While in San Francisco this year attending a Internet Marketing Seminar, Robert Puddy and I had several discussions with newbies and seasoned marketers about Joint Venture Requests.
Everyone has been in this situation, a person either comes up to you at a Seminar or sends you an email. We saw this in San Fran and Robert had it happen to him personally. The person walks up and says something like this. I have a product that's perfect for your email list and will make you a lot of money (while handing their business card to you) no introduction, never met before, and expects you to drop everything and JV with them.
Now, even if they have a product that's a great fit with your list and could potentially make you a lot of money, this isn't the way to go about getting JV Partners. The same can be said about the emails you receive with similar tones. This is not the way to request JV's and will most likely get your business card thrown away or email deleted. Even if the product is incredible and perfect for my email list.
How do you approach potential JV Partners that don't know you?
The answer is two fold and works both online and offline.
1. You Do something FOR the potential JV partner first, no questions asked, no holes barred, you do something that will make the potential JV money or highly benefit the person.
How do you do that?
Sell the potential JV's product to your email list.
Work for free (do a job for the potential JV for nothing.
Write a report about their product or service and give it to them.
(there are many ways to do this, be creative)
2. You get on the potential JV partners RADAR.
This is accomplished by doing step 1 and the most important part of the potential JV. You can get on someone's radar many different ways but don't be pushy or get on their radar by being negative, make it a positive experience.
I used this two step process myself with several people and now have a pretty good 'go to list' when it comes time to promote one of my products. Mr. Puddy will vouch for me on this, I worked for him for free by doing graphics, web design, and at his seminars before we were partners. I did something for him and got on his radar. We have great business relationship and friendship now because of that.
Did it happen overnight? Not at all, I knew Robert Puddy for more than a year before I asked him to mail his list for me and had already done many things for him for free and I was on the radar.
I've seen this formula used over and over again by successful people and firmly believe it's the easiest way to fill your Rolodex with potential JV partners.
In summary: the best way to get potential JV partners is to:
a) Do something for them without being asked.
b) Get on their radar.
Most importantly, be creative, be honest, be original, be yourself and you'll get JV partners to promote your products.