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Willie Crawford
06-18-2008, 06:36 AM
Why No One Will Promote YOUR Product
Copyright 2008 by Willie Crawford

At a recent JV Alert Live Seminar, I interacted with
dozens of people with products that they were rolling
out or looking for joint venture partners for.

Some of these products were absolutely brilliant, and
something that the market was clamoring for, so I
knew that they “could” do well.

Other discussions that I had with product creators led
to me jotting down a few important considerations that
I'd like to share with you. These are reasons why you
may be having a hard time getting joint venture partners
to promote your products or projects.

I framed this in the form of what I "may" have been
thinking as some products/projects were explained to
me.

1) "Nice Box But What Does It Do (In plain English
please)?"

If you can't explain exactly what your product does,
in terms that your potential JV partners can understand,
then how do you expect them to explain it to their potential
customers. If your explanation confuses a potential
partner then it's certainly going to confuse potential
customers who don't have the benefit of asking you 100
questions about the product.


2) Is The Market Big Enough?

Most of your potential JV partners do limit how many
products they promote and how many promotions they send
to their clients. They want something that's going to
appeal to a large enough segment of their list.

They definitely DON'T want most of their subscribers asking,
"Why did you tell ME about this product?"

Properly structuring a promotion can be hard work, so
they want something that appeals to enough prospects to
make all of that work worthwhile.

3) That's A Commodity - What's The Hidden Benefit?

If your product is just a variation of something that
fifty people have already offered to the market over the
past three years, only with slight variations, what about
your version is different?

You need to frame that difference in terms of a benefit...
ideally a benefit that most of your competitors have
overlooked. Ted Nicholas teaches marketers to find the
hidden benefit. Point out the obvious benefits, but also
point out benefits of your product that are less obvious.

The strange thing is that even if your product is nearly
identical to a dozen others, if you DO point out hidden
benefits that potential customers really care about, then
your product is "different" and "exciting" in their minds.

If many of your potential JV partners just wanted to
promote a commodity, it would often make more sense for
them to develop their own. Inexpensive ghost writers and
programmers are everywhere. You need something that's
not just a commodity.

You also need a product that not too easily duplicated since,
unfortunately, if it’s easily duplicated, it usually will be!

4) Dimes Don't Excite Me!

All things being equal, a potential JV partner is going
to get more excited about a product that pays them several
hundred dollars per sale than they are about a product
that pays them only $20. It usually takes about the same
amount of "work" to sell either product, and often your JV
partners have dozens of their own lower-end products.

When you ask someone to promote an inexpensive lead
generator, most of your savvy potential partners see that
as you just asking them to build your list. Many will
politely decline.

5) What Makes You Think That The Market Wants It?

FAR too many brilliant people have trouble acknowledging
that just because they think that something is needed by
the market doesn't mean that anyone will buy it.

People don't buy what they need. They don't generally
buy prevention! They buy things that they want. They
buy relief from pain. They buy pleasure. They buy safety
... if they feel really threatened.

If you offer the market anything other than something
they are already screaming for, and already buying from
your competitors in massive quantities, then you face
an uphill battle.

Your potential JV partners don't like selling items
that the market is not already convinced that it wants
... at least not the successful ones. Experience has
taught them that when they promote things that they
have to educate the market about, it's a losing battle.

6) Nice... But Here's What I'm Working On!

In many niches, like "Internet marketing," most of your
ideal joint venture partners have projects of their own
that they are looking for help in promoting.

When you approach a potential JV partner who has his
OWN launch in a week, they simply don't hear you when
you're talking about your “new blue widget.” If anything,
they're looking to see how the two projects might
dove-tail.

In a seminar environment, or even on a discussion
forum, it's usually better to introduce yourself, and
then ask what the other person is working on. Look for
ways to help them, and in the process invoke the law
of reciprocity.

You might also discover a more profitable project that
you should be involved in than your own. Don't get so
"married" to your project that you're unwilling to
recognize something that makes more sense for you to
invest your time and energy in.

At a minimum, be frank and suggest that you're willing
to swap promotions... provided their product is of very
high quality and a match for their market.

Pitching someone who has 100% of their attention on
their own project can best be done by talking about
their favorite topic... their project!

7) That's A Threat To My Project

Many products are direct competitor to others' products,
or counter-productive to their purpose. So, naturally
those people will NOT promote your product.

An extreme example would be asking someone who has
spent YEARS developing a list of big-ticket buyers,
who routinely buy $5000 packages, to promote your $27
ebook. That generally goes counter to the conditioning
of their list... and causes them to send out an
incongruent message.

Another example would be asking someone running a
membership site to market a product that negates the
need for their site. I have seen this happen :-)

I could list a dozen more reasons why potential joint
venture partners might decline to promote your project,
but that would make this "rant" too long.

Instead, let's end with the real message. When you
approach a potential joint venture partner, ask yourself
what's in it for them, and why they would want to
promote your product.

How will promoting your product help them, their customers,
and things that THEY care about. Be realistic enough to
realize that they don't generally lose sleep at night
over your project. Only you do, which makes getting the
message out about your product... your problem.

That problem goes away if you address the seven issues
listed above. Simple approach the whole topic from the
other person's perspective ;-)

-------------------

Willie Crawford is an internationally-acclaimed speaker,
author, seminar and radio show host, and leading Internet
marketing expert. When not out fishing in the Gulf of Mexico,
Willie can be found sharing his 11 1/2 years of online marketing
experience with members of The Internet Marketing Inner Circle.
Join them at: http://TheInternetMarketingInnerCircle.com

Scott Brooks
06-18-2008, 05:57 PM
These are great. I am launching a product early in August, so these tips will prove quite beneficial to me. Thanks Willie.

charleskirkland
06-19-2008, 11:38 AM
Willie

Is a legend in the IM field and this just goes to show why. Plus the fact that he can fly aircraft is cool also.

Charles

J.D. Mosley-Matchett
06-26-2008, 10:46 PM
Another bullseye, Willie!

What you're saying is so true. It's the essence of marketing when you're trying to "sell" a potential JV on the benefits of your shiny new product: it's not about the product, IT'S ABOUT THEM!

Tuning into WII-FM is the only way to generate sales! (WII-FM = What's In It For Me?) Just remember that the "Me" is always "Them" and not "You"! (Hard to do when you've been living, working, breathing, and believing whatever it is you've created and are now trying to pitch.)

I used to tell my students that the best sounding board they can ever have is someone who will tell them that their "baby" is ugly. (In this case, the "baby" is a product or project, but the analogy still holds.) In general, all babies look pretty much the same, but all parents believe that THEIR baby is the most wonderful, beautiful, fascinating, and entertaining baby, EVER. They believe this, even if their baby isn't really all that amazing from an objective point of view.

But most people, being polite, usually won't tell someone that their baby is ugly. And most parents really wouldn't believe it, even if they were told.

Your article, Willie, tells the plain truth. Hopefully all the newbies trotting their first "babies" out to market will take your words to heart and consider all the right ways to "pretty up" their darlings before introducing them to the world!

Steven Ng
07-14-2008, 11:56 PM
Thanks Willie. That's really a informative article especially for a newbie like me.

lakshay
07-31-2008, 09:31 PM
Hi Willie!

I have never really introduced myself to you, but I am a "huge" follower of you right from WF to many social networking sites. I have seen your marketing and after going through any of the content that you post, I usually have just one word to say- "Marvellous"....

Thanks for this insightful article. I am sure we are all ready to learn from you!

-Lakshay

Romell Weekly
08-07-2008, 02:13 AM
Thanks for the informative article, Willie. It's definitely helpful. I appreciate it a lot!

Romell

James Reilly
08-23-2008, 10:56 AM
Hi Willie

Thanks for the post, informative. ive not been to any live seminars yet, but i am hoping to in the future, i have websites but i dont really have a product as of yet, im trying NOW to change what im reading to what im doing.

Again EXCELLENT information


James

bunch
08-23-2008, 06:18 PM
This is certainly going to help me,
I always fumble up when trying to explain things.
I always feel I gave all the information there was
to give and still get questions.

Great post!

Mustang
04-06-2009, 02:37 PM
I will print out this article and use the advice before my own launch. Really informative!

Paul Liburd
04-08-2009, 07:10 AM
true

jamesokai
04-17-2009, 08:52 PM
Such an informative post. Very handy to a newbie like me.

Thanks for that willie

Tim Wright
04-24-2009, 10:50 AM
Although I've been trying to work on the internet for some time, I am just now learning about JV's and working together with others to do online promotions.

I wish I had read this article when it was first released. Very informative and very helpful.

This kind of advice is invaluable for the long haul.

Thanks!

Tim Wright

Bill Macdonald
05-07-2009, 09:57 AM
Willie,

Fantastically informative article! I've been a successful marketer in the "bricks and mortar" world for years and I'm transitioning more and more to IM. It's great to get these nuggets from an established legend like you.

Enjoy that Gulf fishin'.

All the best,
Bill :)

TonyDJackson
05-14-2009, 11:44 AM
Excellent information Willie. I will save this article and it will motivate me to think WAY ahead about answering some of these questions before I build the shiny new toy.

Tony

Scott Hoehnke
06-01-2009, 11:45 AM
Thanks Mr. Crawford,

I have just saved your valuable information.

Thank you for sharing it.

Scott

Andy LaPointe
06-07-2009, 05:21 PM
Excellent post,

I printed this out and tacked it the bulletin board next to my desk. I'll make sure to read it before I approach an potential JV's in the future.

It's great insight to get the mindset right

Thanks,

Andy

Ephron
06-09-2009, 05:25 AM
Hi Willie...

I'm pretty brand new on this forum and your article will certainly help when I need to introduce my product to potential JV partners. It all really boils down to what can I can in order to receive...Thanks so much.

Ephron

1024bit
06-09-2009, 10:17 AM
yeah that is right - sometimes you get to a product that you don't really understand what it does or what benefits you have from - no wonder that the conversion of such products suck. - PS Some products are in a niche that you do not know - in this case is it difficult too, to promote the products

bobyeager
06-13-2009, 08:47 PM
Hey there Willie

Nice spending time with you at the private party during JV Alert Orlando.

You hit the nail on the head my friend. Funny, while I was speaking with you
and listening to your conversations with others I had noticed that you spent 80%
of your time listening to potential JVs answers, to your questions.

Smart tactic and it goes to show, as I had started learning from you years ago,
you still have much to teach those who even consider themselves experts :)

Ciao
Bob

dacahe
06-14-2009, 06:22 PM
Love the article, I'm preparing some launches in a few months so this is a god send, thanks to the forum cuz this post was from last year but it's still here for us to use.

Neil Rissler
06-22-2009, 01:52 PM
WOW! Great article. and definitely right there with the DUH! Why didn't I thank of that! concept. Putting yourself in the customer's/JV partner's shoes is a very overlooked concept. Great job.

behzad
07-04-2009, 06:19 AM
Although articles date is one year ago, but it is very informative and applies to todays market.

Thanks for your time for writing it Willie.

Adrian Castro
07-18-2009, 03:35 AM
Hi Willie,

Great informative article...

I like particularly the case of the $5,000 big ticket buyers being sold a $27 ebook!

Adrian

P.S. By the way is there any JV forum that focuses on big ticket buyers? I have a program that sells around $4,000 to $5,000 per unit.

Netinvestor
07-25-2009, 08:47 AM
Hey Willi,

this are great informations... i´ll think about it before i launch my product on Aug-11th

thanks.

have a nice weekend

patrick

Tina Meskhi
08-24-2009, 09:21 AM
Hi Willie,

I've been to several seminars but none have given as much content as I've had through this forum!
Thanks for the great tips which i'll be sure to apply in my next launch.

VisiTrak
09-04-2009, 10:25 PM
Willie,

Excellent post. I especially enjoyed the part about discovering the secret/hidden
benefits that distinguish my product from every thing else that is out there.

I do have one question for you to answer, if you could. Have you noticed any
tips, hints, suggestions, about discovering these hidden benefits and making
them come to the forefront of what you are selling?

If so, or if anyone else on the forum has some ideas, I would love to get some
feedback.

Thanks,

George

iijam
09-05-2009, 05:16 PM
Guru Willie,

You really walk the talk. I am pleased to be in this forum. Your knowledge and experience are highly appreciated! Even though i never been to your seminar your information really show the true about
your dedication to help others.

Thank you!

Nizam Shapie

P.S. Your product is AWESOME!

dev.null
09-15-2009, 12:17 AM
5) What Makes You Think That The Market Wants It?

FAR too many brilliant people have trouble acknowledging
that just because they think that something is needed by
the market doesn't mean that anyone will buy it.

People don't buy what they need. They don't generally
buy prevention! They buy things that they want. They
buy relief from pain. They buy pleasure. They buy safety
... if they feel really threatened.

If you offer the market anything other than something
they are already screaming for, and already buying from
your competitors in massive quantities, then you face
an uphill battle.

Your potential JV partners don't like selling items
that the market is not already convinced that it wants
... at least not the successful ones. Experience has
taught them that when they promote things that they
have to educate the market about, it's a losing battle.


Willie, this one hits me right between the eyes. How can I go about "educating" the market successfully?

Thanks for your great insight!

ferrygreat
11-26-2009, 04:07 PM
Great post man. It is true, all the points that you have described here determine a JV's sucess

ecashonly
12-14-2009, 08:28 PM
You know what...all that is true indeed. What get's me the most is the point about them not doing it because a high end paying one compared to a low one paying out about $20 or so uses the same amount of work... so they wont do it.

Well, they seem to have forgotten that they too were one time a newbie and needed all the help they could get. There are some gurus out there that genuinely do help others so I hope they continue to do so for the "small guy" who just wants to make some money to help himself and family too.

I got 2 sites just finished and not a single affilate yet BUT I'll keep at it.

Robert Kimsey
12-16-2009, 12:19 PM
For those newbies here is a recent post on Fran Kerns Blog that really ads some wisdom to this thread. Here is the link

http://masscontrolsite.com/blog/

Great words to live by as well as how to be successful in Internet Marketing

Thanks Frank and Willie ( two great Guru's)

Bob Kimsey
The Vhiper Network

Debi Davis
12-27-2009, 10:55 AM
Great stuff. Thank you.

Emmanuel inyang
01-05-2010, 07:59 PM
Great Article.

Giving Full Details of your Product is Extremely Important- don't just assume that They'll Understand.

A Few Tips I might Add:

-Offer Many Ways for Your Potential JV Partners to Contact you. If possible, add a phone number. This helps add trust.

-Add a Pic to your profile, asap (that is if you haven't already done this). Helps a lot!

@Robert Kimsey, You're Right, Frank Kern's Post is a must read.

-Emmanuel.

nicholas breen
01-10-2010, 03:57 PM
Great post Willie,

I think another one of the major problems is that people aren't focusing on the relationship.

I have contacted and talked to many big name marketers, and some of them I talk to often. I never asked them for anything.

I think the relationship must be established first before people just start barking requests down each others throat.

You have to think, some of the most well known marketers are probably getting 100 jv requests or more a day.

You would think they become numb to the fact that all people want is something from them.

They provide us with insane amounts of value for fractions of our income, in exchange we make more money. and all people want is more in return.

Tony Marriott
01-16-2010, 12:45 PM
Ok, so there are lots of stumbling blocks and hurdles to get over to get people to help you with your launch. Yes without the guys n girls with big lists launches would be very much less successful. Remember though that although you should always be thinking 'what's in it for them', the whole IM 'system' revolves around helping each other. It's almost a certainty that 99% of all currently successful marketers got there with the help of other and in turn they need to help the next generation. Truth is that if the top marketers simply helped themselves they would become a dying breed. They need the smaller people creating hundreds/thousands of make money products to show that the market really can make money for lots of people. This is the dream that keeps this market alive. This is what pulls in more new people (their customers) that make them rich.

jimproser
01-16-2010, 07:56 PM
Tony, I've posted a few offers for my teleseminar here and on the Warrior Forum. No responses. Would you take a look if I send you a few postings and let me know what you think the problem is?

saintemp
01-24-2010, 12:24 AM
Spoken like a true veteran and captain of the IM industry. Willie has always been a giver and the nuggets in this post are a prime example of that attitude.

But one other important source of promoters of your product is the customers of the product themselves, especially for a continuity program (http://simplesixfigures.biz) where members use the program and introduce other new members. This way, you don't have to rely heavily on IM'ers with huge lists.

akitmane
01-30-2010, 10:15 PM
thank you for this one, me too i'm going to launch my product as soon possible, i need just find JV partener, all materials and page are ready to launch, but i'm thinking to do pre-launch before launch!!

Marlene Kristensen
03-10-2010, 10:42 AM
You have some very important points here...

Im about to look for JV's and your post made me think about my offer... is it worth promoting for the JV's?

I might just have to think of a new way to present my product!

Thank you, for making me think :)

paul@SimpleOnlineIncome.c
03-22-2010, 12:11 PM
I am in the process of creating my own product...your points are very helfpful and noted
thanks

Kunj K
04-01-2010, 12:51 PM
This is a very informative article, thanks.

Number 6 is true, if you can find a way to complement their product, things are certain to fall into place!

Owen
08-26-2010, 08:33 PM
Your points are very helpful.

They will definitely benefit me.

Cheers,
Owen

Cassandra Ingraham
09-04-2010, 12:34 PM
As usual Mr. Crawford, your advice rings true. Going to introduce a different kind of JV in the coming days. Want to JV with members on a 12 Day Holy Land Cruise, Egypt, Greece, Turkey & Italy. The savings is in the group pricing. The payout is $50 for each sign-up and free cruise for 15 sign-ups. Free cruise can equate back to payout.

Emilis Strimaitis
10-16-2010, 02:38 AM
Well said Willie,

You are a very inspirational person.



Emilis Strimaitis

Geoffrey Awunyo
10-19-2010, 06:26 PM
Hi There,

Your info hit home hard. Thanks for letting this great info from the deep sea out.

Fiona
10-21-2010, 07:34 AM
Very valuable post. I used to have a big established brand and $$$ to throw at potential JVs, not to mention products which appealed to or were even a necessity for 90% of the adult population. It was not difficult to persuade people to promote us. It was a big pond.

Now I have a new brand with a reputation we're building and some niche software products. I am operating in a small pond. So, I will be considering all the valuable pointers stated here VERY carefully.

BUT, years ago I read 'The Art of War' by Sun Tzu. You can turn your weaknesses into your strengths. For others in the same situation as me who are perhaps offering a product with a more limited audience, do consider these advantages when approaching JVs:

- Your smaller, more limited audience probably converts at a much better rate than a mass audience being targeted with a more general product because:
- It is easier to identify your audience's need or 'want' and to fulfil it
- It is also easier to communicate how you will fulfil it
- It is easier to find where your audience is hanging out online
- Your competitor set is probably smaller
- You can therefore more easily develop a product with a truly unique USP
- Your target list of JVs is probably smaller
- Your target JVs may be more open to promoting your product by simple virtue of the fact that there are fewer products in that niche to promote to their audience
- You can work harder for your JVs because you don’t have as many
- Your JV’s audience is probably very loyal – niches and specialities tend to have a slower churn and burn rate

Anyway, I guess I'm saying that if you're worried about Willie's point 2) (Is the market big enough?), I think this can be overcome. To be honest, it has to be given we're always being told that newbie success lies in niches! But you should probably research who your ideal JVs would be before you even put your offer together so you can get the right points across in the right way. Now I need to practice what I preach......

Len Wright
10-26-2010, 03:46 PM
What an awesome article!

Thanks, Willie, you hit the nail directly on the head!

The value in that one article could literally save someone thousands of dollars and a huge amount of time!

It's great to have huge belief in your product, you have to of course, but just make sure your not so involved that you become blind to "what works" VS "what we want to work". Thanks again, Willie.

You the man, lol ;)

Len

Craig Michaels
11-07-2010, 01:34 AM
Great post, even though it's 2+ years in
the past there's a great deal to be learned
from it

Victor.C. Richefeller
11-13-2010, 01:42 AM
Just Wow!!!

You simply nailed it on the head.

Lovely post.

ninjatechs
11-27-2010, 10:15 AM
Thanks this is a really good direction all ims should take it provides detail and honesty. We dont get much honesty these days. You Rock.

adnerds
12-12-2010, 12:16 AM
I really got a lot from reading this post - thanks very much for your time in posting it!

Davidjames
12-13-2010, 02:14 PM
Well put Willie.

When I released my first product I had about a dozen people who claimed they would promote my product, but once it got down to promoting time, none of them were available. I definitely learned from my mistakes and will continue learning while I put together my newest products.

crwd
12-30-2010, 10:57 AM
Willie,

Thanks for laying this out in such a clear and understandable way. Even though a lot of it make logical sense, we usually get so attached to our own wants that we can easily loose sight of the basics.

nitroweb
01-04-2011, 02:50 AM
4 pages of raving comments :)

Mike Nguyen
01-12-2011, 04:43 PM
Awesome article, Wille. I have typed my own offer, yet I did not launch my product yet. Your article will help a lot in my launching. Thanks again.

Rajesh Gianchandani
03-28-2011, 06:19 AM
That is a great post. There should always be a USP in our proposal. Most JV partners will not promote a product which they themselves are not comfortable with.

Justin Atlan
03-28-2011, 10:21 PM
Great stuff Willie,

I too really think emphasizing the unique selling proposal is becoming more and more important (definitely in IM).

So many people seem to be selling the same junk. They are vague, hyped up, and unrealistic.

That's why I really tried to make my course different. It is about how to grow an IM business. No push button software really exists (to the extent in which it is advertised) and I think people are starting to realize that.

Georgina Lany
03-31-2011, 03:48 PM
Really great article Willy,

Thanks for sharing. This whole thread is really useful if you are planning a major product launch.

some key points I want to emphasize:

a, It takes the same effort to sell something for $27 or sell it for $97. If the customer wants it, they will buy it! This is the bottom line, if you product is good, they will buy it for higher price (and you attract more JVs that way)

b, There are soo much hype out there, it is crazy. now you "make money without even pushing a button", I am sure people got educated and not falling for these any more, thats why the best approach if you are honest and develop a honest product help people to learn, grow and make money the way big marketers do (the ones started 10y ago and making 100M+ a year)

Warm Regards,

Georgina

Chris Tucker
06-05-2011, 09:32 AM
Thanks Willie, this is great Info - This goes without saying, will take a lot of your comments into consideration for my next launch. By the way when approaching a potential JV partner, do your reasearch on the potential partner as conflict of interests may not get the results you are after.
Cheers
Chris

Chris Freville
06-09-2011, 06:32 AM
Willie Crawford is someone that everyone should take notice of! Back in 2007 I spent many hours driving to and from a day job I hated but I had Willie's "Inner Circle" Audio Interviews to keep me amused on the long journey.

The man is an inspiration as well as legend!

Rhoecus9 ecu
11-27-2018, 01:05 PM
Love the article, I'm preparing some launches in a few months so this is a god send, thanks to the forum cuz this post was from last year but it's still here for us to use.

Ellwood kleeefman
02-28-2019, 08:15 PM
Love the article, I'm preparing some launches in a few months so this is a god send, thanks to the forum cuz this post was from last year but it's still here for us to us

Jimmy Chappel
09-06-2019, 02:23 AM
This is good info from Willy even though it's about 11 years old now at the time of ready this. :cool: