Businesses are taxed with making constant decisions in today’s world. While in the past there was one set trajectory for things like marketing and building a business, the modern business world is unpredictable, especially when it comes to digital content. Although tactics and usage have become much firmer over the past two decades, the Internet can still seem a daunting place for many businesses, and it does retain some of that “Wild West” quality that defined the early days.

Partners

Of all the considerations for how to find strong partners, vendors and platforms, finding a good partner is without a doubt the biggest challenge. For a decision as important as this, traditional ways of making business connections, such as trade shows, interviews, and conferences, remain important. On top of that, online resources such as LinkedIn profiles and looking at a person’s past work can add another dimension to the process.

Vendors

There are an abundance of vendors out there, offering content ranging from simple copywriting services to apps centered around your business. Don’t let vendors tell you what you need – instead, identify the needs of your business and then go out looking for someone who can meet them. Choose a vendor who can give you compelling success stories and hard data about the experience of their average client. If you’re worried about where to find vendors, a multipurpose B2B communications company such as MediaMobz may be the solution.

Platforms

In today’s world, you’re likely to learn about quality platforms through word of mouth, even relatively new or specialized platforms. One of the most important ways  in which to find strong partners, vendors and platforms is to keep an eye out on both trade and marketing publications to find out what’s new, what’s trending, and what works

The Judgment Call

As much as we could say about finding people to make content with and methods to make it, the fact is that it’s ultimately a judgment call – only you can decide what a “strong” vendor is, although statistics and data analysis will of course play a key role. It’s up to you to combine your own business sense with knowledge about the trends in the market and the current resources available.

After making a choice, remember that nothing is set in stone. Beyond the contract you’ve made, any future decisions should be based upon analysis of the success of your current approach.