# Partnerships for first B2B customers: choose access over logo collecting. - working worksheet

Reviewed alongside the Eli guide: https://hireeli.io/resources/partnerships-for-first-b2b-customers

## Decision to make

Create an early partnership that reaches the same buyer

Owner: ____________________
Review date: ____________________
Canonical page or destination: ____________________

## Buyer questions

- [ ] Partnerships for first B2B customers: choose access over logo collecting?
- [ ] What should a B2B startup do first to create an early partnership that reaches the same buyer?
- [ ] Which evidence shows that create an early partnership that reaches the same buyer is working?
- [ ] What is the most common mistake when teams try to create an early partnership that reaches the same buyer?

## Evidence-led work plan

### 1. Why this decision appears: startup partnership lists fill with friendly logos but no shared buyer

Startup partnership lists fill with friendly logos but no shared buyer, activation or economic reason to collaborate.

Evidence or artifact: ____________________
Status: [ ] not started  [ ] working  [ ] verified  [ ] blocked

### 2. Partner with a company that serves the same buyer at an adjacent moment, then design one small mutual path to value

Partner with a company that serves the same buyer at an adjacent moment, then design one small mutual path to value.

Evidence or artifact: ____________________
Status: [ ] not started  [ ] working  [ ] verified  [ ] blocked

### 3. Map adjacent tools and service providers, then define the shared buyer and trigger

Map adjacent tools and service providers.

Evidence or artifact: ____________________
Status: [ ] not started  [ ] working  [ ] verified  [ ] blocked

### 4. Measure track partner-sourced conversations

Track partner-sourced conversations, activation, sales cycle and mutual value delivered.

Evidence or artifact: ____________________
Status: [ ] not started  [ ] working  [ ] verified  [ ] blocked

### 5. Do not cross this boundary: do not announce a partnership before ownership

Do not announce a partnership before ownership, destination, follow-up and measurement are agreed.

Evidence or artifact: ____________________
Status: [ ] not started  [ ] working  [ ] verified  [ ] blocked

## Source ledger

- [ ] HubSpot: ways to find and keep a first customer: https://blog.hubspot.com/sales/first-customer
- [ ] Google Search Central: people-first content guidance: https://developers.google.com/search/docs/fundamentals/creating-helpful-content
- [ ] Google Search Central: optimizing for generative AI features: https://developers.google.com/search/docs/fundamentals/ai-optimization-guide
- [ ] Eli AI Visibility Index methodology: https://hireeli.io/ai-visibility-index/methodology

## Measurement boundary

Baseline date and exact context: ____________________
7-day observation: ____________________
14-day observation: ____________________
30-day observation: ____________________
Known limitations: ____________________

Keep technical eligibility, citations, recommendations, visits, leads and revenue as separate evidence. This worksheet does not guarantee an external ranking or commercial result.