How To Turn Competitors Into Partners, Easily

[Andre Stoelinga]

I agree there's lots of places where one could find potential partners, but that's where it usually stays...potential partners.
To find reliable partners who really want to do a proper JV is a lot harder lately...so I've learned the hard way.

I'm finally getting through to a few very good potential partners who saw my product and think it's a great product with huge potential. First I'm trying to keep in touch with them regularly...not begging them to promote for me, but just conversation, tips, questions, etc..

To have the best product in the world won't mean people want to do a JV with you though. For quite some time I couldn't show them any conversion rate numbers (still can't prove EPC), because I had no effective way to draw traffic to the page. But hopefully that will change soon. I've been asked if my product can be used for an upsell on a promising launch...that's already something innit...

From the 50 you approach you can probably count on 1 or 2 who are actually interested in working with you. That's what I've seen up till now. Once your name is more known in your market I believe it's easier to find better and more partners. But it's still "I scratch your back, you scratch mine...". Logically I'd say and it will always be like this when you're starting out with your first serious product.

Andre

[Dee Kumar]

I agree there's lots of places where one could find potential partners, but that's where it usually stays...potential partners.
To find reliable partners who really want to do a proper JV is a lot harder lately...so I've learned the hard way.

Totally agree here. It all about the reach or influence that your potential JV's have.

The bigger the JV's potential the harder it is to get in touch because they are bombarded with requests. I was out of Marketing for years but I still get requests from people who remember me, I can only imagine what it is like for the more successful.

One method I have particular success with is to write guest posts REGULARLY for a well known blog. I currently write for Entrepreneurs Journey and it gives me a lot of credibility to say I write there (of course my writing is good too). That itself has helped open a lot of doors both to other successful writers there, and to marketers who sometimes peruse the site.

It's all about credibility online, and if you can prove that other known marketers trust you,then you have a good chance of getting through the gatekeeper.

My Twitter for example has barely 30 people on it, but some of them are well known online so I gain replies and respect whenever I message well known people.

It takes time to build relationships, but you can expedite the process by being seen with other successful people.

Dee Kumar