Affiliate Marketing; A Good Recipe for Stone Soup

You probably know by now that Affiliate Marketing is a practice in which a business rewards its partners, or affiliates for bringing in customers through their marketing efforts. This team effort approach, merging many web sites in a united effort to funnel customers to a particular product, can be a very effective way to make money. The people you align with are called in the business, Joint Venture Partners or just JV Partners.

In a larger sense, this type of business model is actually a co-op of sorts, like many farmers used to form. It was difficult for one farmer, after all the toil of bringing a crop to harvest, to be in a position to bargain effectively with big city buyers. It became apparent that a group of farmers had a better chance of negotiating a fair price for their product. They could also in return bargain for lower prices when buying feed and other necessary supplies. So in essence, Affiliate Marketing is just a fancy hi-tech farmer’s co-op, working together for a common goal. The affiliates all strive to list build together for sales, in a way they could not do alone.

The concept goes way beyond setting up a link to each other’s selling pages; the group can also share talent, skills and time to create interesting and effective products and advertising packages. Think about the challenge of coming up with brand new products and an effective selling page on your own. Most of us would rather go to the dentist. It sounds too difficult, too time consuming to all but the most motivated person. Nevertheless, what if you belong to a group, a cadre of fellow beginners that worked together to build such an enterprise? It doesn’t sound quite as difficult now does it?

You may not have the skills yet to achieve your goals, but you certainly have at least one. Perhaps you know how to create graphics on a computer, edit some video, or write a little bit. Your affiliate can do something else or may have the information on how to set up a domain name and create a web page. Everyone working together can achieve what you once thought was impossible.

Joint Venture Partners Your Formula For Affiliate Marketing Success

I am reminded of the old story about the old beggar who walked into a poor village. He asked several people for a piece of bread or a bit of milk. Everyone refused him, claiming they had nothing to offer. He was tempted to give up, to leave and look for a bite to eat elsewhere, but instead had an idea.

He asked the villagers if they had ever eaten stone soup? He began to advertise the delectable brew as the best he had ever tasted and claimed he was in possession of a magic stone that would turn water into a satisfying meal. Soon his marketing ability began to create curiosity and a few mouths to water. The townsfolk began to beg him for the recipe. The old man said he needed a big pot in which to boil the soup. He got one. He boiled the water, carefully tasted it and declared it was good. However, alas, too bad, it didn’t have some carrots or it would be perfect. By some coincidence, a few peasants had some. Perhaps some potatoes would make it better, and sure enough, someone found some. Finally, the clever beggar wished aloud for a bit of meat to make it the best stone soup ever…sure enough some tasty bits of tender meat were procured. The townsfolk were amazed at the old man’s powers…how could such delicious soup be made with a rock?

Likewise, if you are wishing for a money making venture on the internet and think that it would take a miracle to achieve that goal, look around. There are other folks in the virtual village that can each provide a tasty ingredient to a marketing masterpiece.

This is the perfect segue to encourage you to sign up for Jeff Wellman’s marketing products. You will learn techniques and information to build a foundation to a great internet marketing business. You can get acquainted with other great folks who are trying to do the same thing. Who knows, perhaps they have the right stuff to help create your own delicious marketing concept. They may even have a great recipe for soup.

Grab this completely FREE Affiliate Marketing Training right now

Jeff Wellman http://www.layoffyourboss.com

Where to find Joint Venture Partners in any Niche Market

One of the most asked questions I get during any coaching session is, “How do I get Joint Venture Partners and where do I look for them in my Niche.

Identifying potential Joint Venture (JV) partners is relatively easy online as there are so many places to locate them, and I will get right to revealing some of the many ways.

Here’s a few examples :

Google/Search Engine Strategy

One of the first ways we need to look into is the use of Google or search engine strategy.  Your very first step is one that you have done so many times before, and that is you need to open up Google, or your favorite search engin and type in your niche keyword. Google will search for other Internet marketers and businesses that are in your niche.

Search the paid and non paid listings and find the contact information for each potential Joint Venture partner. Sometimes you can find this information by clicking on the contact links on the website. Remember to collect the information that I told you to collect int he previous post Jeff Wellman’s tips to unlocking the power of Joint Ventures http://www.layoffyourbossmarketing.com/blog/?p=212

Searcfh Whois.net

Another option is to find contact information for a website by running that website through www.whois.net. or you can use http://www.betterwhois.com

Whois.net is a domain-based research center that you can type in the domain name of the website you are on and generally get any contact information you need on the person who registered that particular domain.  At times they may have privacy settings that will not allow you to do this but more often than not you will be able to find good contact information for these site owners.

Find contact information on at least 30 Joint Venture partner possibilities.

Article Directories

Find contact information by following links in the resource box that will lead to the websites of the experts that wrote the article and their contact information, and once again contact the articles author.

Another strategy you could do would be to link your website to the articles you find and then contact the article owner to let them know you have done so.  Now It’s pretty well assumed that no one is going to object to your giving them exposure in this way so why contact them to let them know?

This gives you a reason to call them and make contact.  You just call  the article author and say,  ”I’ve linked to your article is this okay with you?” This gives a great opening to some good old friendly discussion and
maybe the possibility of an exchange of Ideas… if nothing more it opens up a good avenue of relationship building.

Attend Live Seminar Events (Get out and meet people)
 
OK this should have been the first one I started out with because the number 1 way to create a Joint Venture Partnership certainly is meeting people live in person. 

The reason I didn’t start right out with it is because I get the most excuses as to why you cant possibly attend a live seminar event.

Well I am here to tell you one more time that there is no better way to form real partnerships and form relationships than the Face-To-Face meeting…This is where the deals and relationships are made.

I can’t even begin to tell you all of the many ways that attending live events have helped grow my business and my relationships with my Joint Venture Partners.  Without attending a Live Seminar my first product would have fallen way short of what I was able to accomplish with my launch.

I basically was able to create most of the content of product at the live event I attended through interviewing the experts that I found and approached at the event.

Remember you will still need to work on your approach which I discussed in previous post http://www.layoffyourbossmarketing.com/blog/?p=212

Of course there is so much more to just going to the live event as even this can be just  business…

Real JV Partnerships are formed when it actually breaks from the business to, “Hey let’s go have a burger or a drink together,” that’s where relationships are formed.

Whenever I go to seminars and hear speakers being introduced by the host it always starts out I first met This next speaker at a seminar…and one right after another it continues…  “I  met you  at a seminar, I met you at a seminar…” That’s the way it’s done.

To many people just look at live events as a ‘good ol’ boys’ club, and that the Gurus will not be the slightest bit interested in what I have to say anyways. That perception is just totally wrong as I found out very quickly.  I want you to know that  anybody can be a part of this group.

Everybody is welcome to get to know us – we’re very accessible.  You may run across one or two that make you feel like they are better than everyone else there but those are the ones that are not even worth pursuing in the first place.

But you have to do the initiating of the relationship, we’re just not going to do it for you.   I highly
recommend that you go to seminars and get to know myself and other marketers.  Make sure you bring your business cards.

Also another great tactic to use while at these seminars is to have your picture taken with the Gurus you meet.

Get Your Picture Taken With Gurus

I say get a picture with absolutely everyone  that you meet at events and then say, “Can I have your email so I can send you a copy?”  Then I send you back a physical copy of the picture and I sign it.  .

Get an account with sendoutcards.com and create a card and send out to the JV Partner with the picture you had taken with the both of you and let them know what a great time you had.

This is a reminder to the potential JV Partner as to who you are.

As with any of the other suggestions I can give you it is going to take action and dedication on your part.  You can make the decision to use any of these methods, but without action on your part you are like I said before, “dead in the water.”

Until Next post I hope you decide to try out some of these methods.  Please feel free to leave comments or let me know how they worked for you.

To Laying Off Your Boss Together

Jeff Wellman
http://www.layoffyourboss.com

Research Your Potential JV Partner (Do Your Homework)

Before you can unlock the power you will need to find your Joint Venture Partners.  Before we get into where to find these partners I want you to be prepared to start collecting some important information that you will need.  You want to find as much information as possible on each potential JV you find.

Information To Collect During Search

To do the job properly you might as well plan on taking an organized and structured approach right from the very beginning of  looking for  your potential JV partners.

First of all make a plan that includes setting aside a specific amount of time each day to do your research. Collect as much information as you possibly can on each of them and organize the information in some sort of file or spreadsheet.  This information is something you will want to keep on hand for as long as you continue to run your online business, and you will continually want to add to it as you grow.

The sort of information you should collect is:

Contact information – name, email, telephone mailing address etc.
 
Web site URL and A brief description of their web site and products

Interesting facts… Birthdays, Anniversaries, Likes, Dislikes, Hobbies

So why Birthdays and likes and dislikes etc…?  Simple…It may be just the information you need that will win the yes you are looking for from your JV Partner.  I landed a very big JV partner just because I found out his Wedding Anniversary and sent a card to him and his wife, congratulating them both on their accomplishment.  He was so impressed that I took the time to do my research and think of him and his wife.

These more personal items of information are something that is important to the potential JV partner.  When you reach out in a relationship building manner which says more than, “Hey JV Partner  I want you to promote my product to your big list,”  it will mean so much more.

I’m not going to go to a guy that I don’t know anything about him.

Don’t go to somebody when you don’t know the first thing about them.  Read their books, listened to their CDs, Read their BIOs, Read their profiles on social sites, read their sales copy, check out what kind of products they have, Follow them on places like Twitter.com, Facebook, etc..to learn their likes and dislikes. 

I really find a lot of useful information by following marketers on Twitter.com.  You find out what they do on a day to day basis and find out what kind of things they enjoy spending their time doing.  You learn about what kind of products they are doing and what Seminars they will be attending next, and so much more.

Joint Venture Partners wants to know you have done a little research.  Do your research on the people you want to do joint ventures with.  You may find out that this person is really not anyone you would want to do business with.  There morals and values may totally be out of align with yours and this kind of partnership usually does not end well.   It’s absolutely critical you know who your partners are. so do your research.

NOTE:  You should also keep track of what your competitors are doing while doing your research. This will allow you to be aware of what information and types of products your competitors send out and what they are doing.  You may find ways that you can compliment their efforts and create win-win situations. 

The Approach to the Gate Keeper of the List.

Once you’ve collected a decent sized list of potential JV Partners, it’s time to make contact.

First… Make sure you’re approaching the right  JV Partners with  the  right  target market  that matches  your message  and your  offer.

The approach is key, especially the way you approach the big wigs, the big  list owners and the big names out there, the approach must be a ‘you-oriented’ approach, “How can I help you?”  It has to be something that’s beneficial to them. 

You need to be absolutely 100% focused on how you can help  the person you are approaching. 

Don’t make it all about you and your product… Think of the things you know, the things that you’ve learned, the things that you can learn.  Maybe it is something you can do, or at the very least something you can figure out how to do that can help someone else.   

It may be that you can do something like proof reading and editing Ebooks, create Camtasia videos and submit to YouTube to drive traffic for a potential JV Partner.  Other possibilities are creating graphics or helping answer support. The ways to help are endless if you just start to think out side of the box and use your creativity.  Always be thinking of how you can allow your Potentail JV Partner to gain back some precious time.

The Law of Reciprocity requires that when someone does you a favor, that you seek ways to reciprocate. Learn to deliberately tap into that law by doing nice things for others…

Persistence Will Win The Day

I don’t want to discourage you right now but I want you to know that It’s unlikely that you will get the big YES you are looking for from potential partners right away, rejections are inevitable, but please do not give up, you need to keep plugging away at your list that you created and be Persistent.  I want you to notice that i said persistent and not annoying. Presenting yourself professionally is the key

It may take a while before you hit on the right JV partner and get the deal you’re looking for, don’t let yourself get discouraged, keep yourself motivated, keep organized. Continue on until you get the “YES” and then do it again.  Don’t stop with just one.

Once you’ve found a JV partner there’s no reason why you shouldn’t continue making those phone calls, sending out those e-mails, sending out the letters, cards, and gifts in the mail etc.

What I see happening  over and over again with so many that are trying to make their big splash on the market is that you talk about it, you put a lot of thought into the thinking process of things, you learn about everything you can, and you get to the point where you can almost see and feel that things really could happen but then you never do a single thing.   

Once we get through the process of actually doing something  then you can duplicate that again and again. 

Once you go through the process of locating and researching and getting that first Yes from one JV Partner you will have the confidence to repeat the process.

That may be just the one thing that your JV Partners are looking for as you approach them.  Most JV Partners I know are looking for somebody that’s going to actually take action and be persistent until they produce results.  

As you get started searching for your Potential JV Partners that will help you build your online business I want you to remember this one thing.  “If you don’t take any action, you don’t get any results.”

To Laying Off Your Boss Together,

Jeff Wellman
http://www.layoffyourboss.com

The Joint Venture as Part of Your Product or during the Planning Stage

Most people think a Joint Venture needs to be Partner A has a product, Partner B has a large list and promotes Partner A’s product” – and  joint  ventures are so much more than that if you do them right.

What most people just starting out don’t ever realize is that if they start out bringing their potential JV partners in as part of the project, either in the planning phase of it, or part of the content sch as Interviews or whatever your creative imagination can possibly come up with is huge.  Once you involve your JV Partners into the planning stages or even as content to the product they now have a vested  interest in the success of the product as opposed to… just another product someone wants me to pitch.

To many people get in their mind or are taught that the JV Partner comes in at the end of the process and just promotes the product.  Get the JV Partner involved before the end of the process and watch the true power of Joint Ventures reall.y begin to take hold.

I have partnered with different JV partners on many of different products and it has brought amazing results to not only to my online business but to the JV Partner’s Business as well.

Each of us have different talents and strengths that we bring into a partnership that will create a Win-win situation for everyone involved including the customer that ends up with more value in the end.

I often think back to my first Online Product that I generated over $104,000 in just under 30 days  http://www.layoffyourboss.com

What would it have done if I would not have involved Joint Venture Partners in my product as content?

I interviewed 8 different Internet Marketing Experts; Frank Sousa, Ken McArthur, Keith Wellman, Heather Vale, Simon Leung, Gary Ambrose, Sterling Valentine, Harris Fellman, each provided content for my package through a recorded interview.  Without them I would have had a 64 page ebook which would not have supplied the customer with enough value to make my product take off as well as it did during the launch.

But each one of these partners that I interviewed now had a vested interest in my product succeeding because they were part of the product and they helped promote it in the end.

Are you tapping into the true Joint Venture Partner Power?

Look for ways to find JV Partners in my next couple of posts coming soon.

To Laying Off Your Boss Together

Jeff Wellman
http://www.layoffyourboss.com