This started as a reply to Dan's post:
http://www.jvnotifypro.com/community...ic,3688.0.html
But then I went off on a bit of a tangent (go figure, right?) ...
Instead, I ended up covering some pointers of how to get credibility, leads, name exposure and product sales VERY fast in true JVs (not just what often gets labelled as a JV which is basically "go sell my stuff")
re: your point about "if I emailed Frank and asked him if he needs help" ... well that's the wrong attack plan.
Think of what you could do for him... pitch the service THEN make it free (in trade for X).
Specify all that.
I'm no Frank, but I've had a good handful of emails or skype messages over the years saying "Rob, can I work for you for free in trade for a bit of your time". Okay, well I know they'd like a bit of my time in trade. still general but that helps, but what specifically are they good at? What are they at a competent level at? Where do they feel I could leverage their time and skills?
Anyways... I *DO* agree that a great way to get in the door with someone (whether "IM guru" or other) is to propose an irresistable offer. And if that means you'd ghostwrite something, product develop something, research something (or whatever) then the trade-off might become a very irresistable offer.
It also tells the individual that you're serious enough AND value your time/guidance enough that you're willing to tip the scales greatly in their favor.
Same principle applies to first products.
There are a lot of people with GREAT product ideas... ideas that just sit there untapped. Or great products... products that never got proper distribution, never got proper exposure. I'm not much for product development myself. I more enjoy sales system development, creative buzz strategies, networking, advertising strategies, etc. But if I was gung-ho creating great products, you can bet that I'd be getting in touch with relevant authorities who have the distribution I want.
Someone who can get 50,000 people to read an offer just from a couple of emails can mean 1500 sales of my fancy $49 XYZ Product. That's $70k sitting there. So you can be sure that my approach to that contact would initially be "I'll develop the product, the funnel and everything on my time and my dime... you can tweak it and brand it to your needs... YOU will get ownership, I'll simply be introduced as co-creator and you walk with 90% of sales but I get access to the leads that opt-in for this".
I did ALL the work. I created the awesome product. Yet I'll HAPPILY take 10% (if I was just getting started! no today of course!) because that's $7k in my pocket based on my example JUST from his mailing let alone affiliate promotions. BUT what else did I gain that's worth infinitely more to me? Association with that top name (as co-creator) so now I have the attention of all others in the market. I get access to the leads associated with this campaign letting me mail a future offer to them. And I get a case study/testimonial from this JV of how much my creativity and efforts made this big name expert... I simply go flip that into more and more projects.
A very quick way to gain credibility among elite, top established experts.
A very quick way to gain access to tens of thousands of leads.
And a nearly fail-safe way to ensure you generate healthy 4-figures or even 5-figures from all your initial products.
Not many people take that approach though. Too bad.
They don't let them realize the simple fact that the MONEY is in the distribution.
There are great books, great musicians, great ideas everywhere that never get the distribution wheels turning.
So if that massively powerful asset is what you want to tap into... know the "big picture" and really jump in to capitalize fast and big from it.
By the way... the above is equally true in all sorts of niches/industries/business models. There are heavy hitters and major player companies in anything. If you want access to their credibility and their distribution, be prepared to REALLY tip the offer in their favor to make it irresistible.
ADVANCED TIP: Have some float money? Know a great product developer or ghostwriter with a tonne of talent and very strong work ethic? Make the above offer to the top guys as you would but pay the ghostwriter/ product developer to create the product for you. They get paid. You get a product that you can setup an amazingly powerful JV with. Just something to chew on...