Hey, Let’s Collab

Finding the right collaboration partner can feel a lot like dating. You want someone who shares your values, shows up for you, and actually puts in the same effort. But how do you find those people without wasting your time on the wrong ones? In this episode, I’m joined by Sara Alepin, Devin Brinkley, Kristen Robinson, and LaKisha Mosley for a candid conversation about the good, the bad, and the downright frustrating side of collaborating with other creators. We’re sharing our worst collaboration experiences, the red flags we wish we’d spotted sooner, and the unexpected friendships that turned into some of our most successful business partnerships. From warm introductions and networking events to summit disasters and business besties who send referrals your way, we’re talking about how to find collaboration partners who actually support your growth, even if you’re an introvert or just getting started.

What you’ll learn in this episode:

• How to find potential collaboration partners through warm introductions, networking events, masterminds, online communities, and even replying to someone's email newsletter
• Why shared values, aligned goals, and mutual support matter more than audience size when choosing the right collaboration partner
• The red flags to watch for in online summits, bundles, and joint venture partnerships, including changing promotional requirements, poor organisation, and one-sided expectations
• Why keeping your collaboration agreements, tracking links, and promotional results can help you protect your time and understand whether a partnership actually delivered
• How to turn casual connections into long-term business friendships that lead to referrals, speaking opportunities, email list growth, and sales
• Why your best collaboration partners don't have to be in the same niche as you, and how partnerships can evolve as your business grows
• How to overcome the fear of networking, pitching, and hearing no so you can keep putting yourself out there and finding the right people

If you take away anything from this conversation, it’s that finding the perfect collaboration partner isn’t about connecting with the biggest creators or saying yes to every opportunity. It’s about building genuine relationships with people who share your values, respect your boundaries, and want to see you succeed. Sometimes those connections start with a simple introduction, a reply to an email, or showing up at an event. And if you’ve had a bad collaboration experience, don’t let it stop you from finding the people who will actually help you grow. Before you go, please give this episode a like and review. If you’re ready to start connecting with potential collaboration partners, be sure to grab your copy of my free Collab Scripts. I’ll see you next week!

Guest Links:

Sara Alepin
Devin Brinkley
Kristen Robinson
LaKisha Mosley

Links:
Website: https://heyletscollab.com
Instagram: Hey, Let's Collab (@heyletscollab) • Instagram profile
FREE Collab Scripts: Collab Scripts - Hey, Let's Collab
Collab Starter Kit: https://heyletscollab.com/kit
Blog: Blog - Hey, Let's Collab
YouTube: Hey, Let's Collab
Pinterest: Hey Let's Collab

What if hosting online bundles could help you grow your email list by thousands of subscribers without relying on social media or paid ads?

In today's episode, I'm chatting with Allison Hardy, email marketing strategist and founder of Emails That Sell, about how she grew her email list from 4,000 to 11,000 subscribers by hosting 15 collaborative bundles over two years. Her very first bundle brought in 1,200 subscribers, and she's been refining her bundle hosting strategy ever since.

Allison shares why she went from participating in bundles to hosting her own, how she finds new bundle contributors through referrals, and the simple email pitch she uses to turn mutual connections into successful collaborations. We also talk about what makes a bundle worth joining, the promotional requirements that make her say no, and how clear communication and simple systems make hosting large collaborations easier.

You don't need to know hundreds of creators or have a massive audience to start growing your email list through collaborations. But you do need the right partners, a clear invitation, and a system that makes it easy for everyone to participate.

Here's what you'll learn:

• How Allison grew her email list from 4,000 to 11,000 subscribers by hosting 15 bundles, including 1,200 subscribers from her first event
• Why hosting your own bundle can help you grow your email list faster than participating as a contributor, and what it takes to get started
• How to find new bundle contributors through referrals and write a simple collaboration email that gets responses without cold pitching
• What to include in your bundle contributor information sheet to set clear expectations around promotional requirements, deadlines, and audience alignment
• The biggest collaboration green flags and red flags, including unrealistic promotional demands, generic pitches, and partnerships that aren't a good fit for your business
• How clear communication, simple systems, and easy-to-access promotional materials can help you manage successful bundles and build lasting relationships with collaborators

One of my biggest takeaways from this conversation is that successful collaborations don't have to start with cold outreach. Allison has built a simple system that turns her existing contributors into a source of new connections, making it easier to find aligned partners and grow her bundles. And after going from 40 contributors in her first bundle to 109 in a recent one, she's proof that having the right systems in place can make even big collaborations manageable. So before you start sending hundreds of cold pitches, think about who you already know and who they might be able to introduce you to.

Want to see the actual email Allison uses to invite bundle contributors? Grab your copy of my FREE Collab Scripts to get Allison's referral-based outreach email and real collaboration pitches from other creators.

Guest Links

• Free Bundle Namer Tool
• Website
• Instagram

Links:
Website: https://heyletscollab.com
Instagram: Hey, Let's Collab (@heyletscollab) • Instagram profile
FREE Collab Scripts: Collab Scripts - Hey, Let's Collab
Collab Starter Kit: https://heyletscollab.com/kit
Blog: Blog - Hey, Let's Collab
YouTube: Hey, Let's Collab
Pinterest: Hey Let's Collab

What if you could land a $5,000 brand collaboration with fewer than 600 email subscribers?

In today's episode, I'm chatting with Nina Clapperton, founder of She Knows SEO, about how she landed her first paid speaking opportunity through a sponsored webinar with affiliate marketing platform. What started with a Facebook DM turned into a $5,000 partnership and one of the brand's highest-converting webinars.

Nina shares how becoming known for her expertise in SEO and AI helped attract this opportunity, why she confidently asked for $5,000 when the brand hadn't offered to pay her, and what she negotiated before saying yes. We also talk about how guest posting helped grow her business, when it makes sense to collaborate for exposure, and the red flags she looks for when evaluating partnership opportunities.

You don't need a massive following to land profitable brand collaborations. But you do need to know the value you bring to the table. 

Here's what you'll learn:

• How Nina turned a Facebook DM into a $5,000 sponsored webinar with fewer than 600 email subscribers
• Why sharing your expertise for free can help you build authority, attract brand partnerships, and create paid opportunities
• How guest posting can help bloggers reach new audiences, grow website traffic, and build relationships with other creators
• Why Nina pitched $5,000 for her first paid webinar and what to consider when negotiating collaboration rates and contracts
• How to decide when to collaborate for exposure versus asking to be paid for your time and expertise
• The biggest collaboration red flags, including vague pitches, unrealistic promotional demands, and partnerships that offer little in return
• What to include in your collaboration pitch to make it easier for potential partners to say yes

One of my biggest takeaways from this conversation is that your audience size doesn't determine your value as a collaboration partner. Nina had fewer than 600 email subscribers when she landed this opportunity, but her expertise and reputation made her worth investing in. So don't underestimate what you bring to a partnership, and don't be afraid to ask for what your contribution is worth.

Want to see the actual messages behind Nina's $5,000 collaboration? Grab your copy of my FREE Collab Scripts to get Nina's email exchange and real collaboration pitches from other creators.

Connect with Nina:

• Free $150K Month Guide
• Profitable Part-Time Blogger
• Website
• YouTube
• Instagram
• Facebook Community
• Threads

Links:
Website: https://heyletscollab.com
Instagram: Hey, Let's Collab (@heyletscollab) • Instagram profile
FREE Collab Scripts: Collab Scripts - Hey, Let's Collab
Collab Starter Kit: https://heyletscollab.com/kit
Blog: Blog - Hey, Let's Collab
YouTube: Hey, Let's Collab
Pinterest: Hey Let's Collab

What if you could bring a group of aligned creators together and grow your email list while helping everyone involved reach new audiences too? In today's episode, I’m chatting with my friend Whitney Bateson, a website strategist and marketing expert who has helped more than 130 dietitians and health practitioners build websites that attract clients and grow their businesses. Whitney has hosted six collaborative bundles, and we’re breaking down how she uses them to grow her email list, build relationships with other business owners, and generate sales over time.

We get into how to choose the right contributors, create a freebie people actually want, invite collaborators to participate, and make the experience valuable for everyone involved. Plus, Whitney shares the actual email she used to invite contributors to her first bundle and what she’s changed after hosting several more.

Here’s what you’ll learn:

• How Whitney uses email tags to track which bundle subscribers become customers, and why the real payoff comes long after the bundle ends
• Why audience alignment matters more than the potential reach of a bundle, summit, or other creator collaboration
• How to create a specific freebie that gives new subscribers a quick win and naturally connects to your paid offer
• What Whitney included in the outreach email she used to invite contributors to her first bundle, from explaining the benefits to setting clear promotional expectations and deadlines
• Why you should start planning and inviting contributors earlier than you think, especially when you’re hosting your first bundle
• How to make your collaboration easy for contributors so one bundle can lead to podcast interviews, affiliate partnerships, email swaps, referrals, and future collaborations

You don't need a complicated contributor portal, fancy automations, or every detail figured out before you host your first bundle. Start with the people already in your network, make the collaboration valuable for their audience, and improve your process every time you do it.

Tune in now, then grab Whitney's contributor invite email and the full collection of Collab Scripts at heyletscollab.com/scripts to start building your own profitable collaborations.

Connect with Whitney:
Contribute to Whitney's next bundle
Free resources
The Growth Show
Instagram
LinkedIn
YouTube

Links:
Website: https://heyletscollab.com
Instagram: Hey, Let's Collab (@heyletscollab) • Instagram profile
FREE Collab Scripts: Collab Scripts - Hey, Let's Collab
Collab Starter Kit: https://heyletscollab.com/kit
Blog: Blog - Hey, Let's Collab
YouTube: Hey, Let's Collab
Pinterest: Hey Let's Collab

In this episode of Hey, Let’s Collab, I’m joined by online business owners and collaboration pros Jennifer Fast, Morgane Rose, Destini Copp, LaKisha Mosley, and Kasia Derbiszewska, to talk about one of my favourite benefits of collaborating with other creators: getting in front of their audiences and turning that visibility into email subscribers. We break down the collaboration strategies that have actually worked for us, including virtual summits, bundles, podcast guesting, guest blogging, guest expert opportunities, and more. We also get into lead magnets, something just as important as choosing the right collaborations. For anyone trying to grow, this conversation is packed with ideas that will actually get results in your business.

Keep listening to learn:

• Ways to tap into other creators’ audiences and grow your email list
• Why the best collaboration for email list growth isn’t necessarily the one that brings you the most subscribers
• How to define success based on engagement, revenue, conversions, and your own business goals
• Why your lead magnet should connect naturally to your paid offer and give new subscribers a compelling reason to take the next step with you
• Which lead magnet formats are actually converting
• How to choose collaboration strategies that fit your personality, capacity, audience, and strengths instead of forcing yourself into someone else’s approach to online business growth

The biggest takeaway? You have options. You get to choose the collaborations you participate in, the freebie you create, the metrics you care about, and the strategies that make sense for your business. You don’t need a massive audience to start collaborating and you definitely don’t need to wait until everything is perfectly figured out. If you’re ready to start growing your business, grab your copy of my FREE Collab Scripts today.

Guest Links:
Jennifer Fast
Morgane Rose
Destini Copp
LaKisha Mosley
Kasia Derbiszewska

Links:
Website: https://heyletscollab.com
Instagram: Hey, Let's Collab (@heyletscollab) • Instagram profile
FREE Collab Scripts: Collab Scripts - Hey, Let's Collab
Collab Starter Kit: https://heyletscollab.com/kit
Blog: Blog - Hey, Let's Collab
YouTube: Hey, Let's Collab
Pinterest: Hey Let's Collab

Do you dream about landing the collaborations that lead to high-ticket sales and repeat paid opportunities?  In today’s episode, I’m chatting with Becky Beach, a million-dollar digital product seller and coach who knows how to turn her expertise, audience, and relationships into profitable opportunities. Becky takes us back to a brand collaboration that started in 2022, when a company reached out about reviewing one of their products on her blog. What began with a simple email and a product sample grew into multiple paid collaborations with the brand. We also talk about how Becky approaches sponsorships, including how she decides which opportunities are worth saying yes to, how she uses podcast guesting to expand her reach, and why she leads every pitch with the value she can bring to someone else’s audience. You might already have the expertise you need to land high-ticket collaborations. The question is, are you positioning it the right way? Stay tuned to learn how.

Here’s what you’ll learn:

• How Becky turned an initial outreach email into an ongoing paid brand partnership
• Why having a strategic freebie ready can help you grow your email list when you speak at summits, workshops, bundles, and other creator collaborations
• How to evaluate brand collaboration opportunities, spot red flags, and turn affiliate-only offers into conversations about paid sponsorship packages
• Why Becky asks brands for their sponsorship budget instead of naming her rate first and how this approach can help you earn more money
• The importance of showing up as an expert inside other creators’ communities
• How Becky pitches herself as a podcast guest, tracks her outreach, and follows up with her leads

One of my biggest takeaways from this conversation is simple: lead with the benefit you can bring to the other person and their audience. Whether you’re pitching a brand, a podcast host, or another creator, make it easy for them to understand why collaborating with you is valuable. If you’re ready to send your own collaboration pitches, grab your copy of my FREE Collab Scripts. I'll see you next week!

Connect with Becky:
Grab Becky’s AI Business Growth Coach Freebie
Join Becky’s Facebook Group, Collab Cafe
Instagram

Links:
Website: https://heyletscollab.com
Instagram: Hey, Let's Collab (@heyletscollab) • Instagram profile
FREE Collab Scripts: Collab Scripts - Hey, Let's Collab
Collab Starter Kit: https://heyletscollab.com/kit
Blog: Blog - Hey, Let's Collab
YouTube: Hey, Let's Collab
Pinterest: Hey Let's Collab

In this episode of Hey, Let’s Collab, I’m chatting with my friend Mariah Magazine, an award-winning SEO consultant, educator, and YouTube creator who has been helping business owners make SEO more approachable since 2015. Today, Mariah shares how collaborations helped shape the direction of her business and eventually led to a partnership that combined two different areas of expertise into one paid offer. We’re unpacking how that collaboration came together, the message that started the conversation, and the decisions that helped them turn an idea into a partnership that continues to work for both creators. We also get into what happens when a partnership isn’t working, the signs Mariah pays attention to before saying yes, and why the person you choose to collaborate with matters just as much as the idea itself. 

Here’s what you’ll learn: 

• How Mariah’s early service swaps and relationships helped her build confidence in SEO while creating a referral network that continued opening doors in her business
• Why Facebook groups, paid communities, local business events, and unexpected shared interests can all be valuable places to meet potential collaboration partners
• How a simple Instagram DM led to a win-win digital product collaboration
• How Mariah structured the collaboration with a 50/50 profit split, automated sale notifications, a contract, shared decision-making, and a simple system for managing ongoing revenue
• Why unclear expectations and poor communication can derail even promising collaborations, and why long-term partnerships need regular check-ins instead of assumptions
• The three things Mariah considers before saying yes to a collaboration

If you’re ready to start collaborating but aren’t sure what to say, grab your copy of my FREE Collab Scripts. You’ll get real outreach messages from successful collaborations, including the Instagram DM Mariah used to start the partnership we unpacked in this episode.

Connect with Mariah:
Join Mariah’s SEO Membership, SEARCH CLUB
Subscribe to the Mariah Magazine newsletter
Website
Youtube
Instagram

Links:
Website: https://heyletscollab.com
Instagram: Hey, Let's Collab (@heyletscollab) • Instagram profile
FREE Collab Scripts: Collab Scripts - Hey, Let's Collab
Collab Starter Kit: https://heyletscollab.com/kit
Blog: Blog - Hey, Let's Collab
YouTube: Hey, Let's Collab
Pinterest: Hey Let's Collab

Thinking about hosting your own virtual summit or bundle, but wondering how you’ll actually find contributors, secure sponsors, grow your email list, and pull the whole thing off without burning yourself out? In today’s episode, I’m joined by a panel of experienced summit and bundle hosts: Sharee Collier, Kristen Robinson, Kara Laws, LaKisha Mosley, and Allison Hardy. Together, we talk about what it takes to host strategic collaborations that actually grow your audience, build your authority, and create new opportunities for your online business. This is a must-listen for anyone planning their first bundle, considering hosting a virtual summit, or looking for ways to make their next online event more impactful.

Here’s what you’ll learn:

• How to find summit speakers and bundle contributors through referrals, your existing network, past collaborations, and a running database of creators you’d love to work with
• Why hosting a virtual summit or bundle can grow your email list, increase your visibility, strengthen your authority, and lead to even more collaboration opportunities
• How to choose a realistic event timeline, including why giving yourself at least 90 to 120 days can make it easier for both you and your collaborators to participate without unnecessary pressure
• Why following up on collaboration pitches matters, and how a handful of thoughtful follow-ups can make a huge difference
• What makes a strong sponsorship package, from solo emails and audience visibility to reduced promotional requirements, clear deliverables, testimonials, and proof that you can deliver results
• Why you don’t need to launch an offer immediately after your summit or bundle, and how you can instead use your new audience to build relationships, nurture your email list, and create momentum for what comes next

You don’t need a massive audience or a complicated strategy, but you do need the right partners, enough time to create a great experience, and a clear reason for bringing everyone together. Are you ready to start collaborating? You're going to want a copy of my free Collab Scripts. Happy hosting!

Guest Links:
Sharee Collier
Kristen Robinson
Kara Laws
LaKisha Mosley
Allison Hardy

Links:
Website: https://heyletscollab.com
Instagram: Hey, Let's Collab (@heyletscollab) • Instagram profile
FREE Collab Scripts: Collab Scripts - Hey, Let's Collab
Collab Starter Kit: https://heyletscollab.com/kit
Blog: Blog - Hey, Let's Collab
YouTube: Hey, Let's Collab
Pinterest: Hey Let's Collab

What if one collaboration could grow your email list by 1000 subscribers and introduce you to relationships that shape your business for years to come? In today’s episode, I chat with Alex Waggoner, an online business manager for six and seven-figure CEOs who want their businesses to run smoothly from anywhere in the world. We break down the bundle collaboration that became a major turning point in Alex’s business, as well as how to find your online business community, what makes a summit or bundle worth saying yes to, and why the preparation phase of a collaboration can tell you a lot about whether a partnership will actually be a good fit.

Keep listening to hear:

• How participating in one bundle helped Alex grow her email list by 1000 subscribers and opened the door to valuable long-term business relationships
• Why joining online communities, coaching programs, networking calls, and collaborative events can help you find both business besties and future collaboration partners
• How summits, bundles, podcast interviews, and other creator collaborations can position you as an expert while growing your audience and email list
• The red and green flags Alex looks for when evaluating collaboration opportunities
• Why tracking where your subscribers and leads come from can help you understand which collaborations are actually worth repeating.
• How to be easy to work with and why showing up prepared can make you someone want to collaborate with you again and again

You never know where one collaboration might lead! Before you go, please leave a like and review on this episode. If you’re ready to start pitching collaborations of your own, visit heyletscollab.com/scripts to grab your free copy of my collab scripts. I’ll see you next week!

Connect with Alex:
Website
Free Click-Up Course

Links:
Website: https://heyletscollab.com
Instagram: Hey, Let's Collab (@heyletscollab) • Instagram profile
FREE Collab Scripts: Collab Scripts - Hey, Let's Collab
Collab Starter Kit: https://heyletscollab.com/kit
Blog: Blog - Hey, Let's Collab
YouTube: Hey, Let's Collab
Pinterest: Hey Let's Collab

In today's episode, I’m joined by Brittany Verlenich, social media strategist, content creator, podcaster, and online business owner who has built much of her business through organic relationships and collaboration. Brittany shares how simply “making friends on the internet” has led to clients, referrals, speaking opportunities, summit partnerships, affiliate relationships, and new business opportunities, all without relying on paid ads. We also unpack specific collaborations and their strategies, giving you a practical look at how aligned collaborations can develop through conversation.

Here’s what you’ll learn: 

• Why Brittany approaches networking and creator collaborations with generosity first, focusing on how she can genuinely help the other person and their audience
• How one online summit connection grew into a paid speaking opportunity, new clients, affiliate partnerships, referrals, and several ongoing collaborations
• How to find aligned collaboration partners by looking for a shared audience, mission, and values without choosing someone who offers exactly the same thing you do
• Simple ways to collaborate online
• What makes Brittany say yes or no to a collaboration pitch and why a thoughtful approach often matters more than follower count
• Why hearing “no” does not have to end the relationship, and how counteroffers, follow-ups, and staying visible can turn a “not right now” into a future partnership

The biggest takeaway from this conversation is that collaboration doesn't have to start with an elaborate pitch or complicated strategy. Sometimes it begins with starting a conversation and being open to where the relationship could lead. Don't forget to leave a like and review on this episode. If you’re ready to start building strategic collaborations of your own, head to heyletscollab.com and grab my free Collab Scripts. I'll see you next week!

Connect with Brittany:
Website
Instagram
The Freelancer Fix
Youtube
Podcast

Links:
Website: https://heyletscollab.com
Instagram: Hey, Let's Collab (@heyletscollab) • Instagram profile
FREE Collab Scripts: Collab Scripts - Hey, Let's Collab
Collab Starter Kit: https://heyletscollab.com/kit
Blog: Blog - Hey, Let's Collab
YouTube: Hey, Let's Collab
Pinterest: Hey Let's Collab