Joint Ventures

 
As e-business owners, we spend a lot of time advertising or promoting our websites. Whether you're trying to figure out all of the ways you can get the word out, or busy implementing each of those methods... it's something that we put a lot of time and energy into.

But there's one thing you can do to really grow your business - and I mean, FAST - that is very easy, totally free... and actually fun, too!

 
Increase Your Reach:
Setting up Joint Ventures & Partnerships

Your "Reach" is simply the number of people in your Network, that you know or can get in touch with at anytime. For example, let's say that you have a big announcement (a BIG one), and you want to get the word out to everyone you possibly can - immediately. How many people would that be? 500 - 5,000 - 50,000 - 500,000 - ?

This may include communities or groups that you are a member of, friends or peers in your industry that would partner with you or publish an article in their Ezine for you... It may be your mailing list, customer database, website visitors -or the visitors to a website you can get a promotion posted on quickly and easily. All combined.

This is where your "connections" can come in very handy to you, so it's important to network and build relationships... and to get to know the "who's who" in your industry.

 
- 3 Easy Steps -

 
In traditional marketing, you wouldn't likely work side-by- side with a direct competitor. But in online marketing, it can be VERY beneficial!

 
STEP ONE: Find out who they are.

Search Google or Yahoo for your keywords, or similar keywords, visit the websites that cater to the same targeted market as your own.
 

STEP TWO: Get to know them.

Join discussion forums or message boards, sign up for their affiliate programs, subscribe to their newsletters or download their courses or whitepapers. You can easily file or filter these to look over later, but its important to get to know the leaders in your industry.

(Note: you are looking for ways that you can set up mutually beneficial relationships - perhaps your free ebook would be the perfect compliment to their bonus offer. Or they just may make the perfect columnist for YOUR newsletter. Etc)

 
STEP THREE: Introduce yourself.

If you find a message board or discussion forum, this step is easy. Otherwise, a quick email will suffice. The best way to reach someone is to reply to their newsletter (immediately, as you know they are sitting in front of their computer with the Inbox opened right then). Your first message doesn't have to make an offer of any kind... you might simply let them know that you enjoy their website or newsletter (and why, specifically) and end your note with: "I'm always open to working with others in the industry, so feel free to drop me a line if you see any way we might work together in the near future".

 
I can almost guarantee that you'll be impressed with the results that come out of these three steps. The lines of communications will be open, options and offers will become available, and relationships will be begin to take form. Before you know it, you will have a team to turn to anytime - for anything.

And THIS is KEY, as every new person that you add to your list of trusted Peers & Joint Venture Partners has a Reach of their own... and being able to tap into those resources can be a HUGE leap towards success with your online business ;)
 

 

Note: Joint Ventures only work if your intentions are in the right place. Greed and a self-serving attitude won't get you very far. You truly have to be open to working with others in a mutually beneficial scenario. But once you realize that there's no such thing as "competition", a whole new world of potential will open up for you!