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
family-safe home cleaners Lincolnshire ..Your product is dying. With the same inevitability that we... Read More
Security Professionals provide the products and services necessary to create... Read More
Nothing can drive a business down faster than customers who... Read More
Franchising has made the world look really small. The well... Read More
You know what makes me really happy? Drinking a Starbucks... Read More
Hew Hampshire car wash market. Well we have visited every... Read More
There's been a recent rise in the number of elderly... Read More
Maximum efficiency in the cleaning industry is a key to... Read More
Thankfully, most of us will never find out. That is... Read More
We are noticing an increase in the length of time... Read More
Shipping materials can be expensive! Even the styrofoam "peanuts" can... Read More
What types of companies do you want to align yourself... Read More
What is the best time to expand a mobile car... Read More
Congratulations, you are starting a small business! You are taking... Read More
What does it take to grow a business and run... Read More
Have you ever heard the phrase, 'PREPONDERANCE OF PROOF'?I recently... Read More
You've heard it before; we're living in an information age.... Read More
What are the benefits of using a Freelance Consultant /... Read More
Starting and managing a small business is no fun chore,... Read More
You only have so much time in a day right?So... Read More
Now that you have invested your time, energy and money... Read More
The current lack of industry leaders represents an exceptional opportunity... Read More
I believe the number one reason why a business will... Read More
A janitorial cleaning service is one of the best businesses... Read More
Bookkeeping?the "dreaded" word is something we all have to worry... Read More
maide service in Buffalo Grove ..Starting a business? For many people, the bravery to venture... Read More
We all know that competition is an ugly word but... Read More
A thing worth doing is worth doing badly. Yes I... Read More
The key to organizational focus and helping those who need... Read More
Ok, so next to the taxman, your company payroll department... Read More
Most small businesses will not even try to advertise on... Read More
You only have so much time in a day right?So... Read More
The Boston suburbs seem to be rich with possible locations... Read More
In the first article we mentioned the main characteristics that... Read More
Many auto detailers fall short in their sales presentations. I... Read More
Sometimes the simple businesses are the ones, which make good... Read More
Most doctors never distinguish the difference between customers and patients.... Read More
There are only a handful of car wash franchises in... Read More
In my previous article, Step 1, your challenge for the... Read More
The resume writing service serves an important role in the... Read More
Just recently, I took a break and caught "The Return... Read More
Most businesses accept checks as form of payment for goods... Read More
How far away is the person you need to meet?We... Read More
Over the years I heard the best way to learn... Read More
One of the major complaints in the QSR Quick Service-Fast... Read More
Most business owners do not think of selling their companies... Read More
A janitorial cleaning service is one of the best businesses... Read More
Do you own a franchised business? Over 400,000 franchised businesses... Read More
-- The One Pager Shortcut Series --An effective and compelling... Read More
That's right ? are you making enough mistakes in your... Read More
Small Business |