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
best cleaning company Lincolnshire ..Congratulations, you are starting a small business! You are taking... Read More
I started working with another new client last week. He... Read More
I am simply amazed at the problems some of my... Read More
Small business owners often enter their field with great expectations.... Read More
Q: I will be retiring this year at age 60... Read More
Remember the training programs, seminars, and workshops you had to... Read More
First you have to start with knowing your budget and... Read More
One of the most common horrific mistakes a business can... Read More
What is a Family Business? A family business is basically... Read More
When someone owes your small business money, you certainly feel... Read More
Q. I am a former pastor who left the ministry... Read More
Your business is making profits, but where is the cash?... Read More
Starting your own e-commerce business can be quite the adventure.... Read More
How careful are you with the data you collect from... Read More
We were more than excited. Our women's doubles tennis team... Read More
When should you leverage the relationship?Leveraging sometimes brings a negative... Read More
Success is the desire of everyman on the face of... Read More
Just when the entire state was kissing Wichita goodbye, economically... Read More
Top 3 Ways to Maximize Your Small Business Server Consulting... Read More
Why does research and education play an important part of... Read More
Owning a business is a challenging endeavor. If you're like... Read More
There is a continual trend we are seeing which I... Read More
How often has someone thought of starting a business based... Read More
In my 18 years of consulting I have heard it... Read More
One thing I have noticed in my travels to different... Read More
custom home cleaning Arlington Heights ..Buyers want both online and local information about where to... Read More
If you own a mobile car washing, pressure washing or... Read More
Summer is a time for the outdoors, for that well-deserved... Read More
If I had $1.00 every time I heard someone say... Read More
If you are looking for a way to own your... Read More
Did you know that satisfaction is the number one emotion... Read More
Shipping materials can be expensive! Even the styrofoam "peanuts" can... Read More
The resume writing service serves an important role in the... Read More
Did you ever have one of those days or weeks... Read More
Researching information for a recent business plan, I came across... Read More
In today's fast paced marketplace it is easy to neglect... Read More
I love lists. I make them for everything. And I'm... Read More
10 Best Practices to consider as your SBIR negotiations approach... Read More
Want your small business to flip instead of flop?! Statistically... Read More
Congratulations, you are starting a small business! You are taking... Read More
Before you read any further in this article, I'd like... Read More
Most small businesses will not even try to advertise on... Read More
As a company grows, the owner's role begins to change.... Read More
There's no question that hard work and a little luck... Read More
Experts urge small business owners to "brand" their business ?... Read More
What's your job profitability? I meet with business owners every... Read More
There are several well-known truck washes in the Great State... Read More
One of the most common horrific mistakes a business can... Read More
That's right ? are you making enough mistakes in your... Read More
Why should you do informative talks to smaller groups?Informative talks... Read More
Small Business |