A successful joint venture marketing effort is the goal of many small businesses, and is a great way to increase market visibility and profits.
Joint venture marketing is rising in popularity everyday, but it does take some skill, good planning and foresight to execute. Here are the steps a business owner should take to be successful in this arena?
1. Write down your goals and desired outcome
Be sure to have specific, measurable and action-oriented goals for your joint venture, along with a realistic time frame for their execution. These should be written down and easily accessible so that you can refer to them when implementing your action plan.
2. Analyze the target market you want to reach
Begin by reviewing your current clientele, then choosing the clientele you want to attract. Analyze your target market for buying habits, marketing trends, etc. Brainstorm other products and services used by your target market and determine whether there's synergy with what you offer.
3. Identify potential partners who already serve this clientele
Think of potential partners that have influence and credibility with your target market. Remember that your network of business associates, suppliers, family and friends may be a good fit or can introduce you to prospective partners. Create a list of potential partners that offer the best expansion opportunities, and have the most desirable client base.
4. Determine your joint venture format
Do you want to offer a profit sharing format, or a reciprocal arrangement, or both? If you choose to pay your partner a percentage of the profits, then you will pay them a specific amount or percentage for each new client they send your way. If you choose a reciprocal arrangement, then you will systematically send clients to each other. Think of something that is of high perceived value to offer the clients.
5. Determine your budget
It goes without saying that you should control costs from the beginning of a project. That means you need to sit down at the start and list every item that's required to carry out the joint venture.
6. Create an action plan and implement it
Once you've listed your potential partners, create an action plan. This should detail the steps you'll take to approach them and implement your joint venture project e.g. "I'll contact Joe Bloggs of XYZ Corporation on July 15th." To keep you focused, refer to your goals when creating and implementing your action plan. Also note that the details of your action plan will change depending on the pace at which the project goes.
7. Contact your partners and open the door for discussions
Make initial contact with your potential partners and set up a meeting. You can contact them by phone, snail mail or email, but phone remains the best contact method. At the meeting, keep your eyes and ears open to make sure the market fit is as good as you initially thought. Also, ensure that the "chemistry" is good between you and your prospective partners. Emphasize the benefits of your proposal.
8. Decide on either a contract or a hand shake deal
If you choose a contract, ensure that it specifies terms for review, and doesn't lock you into any long term arrangement without specific criteria for profitability being met. If you choose a hand shake deal, be sure you trust your partner!
9. Launch your joint venture and test the results
Start small by doing a test run first. Write, print and send the endorsement letter and implement the tracking system. Make sure you're equipped to handle the flood of new clients once you've set the joint venture into motion.
These steps are simple and easy to execute. If you follow them appropriately, you can look forward to having profitable, win-win joint venture projects! As with any marketing strategy, remember to test, tweak, track and review results until you find the best fit.
Copyright ? 2005 by Habiba Abubakar and Emprez. All rights reserved.
Note: You are welcome to republish this article as long as the resource box at the end is included fully and unaltered.
Habiba Abubakar, a.k.a. The Profit Diva, specializes in helping small business owners who are struggling to increase their client base and are tired of earning mediocre profits. The tips in this article have been excerpted from her home-study program, "Joint Venture Profits For Small Business Owners."
To learn more about this step-by-step program, and to sign up FREE for her revealing Mini eCourse, "The Easiest Way To Skyrocket Your Profits In 90 Days Or Less," visit http://www.profitdiva.com
recurring cleaning service Wilmette ..If you are a motorcycle detailer and need to expand... Read More
All legitimate home business entrepreneurs insist and announce loud and... Read More
On Monday the Department of Corporations in California revoked franchise... Read More
Work smarter, not harderWhat is one of the best ways... Read More
One major issue not being addressed right now in the... Read More
There are many choices when thinking about a small business... Read More
What are the benefits of using a Freelance Consultant /... Read More
The Federal Trade Commission out of the blue decide in... Read More
When the recent Games of the XXVIII Olympiad came to... Read More
Should your business have a toll free number for customers... Read More
If you've been considering incorporating your small business, you've probably... Read More
It is essential that you fully understand how the fuel... Read More
Macon, GA goes after garage-gas station conversion detail/hand car washes... Read More
Most business owners do not think of selling their companies... Read More
Q: I have outgrown my home office and need to... Read More
The choice to incorporate a small business in Florida has... Read More
It has been said that the only constant is change.... Read More
Search Engines account for almost 90% of all web traffic!In... Read More
A lot of business owners I've spoken with lately have... Read More
In the first part of this article I put forward... Read More
Administrative and clerical tasks are the bane of every industry.... Read More
Think the best way to get more customers is to... Read More
Every company has a value proposition. That is a statement... Read More
Opening a carpet cleaning business is a great way to... Read More
Everyone is talking about small businesses. In 1993, when it... Read More
reliable maid service Morton Grove ..1. There Are No "gimmes" ? They count two-foot putts... Read More
When is advice free and when should you charge for... Read More
Since you own a business you probably have liability insurance... Read More
Remember the training programs, seminars, and workshops you had to... Read More
Sacred cows take a long time to die. We get... Read More
1. TargetYou are not all things to all people. Decide... Read More
So there I was ? sitting in the audience of... Read More
What will your business look like a year from today?If... Read More
Fuel prices these days are quite high and they take... Read More
E-mail and Internet use are integral parts of the typical... Read More
If you're anything like me then you dislike with a... Read More
People will always stress that having a well researched business... Read More
If you want to start a business in 2005, and... Read More
As a franchisor I am always asked by new and... Read More
If you are a small business and qualify to participate... Read More
Franchising Directory Sites-Paid Advertising, Lead Generation for FranchisingFranchising Directory Sites... Read More
If you run a pressure washing company in a rural... Read More
In a quest for customers and to keep those customers,... Read More
On June 8, 2004, the world witnessed what no one... Read More
The FTC Franchise Rule maybe changed, as the Federal trade... Read More
Do you own a franchised business? Over 400,000 franchised businesses... Read More
There are countless ways to save your business money. Unfortunately,... Read More
What is a Virtual Assistant?A Virtual Assistant is a person... Read More
There is a great deal of abuse going on in... Read More
What does it take to grow a business and run... Read More
Small Business |