Joint ventures are projects that two or more people undertake to achieve a certain goal.
Working with someone else on a project, whether large or small, can really benefit both of you in a variety of ways.
Consider these three options.
1. Free Teleclass – you can schedule a free teleclass where you interview someone about a topic that is interesting to your list. This can be a great way to build your mailing list, or sell your products. You set up the registration pieces on your end, the interviewee sends an email to their list to let them know that they will be speaking with you. You pick up the registrants’ email addresses and they are now on your list. The key with an interview is that you want to reciprocate where possible – and then you will essentially ‘refer’ your people to your guest speaker’s list. Whether you are just list building or whether you are selling products, this type of joint venture is a win-win for both of you.
Free Teleclasses give you the opportunity to practice your interview skills, reach out to others without searching for them, and also give you the opportunity to build content and your level of expertise for your audience. By doing frequent teleclasses, you can build content very quickly and even build sellable products.
2. Telesummit or Interview Series – setting up a series of interviews is a great way to build your list faster, because you are reaching more connections at one time, with one event. Of course there is a lot involved with setting up a telesummit, but you can start small (5 calls is plenty). You can have your telesummit set up as an interview series or as a teaching series – it’s up to you. The idea here is the same as the teleclass – the speakers help you promote the event and your list builds. If you sell an upgrade package, you offer your speakers 50% commission so that gives them the incentive to promote the package. So you get the list, and they get rewarded if their people purchase. They also get the exposure of being affiliated with your other speakers, which can be good for them as well.
Telesummits give you the opportunity to set a theme and build a product around it, which you can sell. You also build relationships with the speakers. You also end up reaching far more people since you are essentially being promoted to 5, 10 or more mailing lists at one time.
3. Teaching a Program with a Partner – a true joint venture is one where each partner contributes and the profits are split, such as teaching a course or program with a partner. There is a little more involved than a simple back and forth interview series, but it can be very profitable for both partners if developed correctly. The decision needs to be made how the package will be put together and how it will be promoted (and where), but you can expand your reach to two or more trusted audiences, which can result in great sales.
Teaching with a partner gives you the opportunity to develop a program that perhaps has a second component (ie if your partner provides different services and information than you), or allows you to split the teaching (ie if your partner provides the same services and information as you). There are many options of how to build something that will benefit your clients. Try to think of who you could approach, and what your topic could be!
So although we are solo professionals for the most part, there are many things we can do with partners that are not only beneficial to our businesses, but they are also fun.
I challenge you to think about what you can do to expand your reach, and have fun doing it!
I’d love to hear your comments on this article.