Key 3 – Develop Powerful Partnerships
Any savvy marketer knows that developing powerful partnerships can be the key to thriving in business. I’ve had the good fortune to partner with some of the top names in our industry through my Guerrilla Marketing, Traffic School, Product Factory, and World-Class Speaking Programs.
Working with a solid partner can help you:
- Increase your visibility,
- Decrease your work load and
- Become more creative, as well as many other benefits.
Listen to the audio to hear how you can successfully connect with influential marketing partners in your industry.
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Key Points:
1. In this competitive marketing place, it is more important than ever before to develop win-win partnerships.
2. Partnerships are a great way to increase your exposure and your range.
3. Seek out people you get along with, who interest you, who excite you, who you can work well with and people that bring a lot to the party, as you do.
4. When you approach a partner, it is very important to plan ahead.
5. Do your research and then approach them with what’s-in-it-for-them stance?
6. Develop a simple deal. Create partnerships that don’t require either of you to look over each others shoulder.
7. Give before you get, particularly if you are just starting out.
8. Don’t obsess about who’s getting the most out of the deal initially, develop the relationship and build trust first.
Before choosing a JV partner make sure that you:
• Know exactly what they want most from the venture… It may not be what you assume.
• Are fully aware of your own goals… and that you’ve communicated them to your would-be partner.
• Both feel that you can better achieve your objectives working with each other
The Platinum Rule
We’ve all heard of “The Golden Rule” – Treat people the way you would like to be treated. And while the concept is sound, it becomes problematic because it assumes that everyone has identical desires and perceptions.
Authors Tony Alessandra and Michael J. O’ Conner rephrased the tenet and renamed it “The Platinum Rule.” It goes like this, “Do unto others as they’d like done unto them.” This requires a real understanding of others and what motivates them… and there’s no better way of learning that than by asking them. Otherwise, we risk offending others by incorrectly presupposing the answer based on our own sensibilities.
4 More points to keep in mind for developing successful joint venture partnerships…
• Do your research ahead of time… make sure they’re the type of person you like and their business is healthy and respectable.
• Be specific…don’t leave things “squishy” regarding anything – this is how misunderstandings begin.
• Respect their time… let them know you value theirs as much as your own.
• Avoid using a “sales pitch”… it’s no way to begin a give-and-take partnership.
You’ll find that solid partnerships can be the key to thriving in a challenging economy.
Go out an find one today!
Fieldwork for Today:
Ask yourself:
Who in your industry would be a great partner for me?
What do they bring to the table?
What do I bring to the table? Be specific.
What is a win-win partnership?
Find people who are energetic, focused and positive.
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