Founder & CEO of of DonationMatch/SamplingForGood, Co-Host of "Events With Benefits" Podcast, Startup Mentor, Cause Marketing Guru, Nonprofit Fundraising Event Consultant, Serial Entrepreneur, Graduate of Startup Accelerator Programs Founder Institute and SLP, former Mentor for Curves International.
I consider this my most important role at my startup, which is a self-service, two-sided marketplace modeled after Match.com for facilitating product donations between companies and charities. From my B2B experience I would suggest:
• Professional associations: Find out where they get information to understand their priorities and challenges better
• Industry events: Meet them in casual, social settings
• Agencies and fellow service providers: Partnering with others that serve the same community, especially if your platform makes their jobs easier
• Testimonials: If you wow one or more well-known or influential clients in a specific industry, others who trust their advice and judgment will follow.
Lastly, I'd suggest networking, being generous with sharing your knowledge, and becoming a trusted expert in your field. You want to be the one someone thinks of when they, or someone they know, is seeking a solution to the problem you solve.