Preferred partner
All you need to know about the Preferred Partner Programme
Preferred is a status we award, not a package you can buy. It puts you above every standard listing in your category — in return for a slightly higher commission and a standard you have to keep meeting.
The benefits
What Preferred gets you
Priority placement
Preferred businesses appear above standard listings in their category, with a badge that says we recommend them.
More editorial access
First refusal on features, interviews and the case studies we commission each issue.
Better advertising rates
Preferred rates on print and digital placements, and on stands at our shows.
Warm introductions
Your regional director introduces you directly when an enquiry matches what you do.
Preferred businesses get extra visibility in search results. A far larger number of customers can see that we recommend you as a business performing well — and one that is popular with the local business community.
Joining
How to join the programme
First, check whether you are eligible. You need to be among the top tier of businesses in your area and meet all of the following:
- An average customer review score of 4.5 or higher
- Higher-than-average conversion on the enquiries we send you
- A low rate of cancelled or unfulfilled orders
- A clean payment record — invoices settled on time, every time
- Genuine availability and fair rates for other members of the community
To find out whether you qualify, speak to your regional director or local support team. If you are close but not there yet, they will tell you exactly which of the criteria you are missing.
Staying
How to stay in the programme
After your first year we re-check eligibility annually, to confirm you are still performing and still creating value for customers. We tell you in advance of the review, and we tell you the outcome either way — no business has ever been dropped from Preferred without a conversation first.
Leaving
How to leave the programme
Opting out is easy and can be done at any time. Go to the Opportunities tab in your account, select Preferred Partner Programme, and click Leave at the bottom of the page. Your status and commission change immediately, and your standard listing carries on exactly as before.
Apply
Think you qualify?
Tell us who you are and we will check your eligibility against the criteria above, then come back either way.