Printing Australia

In this article I want to talk about developing relationships with joint venture partners/mentors. It is very important if you are looking to learn from high, world-class mentors, and work with them in joint venture projects. These are some low-cost - actually zero cost - ways to develop relationships with these types of people.

Firstly, this is the clincher. Make sure you write it down in capital letters in bright red marker. Participate. That is the word you have to write down. When given the opportunity, participate.

When I was first getting started, I was unknown, completely unknown. During my first time at John Childers' Million Dollar Speaker Training, he taught me a very important buisness lesson. "It's not what you know, or who you know. It's who knows you."

Get yourself known, that is what I'm trying to point out. You really have to take advantage of all the opportunities to 'participate' that your mentors and possible future joint venture partners will give you.

This is what I'm talking about. If there are questions in their emails, or they ask for feedback on their projects, give it to them. Give the feedback, ask questions, participate as much as you can. If you participate on a regular basis, the more likely it is that they will get to know you. That is the end result we are looking for.

Here's another strategy, provide testimonials. A lot of people underestimate this tip, but it can make a big difference. When I say give testimonials, I don't mean "normal" testimonials either. What I mean is give the best testimonials you have given and send a picture of yourself that they can use.

Take it a step farther and send them testimonials when they don't even ask for it. Alex Mandossian taught me this strategy and I've had a lot of my testimonials put up on websites even when they weren't asking for them.

When I first got started in this business, every single website I seemed to go to, Alex Mandossian was there giving a testimonial. Do you know how effective that strategy was for him?

Alex was able to get all kinds of leads and business through putting up testimonials on other people's websites. Use this strategy and learn how to give really good testimonials. Give them even when they aren't asking for them.

You have to give testimonials that are specific and relevant to the material you are talking about.

Recently I had an awesome testimonial left as part of a testimonial contest for a teleseminar of mine. This gentlemen stated his name, where he was calling from and gave one specific benefit he received from listening to the call.

When you give good testimonials it will get posted on people's websites and when you send a picture along with it, it is likely they will also include your website link. By having your information on other people's websites it will help you generate traffic, which will only benefit your business.

Secondly, this will only help to develop your relationship with your mentors and hopefully future joint venture partners.

Here's the next tip: Forums - participate in them as well. There are forums on just about every kinda of industry, in fact, many people have their own forum.

Seek out forums that you want to participate in, doesn't matter if you're in that market or not. You can write about anything you really want in these forums - give lots of tips, resources, content. It is all about getting yourself known.

Another to do is read people's newsletters and look at them to find any important and personal insights and details.

Here's some things you should constantly look for. Any birthdays, whether it be the specific person who writes the newsletter or their wife, husband or even their kids. Look for birth dates and then send them cards or a happy birthday E-mail, or perhaps even an audio postcards.

Anniversary dates is another thing you could look for, or when they are doing big product launches. Find out anything you can by reading their newsletters then use that information to build a relationship with them.

Offering your help to your mentors or future joint venture partners will also show them how interested you are and get your name out there. You will be surprised too the response you will get just from offering someone help with their business.

Or, let's say for example, that you know that there's something coming up in their business, like a product launch or a seminar or anything of that nature, and you ask to help with something specific, they're going to know that you've been paying attention to their business, and they'll be surprised, number one. Number two, you're going to stand out in their minds later on down the road.

I've sent information that I believe would be of value to my mentors as well. My goal is always to build good relationships with them. These strategies are not rocket science and are so easy to do, just no one does them.

Whatever you find that makes you think they could use, send it to them. I've sent articles that I thought they could use, newspaper clippings. Off-line and on-line tools is another thing I look for. Any web links that would help their buisness. All I do once I find something is shoot them an email saying, "Hey, I think this might be of value to you."

However, when you send links NEVER include any affiliate links or anything like that. Just sending them information that would be of value to them.

Building a relationship and providing valuable information is what you should focus on - not making a quick buck. If you try this they will see right through you and you will wreck any chance of building a relationship with them.

The strategies I have listed in this article are all ones I have used and have been able to leverage those efforts into building great relationships with my mentors, and future joint venture partners. From that all different kinds of projects have sprung up with these people. If you just focus on building a foundation with your mentors it is amazing what can come of it.

< Prev		Next >