Building Business Partnerships Top 5 to Do’s

As a small business owner or business development executive there are several things to remember to do when establishing new joint venture marketing business partnerships. The following is a list of critical items to be conscious of when building business partnerships that will make sure your business finds the right partners and mutually beneficial business deals that maximize the opportunities and results in growing your company. All business partnerships have their positive and negatives, however as a business executive it is critical that you understand the risks and areas to focus on to reduce small problems from turning into deal killers.

Top 5 To Do’s When Building Business Partnerships

1. Research – It is nearly impossible to build successful business partnership without doing a considerable amount of market research and analyzing the business of potential partners. Failing to adequately understand a prospective partner can only lead to future problems. This could be something as straightforward as not having access to the right client base or simply being a mismatch culturally. Therefore it is absolutely necessary to spend the time and resources to research the opportunity fully.

2. Examine Customer Base – Before finalizing a partnership that promises to give your brand or products access to new customers, request customer demographic data and information on a couple of their key customers that can be cross referenced.

3. Meet in Person – In-person meetings with the executive management of the potential business partner is always better. While most communication can occur in the traditional forms of email and phone calls, it is best to ask for an in-person meeting very early on in the process when determining whether a business is a good candidate for a partnership.

4. Develop Performance Based Incentives – Depending on the nature of the business partnership that you’re creating, compensation can come in many different forms. Packages that include revenue shares and/or bonuses will ultimately reap more rewards compared to partnerships that do not include performance based incentives for growing the partnership. Be sure to include methods for compensating specific team members as some will be capable of selling more than their peers. You may also want to offer bonus incentives to the sales team as a whole for their combined efforts.

5. Hire Experts to Eliminate Errors – Small business owners need support in executing successful partnerships and maintaining focus on existing customers and product development. Enlisting outside support will ensure the partnership is built properly. Hire a lawyer that can provide a partnership template that can be used for drafting the agreement between the two companies. Using a template will reduce legal fees when forming future partnerships simply by having a lawyer finalize and sign off on any adjustments to the template with each new partner.

You may also want to find a business consultant that specializes in joint venture marketing partnerships. These consultants will save you valuable time by identifying new partners and making first contact. Hire the right consultant and you can get your foot in the door with your dream business partners and have their expertise at your disposal required to draft a partnership agreement that will ensure a profitable business relationship.

Keep these ideas in mind the next time you are in charge of building a business partnership and you will be much more likely to align with the right partner, in a mutually beneficial relationship that can be put together in a relatively quick time frame.

Christian Fea is CEO of Synertegic, Inc. A Joint Venture Marketing firm. He exemplifies how to profit from Joint Venture relationships by creating profit centers with minimal risk and maximum profitability.

Discover more Joint Venture Marketing Strategies join his free report on Joint Venture Marketing.

Joint Venture Risks To Be Prepared For

Regardless, if this is your first joint venture marketing relationship or fiftieth already in place there are several items that are important to be aware of to minimize the risks that may jeopardize your existing business operations. When announcing a new joint venture make sure that potential problems with customers have been identified so they can be resolved asap. Keep a good line of communication with decision makers from the partner company to ensure fast resolution to any problems can be communicated to all key individuals responsible for handling the partnership. Understand the way your partner company operates and develop relationships with the key individuals that need to be on board in order for the relationship to be successful.

Customer Problems

Identifying where there may be a potential customer problem is the number one joint venture risk, if someone does not perform, an existing customer could potentially be lost. If this occurs because of how a partner serviced the customers’ needs and acted during the process than it’s a poor reflection on both companies and harms both businesses. As soon as a business makes a recommendation they are also responsible in the consumers’ minds for their experience with the partner business. If they get turned off by their actions they may quickly take their business elsewhere altogether. The best thing is to make sure and do a blind test with a new partner so you are 100% confident of how the new partner will be receiving and servicing the clients referred over. If only quality partners are brought into the business model and they fit in terms of industry and customer bases then there should not be problems with customer interactions or any confusion among customers as to what is the purpose of the new joint venture.

Communication Failures

Setting up a new joint venture is usually the easiest part of the whole marketing strategy, however failing to be properly communicate while implementing everything required is a significant risk. If a business is not fully capable of honoring the details in the joint venture agreement it is not worth moving forward with the marketing partnership. It is absolutely mandatory that both parties have clear and open communication channels with the individuals that are directly controlling the process from receiving a new business lead, selling, and then servicing the customer’s needs. To eliminate risks it is vital that communication channels are clearly defined and counterparts from both companies communicate regularly.

If there is a communication breakdown between joint venture companies when both are servicing a company and they need to work together in order to meet deadlines on a project it can be catastrophic to the relationship quickly. Other communication failures that often occur are failing to follow each item in the JV agreement from things as simple to not sending an approval email before going to print with marketing collateral to as severe as not properly reporting all sales transactions as determined in the agreement. Failure to communicate according to everyone’s expectations is a big reason many joint ventures eventually stop working or fail to get going after the initial agreement is put in place.

Internal Company Issues

It is vital when assessing potential risks that are present with a new joint venture marketing partner to learn about the company’s culture, decision making process, and who the real catalysts and decision makers are within a company or division. Failing to know who is really making the decisions regarding supporting a joint venture is a major risk. When developing a significant JV marketing relationship it can be vital to wine and dine decision makers as well as people that are potential gate keepers to those decision makers. When everyone in a company is supporting a new joint venture the chance for failure is reduced. It is a significant risk to do a joint venture if only one or two people are on board with the partnership for whatever internal reasons and success will involve more than the one or two that are committed.

Develop strong relationships with the individuals participating in a joint venture to ensure you have great communication and fully understand the purpose of the JV from the other company’s perspective and you will reduce your joint venture risks and be more at ease entering a new business relationship.

Christian Fea is CEO of Synertegic, Inc. A Joint Venture Marketing firm. He exemplifies how to profit from Joint Venture relationships by creating profit centers with minimal risk and maximum profitability.

To discover more Joint Venture Marketing Strategies join his free report on Joint Venture Marketing.

Lessons Learned From High Profile Joint Venture Examples

Business news headlines feature successful joint venture examples throughout the marketplace, and across industries. Their success showcase reasons why joint ventures make sound business sense for companies. One reason includes the ability to share the expenses of launching a new product line related to research and development. Pooling their technological resources is another significant advantage. Additionally, joint ventures don’t usually face the same stringent government regulation that normally haunts mergers.

Driving to joint venture success

In the automobile industry recent joint venture examples include the successful teaming of Ford and Mazda. Dubbed ‘The Auto Alliance International’, which began with Ford’s idle body-casting center located in Michigan. When Mazda embarked on an expansion program, they paid for the plant and used it to build their vehicles. Later, Ford wanted a piece of the action and reached an agreement with Mazda to buy back a 50 percent stake in the property. Today this site produces both Ford Mustangs and the Mazda RXs. This is a picture perfect model for those looking for an example of how even competitors can work harmoniously toward their own goals.

A prescription for joint venture success

The pharmaceutical sector in recent years has seen several successful joint venture examples as the industry continually seeks ways to reduce the costs of research and marketing. Novartis and Procter & Gamble joined up and brought the drug Enablex to the marketplace together. At one point, Novartis was marketing the drug as Emselex, a prescription offered to patients for the treatment of incontinence. Eventually, Novartis sold the U.S. rights exclusively to Warner Chilcott. By saving money on the front end with their first joint venture agreement, Novartis was able to make their business attractive to other bidders. Currently, Enablex has an estimated 25 percent market share globally.

When considering a joint venture partnership, it’s necessary to keep your eye on moving the ball down the field toward success. If the long-term goal is to sell off the separate entity, remaining lean but sound is critical to attract future offers.

Mobile industry joint ventures

Successful joint venture examples in the fast growing mobile industry include Sony Ericsson. Sony, the popular company from Japan, is well known for its excellence in marketing electronics globally. The hallmark of the Swedish company Ericsson is the technology they have produced aimed at telecoms. The two formed a hard to beat alliance producing high quality mobile phones. The two companies tapped into their extensive marketing network, and stellar reputations to create a strong alliance.

Look around your community or industry to identify market leaders, which offer products, or services that can compliment your business efforts. A bookkeeping provider does not have the same expertise as a tax professional. They perhaps would consider forming a partnership with a tax firm because their clients need this service. On the other hand, a tax attorney or firm does not want the daily or monthly management responsibilities related to bookkeeping. Together, a joint venture will allow the two partners to expand their knowledge, personnel and customer base.

Christian Fea is CEO of Synertegic, Inc. A Joint Venture Marketing firm. He exemplifies how to profit from Joint Venture relationships by creating profit centers with minimal risk and maximum profitability.

To discover more Joint Venture Marketing Strategies join his free report on Joint Venture Marketing.

Common Joint Venture Risks And Effective Solutions

Considering all possible joint venture risks carefully before potential partners finalize their agreement is essential. This should continue throughout the lifetime of the partnership. The process of partnering with a different business is not always a walk in the park. However; the time investment for a full assessment is worthwhile to ensure the partnership runs as smoothly as possible. Both sides need to fully understand the risks involved with integrating personnel and the relevant financial fundamentals of the each other’s businesses.

What are your objectives of the joint venture?

It’s important to communicate the objectives of all partners with the shareholders. Otherwise an unknown or unidentified conflict of interest may arise. Keep in mind that during the planning stage of the partnership, each side is in a “wooing phase” and on their best behavior. Enjoy it while it lasts. Be prepared for the end of the honeymoon because it will end. If goals, responsibilities and roles are not clearly outlined, a more assertive partner may attempt to impose their objectives and goals absent a thoroughly planned agreement.

Some of the more prominent joint venture risks include; differing ideas on how to raise capital, financing agreements, and spending philosophies. Be sure to consider whether the JV operations will be capital-intensive or labor intensive. One partner might prefer heavy investment in machinery or technology for a competitive edge. The other may prefer more investment in labor-intensive techniques to avoid tying up capital.

Other common risks may involve personnel and staff integration. The two teams are perhaps worlds apart in terms of expertise, and technical sophistication. Often it requires expensive training to bring the other side up to speed. The new JV partners may also encounter a deep-rooted resistance to change from their respective staff. The risks abound when employees remain too entrenched in their previous philosophies, corporate culture and work environment. Territorial battles ensue over the new system, and non-compliance often leads to increased staff-turnover.

Joint venture risks related to intellectual property and financial information

Another area of contention is how much information to share. It may not be necessary or required to provide the other partner full access to something like production secrets. A number of joint venture marketing agreements are between two related, but not directly competing businesses. A soft drink manufacturer might enter into a partnership with a confectionaries producer. In such a partnership, the soft drink manufacturer would not necessarily find the need to share their soft drink formula and vice versa.

Joint venture risks dependent on capital spending can arise when one side refuses to share exact details related to their financial backers. Sometimes there is reluctance to offer the full details about future investors out of fear the potential partner will contact the investor directly. This leaves their prospective partner concerned that they do not have a true financial picture.

Being aware of the potential risks involved in a joint venture partnership is not enough. Efforts should be taken to protect each company as much as possible from the adverse effects of poor planning and the lack of a thorough evaluation. Building the right relationship from the start is ideal. This should minimize ill feelings that could develop between the new teammates. Adequate research, negotiation and compromise are necessary when developing shared objectives in a joint venture.

Christian Fea is CEO of Synertegic, Inc. A Joint Venture Marketing firm. He exemplifies how to profit from Joint Venture relationships by creating profit centers with minimal risk and maximum profitability.

To discover more Joint Venture Marketing Strategies join his free report on Joint Venture Marketing.

Effectively Integrating Your Joint Venture with Social Media

Developing an effective strategic plan to integrate your joint venture and social media is essential for growth. In nearly every industry, social media influence has led to major changes in how joint venture partners do business. Finding and communicating with their customers are the two primary goals.

The tools for a joint venture and social media

Over the last ten years businesses have increasingly diversified their advertising budget to include online resources. The first wave of change was creating appealing and informative websites. The last three years have seen the rapid integration of joint venture and social media profiles for products or services with these websites. For a business with a large product line and customers from all corners of the globe, using these tools are practically required. The building blocks of your strategy is a website featuring links to your profile on Facebook or Twitter. YouTube is also very helpful, especially when educating customers about a new offering. For a business-to-business focused joint venture, LinkedIn is an essential social media channel. One of the newest trends is geotagging your social media content.

Using social media to communicate with joint venture customers

Whether it is breaking news or building product buzz, social media has accelerated the sharing of information. It’s not an exaggeration to use the cliche “faster than the speed of light” when referring to how quickly a joint venture can send information. Governments and businesses continue to learn how important it is be ahead of the information curve about their organization. Over the last three years, we have witnessed how quickly word can travel thanks to social media whether it’s positive or not.

A brief mention of a “fly-in-my-soup” kind of experiences can spread within minutes thanks to the exponential growth of social media usage via mobile tools. If an influential user with a smartphone posts a complaint on Twitter, it is retweeted five times within minutes of sharing. And that is just the beginning. This is damaging for banks or blue-chip companies. But the average neighborhood shop or small business might find themselves severally hampered by a critical review or unconfirmed rumor. These types of joint ventures thrive on their reputation and a damaging social media image can hamper growth.

Facebook has become one of the top three search tools consumers use to learn more about a company’s product or services. It is also the first place they go online when not pleased with customer service or the product they bought. At the bare minimum you should set up a free Google Alert via email for the name of your product or service. Choose the as-it-happens option for delivery. The faster you respond to criticisms as well as compliments, the better.

Relationship building with your customer

The ongoing integration of your joint venture and social media communication is a key method of building relationships with your customers. Allowing your customers to have the opportunity to join a dialogue with you is a great way of building trust. Consistent and quality content shared via social media allows your joint venture to quietly stay on the radar of your potential customer. Perhaps they do not need event planning help today, but what about next month? If they read on Twitter your party planning how-to tips regularly, then when they need the services of an event planner, you might be the first call.

Christian Fea is CEO of Synertegic, Inc. A Joint Venture Marketing firm. He exemplifies how to profit from Joint Venture relationships by creating profit centers with minimal risk and maximum profitability.

To discover more Joint Venture Marketing Strategies join his free report on Joint Venture Marketing.