| You know that JV marketing is a good way to build | | | | trade shows, conferences and other modes of |
| your customer base. You have even gone so far as | | | | professional networking. |
| to make a list of potential partners that could have a | | | | Keep your business cards handy to exchange with |
| positive impact on your business. Now what? The | | | | the associates you meet at the venues. By making |
| next step is to approach some of those potential | | | | that personal connection first, you are more likely to |
| partners to see if you could move forward with a | | | | inspire at least some consideration when you |
| business relationship. | | | | approach a business with a JV marketing proposal. |
| If your hands are getting clammy at the mere | | | | Show the Benefits |
| mention of professional networking and selling | | | | In a world of "what's in it for me?" it is very |
| yourself to other businesses, you are not alone. | | | | important to show the benefits of working with you |
| Check out these four tips to approaching JV partners | | | | to any potential partner, first and foremost. While |
| to make the process go as smoothly and | | | | you may reap most of the rewards from the |
| successfully as possible. | | | | relationship at first, your JV partner can also see |
| Remain Professional | | | | advantages in terms of commissions on your sales or |
| No matter how you contact your JV partners, | | | | mutual advertising. Begin with the benefits, and you |
| whether it is by phone, email or traditional post, | | | | may at least get your prospective partner to read |
| professionalism is something that should always be at | | | | your email or letter through to the end. This is the |
| the forefront of your mind. The written word should | | | | first step in obtaining a positive response for an |
| be formatted and composed in a business style, with | | | | official JV partnership. |
| the use of Mr. and Mrs. and common niceties like | | | | Follow Through |
| please and thank you littered throughout. | | | | Your first email or letter may not get read. Your initial |
| Do not be too obvious in your sales pitch; instead, | | | | phone call may not get returned. Persistence is the |
| outline your company, product and benefits of | | | | key in any successful JV partnership. While you don't |
| working with you clearly and succinctly. A potential | | | | want to drive your potential partner crazy with daily |
| partner will always appreciate your professionalism, | | | | phone calls or regular sales pitches, a polite follow-up |
| even if the partnership does not work out. | | | | to see if the person has read your proposal is |
| Make it Personal | | | | certainly appropriate. Some JV marketers suggest |
| Templates, both in letters and emails, are never the | | | | correspondence once a week for a month to six |
| way to get noticed. In fact, sending correspondence | | | | weeks at a time. If a response is not received within |
| to total strangers is rarely going to elicit a response. | | | | this time frame, it is probably a good indication that it |
| This is where professional relationships come in very | | | | is time to move onto another prospect. |
| handy, and you can build those relationships through | | | | |