As I have been taking the time the past couple of days to read up on some articles and review some training, I have learned about a very effective marketing and networking strategy called joint venture partnerships.  Joint venture partners are people who have the same type of customers as you do, but they are not competitors.  For example, an effective joint venture for me would not be a virtual assistant that provides the same services as I do.  Rather a profitable joint venture for me would be with small business owners, solo entrepreneurs, and independent professionals that provide other services to other small business owners, solo entrepreneurs, and independent professionals.

A healthy joint venture creates complementary services and solutions to their mutual set of clients.  As I thought more about this, the largest of companies have joint ventures that feed off each other.  For instance, a potato chip company needs sandwich shops to help sell their product.  Or restaurants need beverage companies to help their customers enjoy their specialties.

As of today, I have added it to my marketing strategy to further identify, research, network, and market joint venture ideas.  I have had one in place with Shari of Smart Solutions as mentioned in a prior article.  We just were not thinking in these exact terms.  Today my client, who is also an author and speaker, attends various networking functions.  We have worked out a partnership where we help promote each other at these events.  It is a definite WIN-WIN opportunity.

Do you have any ideas?

Other Links:

• http://www.greatsmallbusinessadvice.com/Articles/dailyactions.htm
• http://www.vajointventures.com/
• http://www.vanetworking.com/forum/Joint-Venture-t9815.html