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
whole house cleaning Deerfield ..Setting priorities in your business? Your first job is to... Read More
In the summer, I can't drive two blocks without seeing... Read More
If you are looking for a way to own your... Read More
Owning a small business in Wichita, KS might not be... Read More
Does your small business have a banking and credit card... Read More
Which questions do you need to ask to even get... Read More
TACTIC #1 -- Never simply slash your prices, unless you're... Read More
Seventy percent of US households use the web when shopping... Read More
Most smart entrepreneurs and all large corporations have Employee Relations... Read More
The bad things starts with the letter 'O'?.like Obstacles, Obstruction,... Read More
If you don't know what a Virtual Assistant (or VA)... Read More
When working from home, it is usual to find that... Read More
When you go into business for yourself, there are many... Read More
Support is critical for your small business survival. You may... Read More
-- Beyond Cold Calling, "Warm" Calling and Sending E-mails --Many... Read More
As small business managers, we juggle limited resources in a... Read More
Costs of over regulation and over disclosure end up hurting... Read More
First you have to start with knowing your budget and... Read More
The current lack of industry leaders represents an exceptional opportunity... Read More
Why are Chambers a good launching pad?Chambers provide you with... Read More
It's obvious when a small business has accepted the fact... Read More
In the first part of this article I put forward... Read More
There is significant competition in auto detailing and car washing.... Read More
Concrete Roof Tile Business: During the 2004 summer season, storms... Read More
If you're like the rest of us, you've spent a... Read More
home cleaning services Des Plaines ..Should you buy a business opportunity or Franchise if you... Read More
Becoming a contractor or sub-contractor for the U.S. government can... Read More
North County San Diego has had some significant growth, and... Read More
In today's marketplace the words 'job security' have become an... Read More
Consistency is a huge word when operating your business. I... Read More
Your business is only as good as the number of... Read More
Before you start a business we encourage you to prepare... Read More
1. Everyone Makes A Difference ? Despite not letting him... Read More
One of the best ways to make money in the... Read More
There is significant competition in auto detailing and car washing.... Read More
You're pretty proud of yourself! After all, only four months... Read More
Take advantage of world politics today and start your own... Read More
Whether you are an Entrepreneur or Business Professional there are... Read More
The Customer Analysis section of the business plan assesses the... Read More
When you awoke this morning, you found yourself buzzing with... Read More
How far can you go based on your relationship with... Read More
What are the best methods for keeping a good business... Read More
Are the promoters and consultants destroying the market for Reverse... Read More
Think of your business as a living, breathing, organism. It... Read More
If you run a pressure washing company in a rural... Read More
When do annoyances in a relationship become too much to... Read More
Which questions do you need to ask to even get... Read More
To maximum potential profits and dollars in a mobile washing... Read More
Attorneys and Lawyers are ruining the franchise industry. It is... Read More
Last summer the FTC put forth a report and then... Read More
Small Business |