วันอาทิตย์ที่ 13 กันยายน พ.ศ. 2552

The Right Approach to Joint Ventures

Back in the old days, joint ventures rested on friendships, networks, alliances and mergers. In the Internet Age, joint venture companies offer a new variation on a tried and trusted theme for web publishers looking for products to sell. Since most of today''s billionaires constructed their empires on some kind of joint venture, there is a high probability that joint venture companies will be the future of sophisticated business strategies.

The fact is that it is often cheaper to pay a percentage of sales for a content-rich website, or a fee for incoming traffic in return for exposure. So the very foundational principle of joint ventures makes perfect business sense. No worries there.

A good strategy is essential for a successful proposal. Offer your potential JV partner a precise, concise letter, not a rambling, obsessive treatise on why you are the best partner for them. But don''t leave out any relevant, important information.

Do research before you actually appr oach your potential partner and their company. You can''t afford to be unclear about what exactly it is that they offer clients. Research means you being better able to modulate your proposal to suit their requirements.

A JV proposal is, indeed, very like a sales letter. While it should be personal, it must also push the necessary buttons so your potential partner is persuaded that refusing your offer would be bad judgment on their part.

Be absolutely certain that you understand how your business is functioning. Be certain, that is, before you approach the potential partner. This will be more difficult if the product or service involved is new, but this is where your proven track record and reputation in previous ventures and/or other aspects of your business come in handy. Present that evidence to your potential partner. Leave no stone unturned in your effort to persuade your potential partner of the money they would make if they accepted your offer.

Remember the fundamental question. ''What''s in it for me?'' All prospective partners will ask it, and you need to have a good, ready answer. They will particularly be interested in the exact ways in which you will benefit them and their company. Let your answer serve as the focus of your proposal. Your offer absolutely must be as targeted and lucrative as possible with regard to your potential partner.

Brainstorm. This is always a good technique when you need to make decisions about possible products and services that will bring together good partnerships. Complementary products and services are the obvious answer, but some intuitive research into demographic trends can open up more possibilities.

Research, again, is necessary for you to understand what would satisfy them. To make the perfect offer, you should give the impression of being willing to bend over backward - within your abilities, of course - to accommodate the potential partner and company. Your goal is to sell the profitability of your potential collaboration.

You will end up making more money from new clients through backend sales. Thus it is not unusual for you to make less money upfront. The important thing is to prime your business toward enhanced money-making in future. Patience is the key.

Make it easy, almost effortless, to say ''yes''. Do all the hard work now, including fronting costs, so you can reap greater benefits later. People tend to be very busy or extremely lazy, so you don''t want your finely crafted, lucrative business proposal being passed over for being too complicated to easily decipher. Yes, they don''t know what they''re missing - but money lost is money lost. This is less of an issue in the case of online JVs, as the monetary investment in such a case is between zero and minimal.

Make and keep a list of businesses that fit the categories you have in mind, as well as their contact info. Organization will help you in all stages of your business, so ch eck off the list people you have contact. Following up is necessary for making a firm impression and showing interest.

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