What I have learned managing $1,046,000 in launches this year

[c4rves]

In my last launch I did some videos just for my affiliates on how to setup the tracking, various other things.
It amazing how much more effort the affiliates put in this time around.

[Netinvestor]

Thanks very useful your post..

regards Patrick

[Steve Benn]

Hi Brandon,

I think that is a really useful list! Ta very much!

[mr julian tion jr]

wow i love your web site..... i can see how this site works I'm new here i did book mark you

[Pieter van Schalkwyk]

Great post, thanks for sharing. I think it is important to see JV partners as "resellers" or part of your sales channel and devote the time and resources to training and supporting them in selling to the end user.

[Mark Salter]

Brandon is absolutely correct

Sell to your affiliates/JVs first and do all the grunt work for them.

My coming launch we are doing it slightly differently which will work well but costs us 20% of gross.

We provided the product with some major upgrades to make it extra special, a new Top sales page, Fantasos, Banners, Membership Card and a promo e-mail series that they can use to their list.

Since we are targeting JVs who will be doing e-mail promotions we did not create the additional material.

Now the difference on our launch is that we are using a JV Broker who after testing our site, sales process, affiliate process, payment process etc. will then sell the launch to their JV partners.

Managing Affiliates/JVs is a task so provide everything including a dedicated site+forum and/or hire an Affiliate/JV Manager and/or use a JV Broker.

In our case, I am more than happy to incur the 20% cost.

To everyone's success.

Regards
Mark

[behzad]

Thanks Brandon for very informative share. I have done some of the suggestions, but I was not aware of others.

I need to think again how to make my affiliates life more easier.

[Mike Merz]

One thing I did want to mention before the wrong impression is taken ... let's not assume that 'affiliates' and 'JV partners' are one in the same.

Just because what we've come to know as 'JV Marketing' has become almost entirely associated with the endorsed mailing version of a Joint Venture, a JV Partner is not necessarily someone that simply gets on board your launch as an affiliate, promotes for you like an affiliate ... and that's the end of the relationship. In that case, you may just as well ask them if they'd like to join your Affiliate Program and be done with it.

JV relationships are built one at a time, and nurtured via brainstorming, input regarding all facets of product creation and launch, co promotion, and reciprocation ... mutual gain, not one way promotion for commission.

One thing I've noticed that is KILLING JV Marketing is merchants doing little more than trawling more affiliates ... NOT true JV Partners for the long haul, using multiple JV Brokers to bring in as many 'JV Partners' as possible. JV relationships are one on one, not communicated entirely via mass broadcast ... and they are ongoing, mutually ... not one way, one shot deals.

So ... Please, DON'T confuse creating new relationships with JV Partners with simply bringing on affiliates. You'll suck the exclusivity right out of your promotion, and find yourself with more tire kickers and freebie seekers than anything else ... as the real successful JV Marketers go on to create Strategic Alliances ... and blow you out of the water.

Remember ... take care of those that take care of you, and you'll wind up on top more times than not. Work at getting as close to guaranteeing follow through as possible, rather than bringing on board every Tom, Dick, and Harry ... and hoping you've chose the right carrot to dangle to gain their interest and participation.

With that ... Happy Independence Day for My Fellow Americans, and a healthy and safe weekend for everybody else.

Mike

[BrandonFredrickson]

Thanks everyone for the feedback and positive response to this thread. I'm thrilled to see that so many people have taken value from it.

I had actually never planned to create my own content again in my life. I've been having a great time doing launch management for people and strategic marketing consulting. I'm really excited about the upcoming Jeff Walker Product Launch Manager program, which I will be attending. It's been a lot of fun, and I feel like I'm actually helping other people to live their own dreams while also making a nice living for myself as well, so it's been very rewarding.

In any event, the response I have gotten to this particular post has gotten me thinking, and I think that there is a great need for a course that shows people how to really maximize the value they get from affiliates and JV partners. The difference between a $100,000 launch and a $1,000,000 one really can be in the way you interact with and treat your affiliates and JV partners.

I'm up to just over $2million now in launches, and I really think that 70%+ of that can be traced back to how easy I make things for affiliates and JVs. The other unique thing I've created is a "perpetual launch" model, which will be being tested out by Susan Lassiter (real estate) and Jullian Foxx (pick up artist) in the coming months. I think that is something can will be a game changer, and I'm really excited about it.

In any case, I'm going to get working on a course because I think it will be of huge value to those that buy it. It might take awhile for me to get it because I already have 5 launches on my calender for clients this year, plus 4 other clients who are not doing launches but I manage their owngoing marketing efforts. October, January and Febuary are the months I've always found to be the best for launches in the niche's I've been active in, and so I would assume IM is the same. It's doubtful I can have something Id be proud of finished by October, so most likely January or Febuary.

Brandon

[Raybee]

Mike,

Thanks for the clarification between affiliates and JV partners. I am new here and I would like to eventually become a JV partner.

Thanks again,

Ray