co-hosted workshop |
High |
Hands-on education, deeper engagement |
| Conference booth sharing |
Medium |
Cost splitting, audience overlap |
| Joint happy hour/dinner |
Low |
Relationship building at events |
Product & Integration Marketing
| Format |
Effort |
Best For |
| Integration launch |
Medium |
Existing integration partners |
| Joint case study |
Medium |
Shared customers |
| "Better together" landing page |
Low |
Integration discovery |
| Bundle or discount |
Medium |
Conversion boost, cross-sell |
| In-app cross-promotion |
Medium |
User activation |
Community & Social
| Format |
Effort |
Best For |
| Social media takeover |
Low |
Audience exposure |
| Joint giveaway/contest |
Low |
List building, engagement |
| Slack/Discord community collab |
Low |
Community building |
| Joint AMA or Twitter Space |
Low |
Thought leadership |
Brainstorming Partner Campaigns
When working with a specific partner, line up:
1. Shared Audience Moments
- Trigger events that matter to both audiences
- Seasonal moments that align with both products
- Industry trends affecting both customer bases
2. Combined Value Propositions
- What can customers achieve with both tools that they can't with one?
- What workflow does the combination unlock?
- What pain point does the integration solve?
3. Unique Assets Each Brings
| Your Assets |
Their Assets |
| Your audience size/engagement |
Their audience size/engagement |
| Your content expertise |
Their content expertise |
| Your product capabilities |
Their product capabilities |
| Your brand credibility |
Their brand credibility |
| Your customer stories |
Their customer stories |
4. Idea Prompts
- "What would we create if we had to launch something in 2 weeks?"
- "What content do both our audiences desperately need?"
- "What would make customers say 'finally, someone did this'?"
- "What exclusive thing could we offer together?"
- "What data do we both have that would make a compelling story?"
Approaching Partners
Cold Outreach Template
Subject: [Your Company] + [Their Company] co-marketing idea
Hey [Name],
I'm [Role] at [Your Company]. We [one-line description].
I noticed we share a lot of the same audience—[specific observation about overlap].
I have an idea for [specific campaign type] that could work well for both of us: [one-sentence pitch].
Would you be open to a quick call to explore?
[Your name]
What to Bring to the Call
- Account overlap data (if available via Crossbeam/Reveal)
- 2-3 specific campaign ideas — not just "let's do something"
- Your audience metrics (list size, traffic, engagement)
- Examples of past partnerships — proves you can execute
- Clear ask — what you want from them, what you'll provide
Structuring the Partnership
Align On
- Lead ownership — split or shared?
- Promotion commitments — what does each party do to promote?
- Asset creation — who creates what? Who approves?
- Timeline — when does each phase happen?
- Success metrics — how will you measure?
- Follow-up — more together if it works?
Co-Marketing Agreement Outline
- Campaign description — what you're doing together
- Responsibilities — who does what
- Timeline — key dates and deadlines
- Lead handling — capture, sharing, follow-up
- Promotion — minimum commitments from each side
- Branding — logo usage, approval process
- Costs — who pays for what (if any)
- Metrics sharing — what data you'll share post-campaign
Measuring Success
Quantitative
- Leads generated (total and per partner)
- Lead quality (MQL/SQL conversion rate)
- Revenue attributed
- Audience growth (new subscribers, followers)
- Content engagement (views, downloads, shares)
Qualitative
- Ease of collaboration
- Partner responsiveness
- Audience reception
- Brand lift
- Relationship strengthened for future campaigns
Checklist
Partner Identification
Campaign Planning
Execution
Post-Campaign
Task-Specific Questions
- Looking for partners, or planning a campaign with a specific partner?
- Most interested in content, events, integrations, or community?
- Audience size? (Email list, social following, traffic)
- Existing integration partners?
- Done co-marketing before? What worked/didn't?
- Timeline and budget?
Tool Integrations
See the tools registry. Key tools:
| Tool |
Best For |
Guide |
| Crossbeam |
Account overlap with partners |
crossbeam.md |
| Introw |
Partner program management, deal registration |
introw.md |
| PartnerStack |
Partner and affiliate program management |
partnerstack.md |
Related Skills
- iblai-marketing-referral-program — Customer referral and affiliate programs (customers referring customers)
- iblai-marketing-launch-strategy — Product launches with partners; covers co-marketing as a "borrowed channel"
- iblai-marketing-content-strategy — Content planning, including co-created content
- iblai-marketing-sales-enablement — Partner-facing collateral and enablement materials
1---2name: iblai-marketing-co-marketing3description: When the user wants to find co-marketing partners, plan joint campaigns, or brainstorm partnership opportunities. Use when the user says 'co-marketing,' 'partner marketing,' 'joint campaign,' 'who should we partner with,' 'integration marketing,' 'cross-promotion,' 'collaborate with another company,' 'partnership ideas,' or 'co-brand.' For customer referral programs, see iblai-marketing-referral-program. For launch-specific partnerships, see iblai-marketing-launch-strategy.4---56# /iblai-marketing-co-marketing78Find co-marketing partners, plan joint campaigns, and structure partnerships9that earn pipeline for both sides.1011## Step 0: Context Check1213Read `.agents/product-marketing-context.md` (or `.claude/product-marketing-context.md`14on older setups) first. Only ask for what isn't there.1516## When to Use1718- Finding potential co-marketing partners19- Brainstorming campaigns with a specific partner20- Planning joint launches or promotions21- Evaluating partnership fit22- Structuring co-marketing agreements2324---2526## Partner Identification2728### 1. Audience Overlap Analysis2930The best partners share your audience but don't compete for the same budget.3132**Ideal partner characteristics:**33- Same buyer persona, different problem solved34- Adjacent in the workflow (before, after, or alongside your tool)35- Similar company stage and customer size36- Complementary, not competitive3738**Questions to identify partners:**39- What tools do your customers already use?40- What do they use before/after your product?41- Who else is selling to your ICP?42- Which integrations do customers request most?4344### 2. Partner Scoring4546Rate candidates 1-5:4748| Criteria | What to Evaluate |49|----------|------------------|50| **Audience fit** | How closely does their audience match your ICP? |51| **Audience size** | Do they have reach worth partnering for? |52| **Brand alignment** | Would you be proud to be associated? |53| **Engagement quality** | Active, engaged audience? |54| **Reciprocity potential** | Can you offer them equal value? |55| **Ease of execution** | Partnerships team? Track record? |5657### 3. Where to Find Partners5859**Integration ecosystem:**60- Your existing integration partners61- Tools in the same app marketplace category62- Platforms your product plugs into6364**Adjacent categories:**65- Tools that solve the problem before yours66- Tools that solve the problem after yours67- Tools used by the same role but a different workflow6869**Community signals:**70- Same podcasts/newsletters sponsored71- Same conferences exhibited72- Same communities active in73- Whose content your audience shares7475**Data sources:**76- Crossbeam or Reveal for account overlap77- Customer surveys ("what else do you use?")78- G2/Capterra category neighbors79- Job postings mentioning your tool + others8081---8283## Campaign Types8485### Content Partnerships8687| Format | Effort | Lead Sharing | Best For |88|--------|--------|--------------|----------|89| **Co-authored blog post** | Low | Shared byline, link exchange | Thought leadership, SEO |90| **Joint ebook/guide** | Medium | Gated, split leads | Lead gen, deeper topic |91| **Research report** | High | Gated, split leads | Authority, PR |92| **Guest newsletter swap** | Low | Each keeps own leads | Audience exposure |93| **Podcast guest exchange** | Low | Each keeps own leads | Relationship building |9495### Webinars & Events9697| Format | Effort | Best For |98|--------|--------|----------|99| **Joint webinar** | Medium | Lead gen, product education |100| **Virtual summit panel** | Medium | Multi-partner exposure |101| **Co-hosted workshop** | High | Hands-on education, deeper engagement |102| **Conference booth sharing** | Medium | Cost splitting, audience overlap |103| **Joint happy hour/dinner** | Low | Relationship building at events |104105### Product & Integration Marketing106107| Format | Effort | Best For |108|--------|--------|----------|109| **Integration launch** | Medium | Existing integration partners |110| **Joint case study** | Medium | Shared customers |111| **"Better together" landing page** | Low | Integration discovery |112| **Bundle or discount** | Medium | Conversion boost, cross-sell |113| **In-app cross-promotion** | Medium | User activation |114115### Community & Social116117| Format | Effort | Best For |118|--------|--------|----------|119| **Social media takeover** | Low | Audience exposure |120| **Joint giveaway/contest** | Low | List building, engagement |121| **Slack/Discord community collab** | Low | Community building |122| **Joint AMA or Twitter Space** | Low | Thought leadership |123124---125126## Brainstorming Partner Campaigns127128When working with a specific partner, line up:129130### 1. Shared Audience Moments131132- Trigger events that matter to both audiences133- Seasonal moments that align with both products134- Industry trends affecting both customer bases135136### 2. Combined Value Propositions137138- What can customers achieve with both tools that they can't with one?139- What workflow does the combination unlock?140- What pain point does the integration solve?141142### 3. Unique Assets Each Brings143144| Your Assets | Their Assets |145|-------------|--------------|146| Your audience size/engagement | Their audience size/engagement |147| Your content expertise | Their content expertise |148| Your product capabilities | Their product capabilities |149| Your brand credibility | Their brand credibility |150| Your customer stories | Their customer stories |151152### 4. Idea Prompts153154- "What would we create if we had to launch something in 2 weeks?"155- "What content do both our audiences desperately need?"156- "What would make customers say 'finally, someone did this'?"157- "What exclusive thing could we offer together?"158- "What data do we both have that would make a compelling story?"159160---161162## Approaching Partners163164### Cold Outreach Template165166```167Subject: [Your Company] + [Their Company] co-marketing idea168169Hey [Name],170171I'm [Role] at [Your Company]. We [one-line description].172173I noticed we share a lot of the same audience—[specific observation about overlap].174175I have an idea for [specific campaign type] that could work well for both of us: [one-sentence pitch].176177Would you be open to a quick call to explore?178179[Your name]180```181182### What to Bring to the Call1831841. **Account overlap data** (if available via Crossbeam/Reveal)1852. **2-3 specific campaign ideas** — not just "let's do something"1863. **Your audience metrics** (list size, traffic, engagement)1874. **Examples of past partnerships** — proves you can execute1885. **Clear ask** — what you want from them, what you'll provide189190---191192## Structuring the Partnership193194### Align On195196- **Lead ownership** — split or shared?197- **Promotion commitments** — what does each party do to promote?198- **Asset creation** — who creates what? Who approves?199- **Timeline** — when does each phase happen?200- **Success metrics** — how will you measure?201- **Follow-up** — more together if it works?202203### Co-Marketing Agreement Outline2042051. **Campaign description** — what you're doing together2062. **Responsibilities** — who does what2073. **Timeline** — key dates and deadlines2084. **Lead handling** — capture, sharing, follow-up2095. **Promotion** — minimum commitments from each side2106. **Branding** — logo usage, approval process2117. **Costs** — who pays for what (if any)2128. **Metrics sharing** — what data you'll share post-campaign213214---215216## Measuring Success217218### Quantitative219220- Leads generated (total and per partner)221- Lead quality (MQL/SQL conversion rate)222- Revenue attributed223- Audience growth (new subscribers, followers)224- Content engagement (views, downloads, shares)225226### Qualitative227228- Ease of collaboration229- Partner responsiveness230- Audience reception231- Brand lift232- Relationship strengthened for future campaigns233234---235236## Checklist237238### Partner Identification239- [ ] List tools your customers already use240- [ ] Check Crossbeam/Reveal for account overlap241- [ ] Score top 5 potential partners242- [ ] Research past co-marketing activities243244### Campaign Planning245- [ ] Agree on campaign type and goals246- [ ] Define lead sharing arrangement247- [ ] Assign responsibilities and deadlines248- [ ] Set success metrics249250### Execution251- [ ] Create shared assets (landing page, content, etc.)252- [ ] Coordinate promotion schedules253- [ ] Brief both teams on talking points254255### Post-Campaign256- [ ] Share metrics with partner257- [ ] Debrief on what worked/didn't258- [ ] Discuss future collaboration opportunities259260---261262## Task-Specific Questions2632641. Looking for partners, or planning a campaign with a specific partner?2652. Most interested in content, events, integrations, or community?2663. Audience size? (Email list, social following, traffic)2674. Existing integration partners?2685. Done co-marketing before? What worked/didn't?2696. Timeline and budget?270271---272273## Tool Integrations274275See the [tools registry](../../tools/REGISTRY.md). Key tools:276277| Tool | Best For | Guide |278|------|----------|-------|279| **Crossbeam** | Account overlap with partners | [crossbeam.md](../../tools/integrations/crossbeam.md) |280| **Introw** | Partner program management, deal registration | [introw.md](../../tools/integrations/introw.md) |281| **PartnerStack** | Partner and affiliate program management | [partnerstack.md](../../tools/integrations/partnerstack.md) |282283---284285## Related Skills286287- **iblai-marketing-referral-program** — Customer referral and affiliate programs (customers referring customers)288- **iblai-marketing-launch-strategy** — Product launches with partners; covers co-marketing as a "borrowed channel"289- **iblai-marketing-content-strategy** — Content planning, including co-created content290- **iblai-marketing-sales-enablement** — Partner-facing collateral and enablement materials