Within this article I want to discuss strategies on how to build relationships with your mentors and possibly future joint venture partners. If you want to be able to eventually work with and learn from these world-class mentors, building a relationship with them is key. What I am going to discuss with you are very easy and cheap - they will cost you nothing - ways to build those relationships with your mentors.
The first thing - make sure you make a note of this, underline it, circle it, make a star beside it. Participate. That's the word I want you to write down. Whenever your given the opportunity - participate.
When I was first getting started, I was unknown, completely unknown. During my first time at John Childers' Million Dollar Speaker Training, he taught me a very important buisness lesson. "It's not what you know, or who you know. It's who knows you."
What I'm trying to get through to you is to get known. Your mentors will give you opportunities to 'participate' so make sure you take advantage of it and they may turn into future joint venture partners.
Here is a few ways you can participate. Give feedback on anything they are asking about. Whether it be feedback on a new project, or answering a question they asked to their email list, give it. Ask them questions. Participate in everything you can. It's logic - the more you participate, the more they are going to get to know you and, which is very crucial.
Here's another strategy, provide testimonials. A lot of people underestimate this tip, but it can make a big difference. When I say give testimonials, I don't mean "normal" testimonials either. What I mean is give the best testimonials you have given and send a picture of yourself that they can use.
In fact, send testimonials even when no one has asked for them. Do you know how many times I have done that and then been put up on their websites? This is a strategy that I learned from Alex Mandossian.
When I was just starting out in this business I noticed that almost every website I visited had a testimonial from Alex Mandossian. Can you guess how effective that strategy was for him?
It was only later talking to him I found out that by putting up testimonials on other people's websites he was getting all kinda of leads and business to his own website. This example should show that you really have to learn how to give good testimonials and give them even when they aren't being asked for.
Being specific and relevant to a measurable benefit is an example of what a good testimonials should include.
Recently I had an awesome testimonial left as part of a testimonial contest for a teleseminar of mine. This gentlemen stated his name, where he was calling from and gave one specific benefit he received from listening to the call.
This is a very easy way to get your testimonials onto other people's websites. When you send a picture along with it there is a good chance they will post a link to your website as well, which is only going to help you generate traffic, giving you all sorts of benefits.
Two, it also helps build the relationship with your mentors/future joint venture partners.
Here's another strategy: Participate in forums. Many people have their own forum. There's all kinds of forums out there online in just about every kind of industry.
Whether you're in that market or whether you're not, I want you to seek out forums that you can participate in and give lots of content, tips, resources, anything in these forums. Get yourself known.
Reading people's newsletters and scouring them for important personal insights and details is another thing I want you to do.
Here's some things you should constantly look for. Any birthdays, whether it be the specific person who writes the newsletter or their wife, husband or even their kids. Look for birth dates and then send them cards or a happy birthday E-mail, or perhaps even an audio postcards.
Use these important dates to build up your relationship with them. Any dates from their anniversary to product launch dates are all things you should be looking for and making a note of.
Always look to offer help to your mentors or future joint venture partners. You wouldn't believe the response that you will get when you ask somebody if there's anything that you can do to help them in their business.
For example, if you know they have a big even for their business, like a seminar or product launch, you could offer to help specifically with that. By doing this they will know that you've been paying attention to their business. Also, you'll surprise them with your offer and you will stand out from the crowd for doing so.
Another trick I've used is to send some information to these people that might be of value to them. Look to constantly build a good relationship with these people. These strategies are not rocket science. These are simple strategies, but nobody uses them.
Anything I come across and think it would be of value to them, I send it their way. Articles that they could extract from, website links, resources online. Even off-line tools and newspaper clippings work. All I do is shoot them an e-mail saying, "Hey, I think this might be of value to you."
One thing you want to make sure you don't do is include affiliate links or anything like that. Focus on only sending them information that will be of value to them.
Your focus is on building a relationship and providing value - not making a quick buck. They'll see right through that and you'll ruin any chance of a long-term relationship.
Those are all strategies that I've used and then I leverage those efforts in to all kinds of great relationships with all my mentors, and future joint venture partners. It's resulted in all kinds of projects with all these people. It's just amazing what will happen when you focus on building a foundation with all of these individuals.
About the Author:
Answers to all the major business questions you have are only seconds away. With live and recorded, audio, visual and written responses, Instant Business Answers can assist with small business support.
No comments:
Post a Comment