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
Batchtown Chicago prom limo .. Lockport Chicago limo O’Hare1. There Are No "gimmes" ? They count two-foot putts... Read More
$elling $elling $ellingWhat makes a great sales person? Well, the... Read More
Habit: A consistent behavior you perform so frequently that it... Read More
Are you a motivational speaker who consistently gets rave reviews... Read More
It has been said that the only constant is change.... Read More
The home-based business market, sometimes called the SOHO (small-office/home-office) market,... Read More
A solopreneur I know disappears from my radar screen for... Read More
The day care industry is expanding. There are now more... Read More
SBIR Corner: FFP vs. CPFF contracts:In the SBIR/STTR world, the... Read More
A successful joint venture marketing effort is the goal of... Read More
For many small businesses, the "S" corporation is the business... Read More
What could Seinfeld possibly have to do with marketing a... Read More
If you've been considering incorporating your small business, you've probably... Read More
If you're just ramping up your small business email newsletter,... Read More
It's obvious when a small business has accepted the fact... Read More
Forget everything you've ever heard about the U.S. Small Business... Read More
Why does research and education play an important part of... Read More
Are you a small business owner who wants to expand... Read More
Back when I owned an inventory-based business, one of my... Read More
It's the dream of every person who starts a business... Read More
Shipping materials can be expensive! Even the styrofoam "peanuts" can... Read More
Thinking of starting a business on line? If so there... Read More
Every employee would like to earn as high a salary... Read More
If you plan to upgrade your workshop into an Authorized... Read More
Approximately 200,000 new businesses are started each year. More people... Read More
shuttle from Midway Munster are ..You've always liked flowers and you think the idea of... Read More
To maximum potential profits and dollars in a mobile washing... Read More
How far can you go based on your relationship with... Read More
There are only a handful of car wash franchises in... Read More
In the heavy equipment cleaning business you can make good... Read More
When small businesses fail, the wreckage is often assigned to... Read More
Have you been searching for the perfect home-based business? I... Read More
Cash is King?That is what everyone tells us and it... Read More
You need to be visible to attract customers, right? But... Read More
Your business account comes with an ATM, Debit card. Pick... Read More
A solopreneur I know disappears from my radar screen for... Read More
Many ventures are faced with the challenging task of raising... Read More
Aircraft Interiors of personal and corporate jets have hundreds of... Read More
Outsourcing is the strategic use of outside resources to perform... Read More
Purchasing a franchise has become one of the most popular... Read More
Take advantage of world politics today and start your own... Read More
As an entrepreneur you can learn a lot by following... Read More
Many of us have noticed how some nearby communities seem... Read More
Those who are in the pressure washer business should not... Read More
In the world today, many people are further in debt... Read More
After over 30 years of participating in hundreds of businesses,... Read More
Are you -- like 70 percent of small business owners... Read More
All franchises must meet the legal definition of a franchise... Read More
Many self employed professionals find themselves overwhelmed, frustrated, and confused... Read More
Looking for ways to boost your cash flow? As a... Read More
Small Business |