📺 Stream EntrepreneurTV for Free 📺

How to Leverage Your Ideal Partnerships to Scale Your Business Dana Derricks used the 'Dream 100' strategy when traditional ads didn't work.

By Emily Richett

entrepreneur daily

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

At Clickfunnels' annual business conference, Funnel Hacking Live, Emily Richett chats with Dana Derricks, serial entrepreneur, author, speaker, coach and goat farmer-- yes, that's right. This guy loves goats!

Derricks shares how he went from a farm in Wisconsin, to running multiple businesses, to authoring a bestselling book, The Dream 100, that sells for $2,000 a copy.

So, what is the Dream 100 and how can you use it generate more clients and sales?

The Dream 100 is a way of forming partnerships with influencers who have access to your target audience. "I get free traffic from it and I don't have to be crippled by advertisement spending," says Derricks. "Plus, I also get all of the trickle effects of somebody endorsing me."

Using this Dream 100 tactic is what made Derricks's copywriting and coaching business take off. "I tried it, and it has blown up ever since."

Derricks went to the drawing board and wrote out his Dream 100 -- the 100 people he aspired to partner with. Some were realistic while others were more renowned people with large platforms.

While big influencers are the ultimate goal, he believes it is important to "have a good mix" of both big and small. "You want small, quick wins along the way to set your foundation, that's the proving ground to acquire bigger influencers later on."

Derricks also suggests defining your avatar. "Figure out: who am I ultimately targeting, and then once you have that really well-defined, go and find where they hang out."

Related: How to Harness the Power of Authenticity and a 'Relationship Funnel' to Explode Your Brand

Entrepreneur Network is a premium video network providing entertainment, education and inspiration from successful entrepreneurs and thought leaders. We provide expertise and opportunities to accelerate brand growth and effectively monetize video and audio content distributed across all digital platforms for the business genre.

EN is partnered with hundreds of top YouTube channels in the business vertical. Watch video from our network partners on demand on Roku, Apple TV and the Entrepreneur App available on iOS and Android devices.

Click here to become a part of this growing video network.

Emily Richett

Entrepreneur Network Partner

Emily Richett is the founder of HAPPY PR, a public relations and marketing firm that works with fast-growth businesses and leading B2C brands. She is the host of The Amplify Show, a podcast and video series that features inspiring thought leaders and game changing entrepreneurs. You can connect with her at emilyrichett.com or gethappypr.com.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

More from Emily Richett

How to Leverage Online Communities to Grow Your Business

How This Entrepreneur Scaled His Business With Purpose

3 Content Strategies to Skyrocket Your Revenue

Editor's Pick

Thought Leaders

It's the End of the Entrepreneurial Era As We Know It

With the rise of advanced technologies and AI, are we losing all sense of the independent business person and entrepreneur?

Business News

These 4 Words Make It Obvious You Used AI to Write a Paper, According to New Research

Scientists are increasingly using ChatGPT and other AI bots to write studies.

Science & Technology

Exploring How Virtual Reality is Changing Startups

Virtual reality's immersive environment is where startup marketing is headed, and early adopters will be the ones who profit.

Business Ideas

63 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2024

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2024.

Side Hustle

He Started a Luxury Side Hustle at Age 13 — Now the Business Earns More Than $10 Million a Year: 'People Want to Help You When You're Young'

Michael Morgan, now the owner of Iconic Watch Company, always had a passion for "old things" — and he turned it into a lucrative venture.

Business News

'They're Scared': PNC Arena Bans New York Residents From Purchasing Tickets Ahead of Rangers, Hurricanes NHL Playoff Matchup

The two teams will face off in Game 1 of the second round of the Eastern Conference fight for the Stanley Cup.