Joseph Ratliff's Page

It is a lonely business world out there, isn’t it?

At least it seems that way.

You get up in the morning, pour a cup of Java, and in your PJ’s…head down to the monitor and start your day. Ho, hum, another business day. Some days it feels kind of lonely, doesn’t it?

The scenario above is one that is all too common in the internet business world. You make money online all by yourself.

So, what if you run into trouble? Who do you turn to?

The common answer I am given by my clients is a visit to a forum with your question. You post a question, and get your answer, and try to implement it within your business. Sometimes it works, and sometimes it doesn’t.

So, here is the secret I will reveal to you in this post…

Joint Ventures are more than just a way to make money online.

When developed effectively, you can create relationships within your Joint Venture circle where your JV Partners actually know your business intimately. A sort of Mastermind Group is formed. Each person in this JV circle will know the “secrets” that another doesn’t, and sharing those resources and secrets…combined with the intimate knowledge of each other’s businesses…can be a very powerful internet business weapon at your disposal for your own business online.

It’s not what you know, it’s who you know that will provide the easiest way to success.

So, how do you develop JV Partnerships?

Well, I can give you the one tool that is so underused and so misunderstood…that you have right now in your office (I hope)…that can unlock the potential for your internet business starting today!

Not your computer…

Not a pad of paper and pen…

Not the latest internet marketing gadget…

Not the best Internet Marketing Forum on the planet…

Nope…

The one tool that can set your internet business free is…

THE TELEPHONE!

Yep…find the contact information of your selected JV Partners, usually located at the bottom of a web page, or by doing a WHOIS search…

And freakin’ call the person (notice, this is a person, not a robot)!

Talk to them, or ask when a good time to schedule a call would be…to talk about a potentially beneficial business proposition for them.

Focus on them.

Them alone. Period. There is no one else, including you, who needs to benefit at first. Think “loss-leader” here, as the relationship that can be developed from your willingness to give and not get at first…can be priceless.

I will give you an example from my business.

Recently, back in about December 2007…I left a post on a blog operated by JP Maroney.

In case you don’t know who he is, he is nicknamed both a “Serial Entrepreneur” having started many businesses that have sold for millions of dollars…and “Mr. Monetizer” for his unique ability to help his clients make tons of cash very quickly.

Well, during the course of our discussions, we scheduled a phone call (there is that tool again).

And…I freely gave my time upfront…providing valuable insight that persuaded JP to totally change his focus on his newest venture, known as The Brain Trust.

I proceeded to donate even more of my time, without asking anything in return from JP (he will tell you this himself), and that led to…

A valuable partnership.

Now, I will help JP operate and run The Brain Trust. He offered this to me as a result of my willingness to provide and offer my unique talents to his new internet business venture.

The result? I have the opportunity to work alongside JP, and we will learn from each other…helping each of our businesses grow. You can find out the details about The Brain Trust at The Brain Trust blog here (opens in a new window).

That is what it takes to make what they call “the big money” in this business folks…solid relationships and Joint Ventures. You can’t do it all by yourself, so quit it…and pick up the phone and call someone!

Even me…who knows…if what you offer fits with my business model…I might be interested. The phone number is located on my contact page.

Feel free to comment on your Joint Venture experiences below…come on…don’t be shy! :)