Hola Sugarcups,
That “sort of an extrovert, sort of a ‘let’s shut the world out’ introvert middle ground”? Yeah, that’s me. But to be honest, it really all sort of depends on who’s in the room, what the atmosphere is like, and whether or not I’ve had enough coffee yet today. It’s sometimes the anonymous kid in the corner with the notebook, and other days I want to grab the microphone and stand at the front. So, typical consultant: read the room, flex, analyze. When I walked into our newest Grad Girl Marketing social mixer, I had no idea what kind of person I’d meet.
Spoiler: it was the glowy-buzzy-eyed one.
Oh wow, where do I even begin? Thank you to the lovely mega-star Alex Aldrich for kicking it off at the Grad Girl Marketing Social Mixer! Alex’s Digital PR presentation completely kept us all in the palm of her hand – the nuts and bolts she shared with us on branding, media placements, and getting the ball rolling on online publicity chaos was amazing.
I am in deep with the big brands, and truly know how to elevate any brand through stellar PR this was the best news ever! And her personality? Next level. If you want to elevate your PR and need someone who is a true expert in the space of luxury brand marketing, digital marketing, media placements, and more she is the one you want. Thank you so much Alex you seriously nailed it!
Ok time out for a serious shout out to THE Ashleen Narula for kicking ASS with the most beautiful, perfect Grad Girl Marketing Social Mixer! From the organization logistics to the details that made us feel welcome, we mattered, we belonged, we are heard and we are at home – Ashleen ROCKED IT. You’ve built a gorgeous little space that networked and connected and developed relationships and you’re NOT using Grad Girl Marketing to build and grow your business? Really, what’s wrong with you? Follow her, connect with her, join her – your future self will thank you. Ashleen you Rock!!
That space-so much fun, so smart, women who understand the business that we’re in-I loved that space. I didn’t feel awkward or uncomfortable. It felt to me like I was walking into a room of people who want to make some serious sh*t happen. I’m a branding strategist, and partnerships girl-that was a community-first marketing kinda night.
12 Brand Partnership Ideas for Grad Girl Marketing & Other Community-First Brands
SHORT-TERM GOALS (Low lift, quick to deploy, iterate)
1. Thought Leadership Series Industry Experts Webinars
Create a Campaign Confessions style series with top-tier brands and artists.
What we offer: Branded community building, a branded media experience, and thought-leadership. Also, an in-depth opportunity for sponsors to gain valuable exposure.
Revenue Streams Branded Content Episodes Licensing Co-Streaming You Tube LinkedIn Live Monetising Replays.
2. Expert Drop in sessions Sponsored Guided mentorship spots
Weekly working sessions with professionals/companies which are: in a leading position in the focus field (ex.: “Workflow Wednesdays” or Feedback Fridays” with SaaS tools).
Why it works: Mixes access and mentoring with brand-pleasing experiences aimed at encouraging loyalty far down the road.
Revenue opportunity Sponsored session packages co-branded, series lead gen package.
3. Member-Created Content Member Campaign Collaborations UGC
Concept: turn members into co-creators for branded campaigns- To members a short brief on Tik Toks, memes, POVs, real-talk contents.
How come: UGC >ads; brands are love watching real creative from people who ‘get it’.
Content licensing Paid UGC campaigns Creative pitch issues
4. Unique Brand Benefits Partner Exploration + Affiliate Center
Start a Perks Marketplace to buy SaaS tools, templates, or just cool creative kits at a discount online.
Why it works: The newer creators are experimenting with new tools & products so it will be high-LTV consumers.
Revenue Opportunity: Affiliate fee placement, sponsorship listing package, in the newsletter.
5. Templates Gallery Digital Product Shop
Tip: Gather all your templates, decks, and systems created for communities, and sell them through a Notion or Gumroad Store utilizing a co-branded option such as Canva, Adobe, etc.
Why it works: Well-packed, ready to send, one-stop shop offers with a nice appearance are extremely popular with marketers.
Income from digital items for sale, revenue from corresponding plug-ins, as well as enhanced course as well as occasion fees.
6. Member Challenges Co-Branded Creative Sprints
Monthly Sponsored Challenges- if a brand has sent a member a quick question, members can think of and create the pitches to pass to them.
Why it works: Because it is interactive, portfolio-boosting and crowdsourcing creativity for brands.
Sponsored campaigns Used campaign Intellectual property awards used by the talent and the brands with which they are associated.
7. Creative Sprints with Regional Supporters
Concept: Partner with a startup like Canva, Notion, Adobe Express, etc. and design a 48-hour sprint to address a real organizational challenge.
Leverages one to one experiential learning, team agility, design thinking. This creates authentic creative content that brands can utilise in- house or be licensed for re-use.
Revune stream: Sponsoring / paid licencing content / sale of the sprint as a case series of stories.
8. Pitch Practice Nights
Fund: several monthly pitch nights, where members pitch startup ideas, campaign ideas or creative projects funded by a VC firm or startup accelerator.
Why it works: It’s the future of talent. It enables entrepreneurs and provides buyers with the vision for high-growth marketers.
Additional revenue stream. Sponsored by Vc funds or incubators judges or consulting and mentoring after the competition.
9. Product Drops + Shoppable Podcasts
Idea: Add a “launch podcast” for co-branded products (journals, tech gear, lifestyle merch) so that consumers could buy these directly through the links.
It merges education, motivation and ecommerce together.
Affiliate revenue, DTC product collabs, podcast sponsorships.
10. The London Walkshop Series
Monthly walkshops- Walkshops on edgy locations in London- walkshops are themed and sponsored.
Why it works: Mikes combines discovery and personalization in a novel question, while allowing for networking and creation on the fly.
Sponsorship with brand Product placement (snacks, journals, gear) Activation.
LONG-TERM PLANS ( Strategic, scaleable, resource-intensive)
11. HQ Trips Brand Experience Collabs
Concept: Visits to creative agencies, platform or heritage brands. It really gives you a sense of the brand.
How it works: Companies build up their employer brand, make awareness about the talent and do pr, then they ask their member for an opinion.
Sponsored tours, tix, co-branded vlogs, & social initiatives in the back.
12. Curated Jobs Board Sponsored Talent Pipeline
Idea: Launch a job board “Grad Girl Talent Connect” – Employers pay to post jobs to hire or sponsor branded campaign.
The love connection: Audience is what marketers want; Grad Girl has an audience that is pre-engaged, pre-vetted.
Income opportunities: Pay per submission sponsored staffing sprints employment branding features.
Thanks for sticking around… if you’ve made it this far First off thank you! You’re either crazy curious like me, a brand strategist (high fives!), or just trying to get to know your new colleague a little better – I appreciate it!
But to be honest? I was writing all of this down just to remind me why I love what I’m creating here. It’s not a community of marketers, it’s a small, intimate community of the future CMOs, Tik Tok queens, brand advocates and spreadsheet wizards. The vibe is a pitch deck joined at the hip with a group chat. And I am so here for it. Speaking of Tik Tok queens and brand advocates, I also happened to meet these cuties who I now call friends and I’d love to catch up more. Meet Jivika, Jenani, Zaina and Dianne
Or maybe you’re the one in the meeting declaring “let’s build a brand world,” or the one just trying to get through another Monday Zoom, muting yourself and turning off your camera “accidentally.” Either way: You belong here-in those spaces where no one is trying to act like they have all the answers, but everyone is trying to make it happen.
Yeah so, whether I bump into you at the next cabal of designers in Shoreditch, lurk in the comments of a webinar, or talk about the new barista-monolith over a very-expensive-pump-flatten-white-that-be-nah-ltd, here’s what I want you to remember. The future of marketing is us. Brave, untidy, incredible – and powered by real community, not lists of KPIs and Canva decks.
Good. I am going to second-guess the hell out of this blog post now that I have already published it. You know where to find me.
P.S. If you’re starting to brainstorm some ideas after this, shoot me a DM. We’ll make something fire together.
Until next post
Love,
Jasmin
