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Partnering with financial companies can be tricky. These five suggestions teach how to turn a one-time sponsorship into a long-term partnership.

Our team flew to Orlando for FinCon 2022 last month -many of them were first-time FinConers. They went in guns blazing, excited to connect in person with some of Fintel’s favorite publishers in the sunny state of Florida. The energy at the event was high from start to finish, and it was great to catch up with industry peers – some of whom we have only recently established relationships with. 

With such an ever-changing landscape, there were several insightful panel discussions and seminars, including one hosted by our very own COO, Yvette Edsall. In the discussion on “Dealmakers vs. Dealbreakers”, leading influencers Apple Crider (Creator’s Agency), Brandon Schlicter (Investment Joy), and Neha Anada (Money.com) shared some stories about their best and worst campaigns along with helpful tips for those looking to turn a one-time sponsorship into a long-term partnership.

We left the conference wanting to share some tips you can use to support your partnership and brand initiatives heading into 2023.

1. Chase Purpose, Not Money

One of the keynote speakers, Patrice Washington, has made it her brand’s mission to encourage everyone to find their purpose and passion. We are often confronted with the choice between the things we love to do and the things that pay the bills, many of us end up in a position where we must ask that tricky question: should we chase purpose or chase money? 

Washington’s philosophy applies to everyone: when you commit to chasing a life of purpose, the rest follows

2. The Most Powerful Currency Is Credibility

As a publisher, your audience trusts your voice when it comes to a buying decision. And to build trust, authenticity needs to be at the forefront of everything you do and every partnership you enter. Clark Howard (clark.com), Fintel Connect publisher and keynote speaker, revealed the most valuable currency: credibility and trust.

How to build credibility: 

• Lead by example

Practicing what you preach makes you credible and deserving of your audience’s attention and trust. The strongest testimonial you have is your own. 

Credibility is hard to build and amazingly easy to lose. Remember that, as every good relationship and business is built upon it!

• Be consistent

Everything you say, do, and post should be consistent with your brand. The messages you are sending, the actions you are taking, and the content you are sharing must align with your brand’s identity and purpose.

• Be competent

Become an expert in your field, roll with the punches when situations arise and develop strategies to solve them. Be confident in your capabilities so people know they can count on you.

Life is full of noise, and people must make many decisions. The trust you build becomes “currency” that you can later exchange to expand your influence.

4. Consistency is Key to Growth 

One of the reoccurring themes from the conference was the importance of consistency. Our panel of experts agreed that consistency is key to growth, whether through opportunities presenting themselves, audience size, or credibility.

Consistency goes beyond how frequently you post. It also includes your brand’s tone of voice, aesthetic, and content. These elements are what make a consistent brand. You need to be recognizable to gain traction among your intended audience.

5. Partnerships Are a Two-Way Street 

Partnerships are meant to be beneficial, and both parties must understand that this relationship goes two ways. The partnership should help the publisher increase their profile and earning capacity long term, and it should help the merchant increase both exposure and conversions. 

Affiliate marketing is a prime example of a mutually beneficial partnership: you only pay for results. Something along the lines of if you scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours. When you partner with publishers with a large, loyal, and engaged community, they can help raise brand awareness, increase traffic to your site, and lead to desired results. Conversions, conversions, conversions!

Final Thoughts

Fintel Connect is proud of our role in helping ease partnerships between influencers and brands, providing greater transparency for the end consumer and a healthier financial ecosystem.

The best part of attending FinCon this year was building new relationships and strengthening the existing ones. If you did not participate this year or we did not get a chance to meet, we would love to connect and learn more about how you are looking to grow the next year! 

Contact us to answer your questions about partnering up with exciting financial brands, and help you get started.