Purpose of This Step: To build a relationship and co-create a partnership opportunity through a thoughtful, value-aligned conversation. This is where the collaboration takes shape—built on mutual understanding and shared goals.

What This Step Involves

The goal of the call isn’t just to “pitch” your ideas—it’s to listen, connect, and explore what collaboration could look like based on what’s most valuable for their audience.

Instructions

1. Schedule the Call. Once your outreach is accepted, suggest a quick call (15–30 minutes) and offer flexibility on scheduling. Tools like Calendly can make this easy, or propose 2–3 time slots that work for you.
2. Structure the Conversation in Three Phases. Think of the call as having a natural flow:
3. Connect
4. Start with a warm introduction. Ask about their work and audience.
5. Express appreciation for what they’re building.
6. Look for shared values or overlapping missions.
7. Clarify
8. Ask what kind of content, training, or guests they’re typically looking for.
9. Find out what challenges or interests are showing up in their audience.
10. Invite them to share what would be most helpful from a collaborator.
11. Plan
12. Share 2–3 of the ideas you brainstormed in Step 5.
13. Ask, “Which of these feels most aligned with your goals or your audience?”
14. Be flexible. You’re shaping this together—not selling a pre-packaged solution.
15. Be Prepared but Open
16. Bring your notes from Step 5.
17. Be ready to adapt if they have a different idea or need.
18. The more you listen, the better the outcome.
19. Use the Worksheet (Optional)
20. Capture what format they’re interested in (e.g., podcast, live session, article).
21. Record any decisions made, next steps, and timelines.
22. Note their tone and preferences for future reference.
23. End with Clear Next Steps
24. “Would it be helpful if I sent over a short summary of the idea we landed on?”
25. Confirm format, topic, tentative date or time frame.
26. If needed, schedule a follow-up or deadline to confirm final details.

Pro Tips

• Listen more than you talk. Show you care about their platform and their audience.
• Be generous, but don’t overpromise. Keep ideas realistic and focused.
• Frame the collaboration as a shared opportunity—not a favor or a pitch.

What Success Looks Like

• You’ve had a productive, energizing call that results in a clear direction for collaboration.
• You both understand the format, purpose, and next steps.
• The partner feels supported, respected, and excited to move forward.

Next Step

Move on to Step 7: Finalize Your Offer. After the call, you’ll confirm the final idea and make it easy for the partner to say yes.