Partnership pitch to a complementary company
Proposing an integration, referral swap or co-marketing to a company that sells something complementary to the same customers. The ask is a short call with a specific proposal, not 'exploring synergies'.
- Category:
- Cold outreach
- Length:
- 101 words
Subject line options
- {{product}} + {{their_product}} integration idea
- Our customers keep asking for {{their_product}}
The email
Hi {{first_name}},
I run partnerships at {{product}}. We help {{customer_type}} with {{job}}, and a number of our customers also use {{their_product}}.
Right now they move data between the two by hand. I'd like to build a native integration, and we can do most of the engineering on our side using your public API.
What I'd want from you is a technical contact for questions and, once it ships, a listing in your integrations directory.
Would you be open to a 20-minute call to see if it's worth doing? If partnerships sits with someone else, I'd be grateful for a pointer.
{{your_name}}Highlighted {{placeholders}} are the parts to replace. If you cannot fill one with something true and specific, cut the sentence rather than leaving it generic.
When to use it
Use it when you have evidence of overlap you can state honestly: customers asking for the integration, support tickets, or shared users you can see in your own data. Say only what you can back up if they ask.
It fits integration and co-marketing proposals. For a reseller or revenue-share deal, put the commercial terms in the first email instead, because that is what the other side will judge you on.
Why it works
- It says what you will do and what you want. Vague partnership emails fail because the reader cannot tell how much work you are asking for. This one spells out both sides.
- You carry the cost. Offering to do the engineering makes yes cheap for them.
- It has an exit for the wrong person. Partnerships often sit with someone other than the first contact you find, and asking for a pointer still gets you somewhere.
Before you send
Partnership contacts are often found through guesswork: firstname@company or partnerships@company. Use the email permutator to find the likely format, then confirm the address with the free email checker before sending.