MUST I SEND A REVIEW COPY BEFORE MAKING A JV DEAL WITH A GURU?

Of course you have to send a copy. They wouldn't promote something they didn't know the contents of. They could be promoting crap. You think they would promote something that may be crap, something they haven't seen?

You don't have to do anything you don't want to do but I recommend you do include a review copy. Especially if you're approaching them. Most people protect their list and won't promote something they don't like so a review copy is key.

Any decent JV partner would not promote a product to their list without reviewing it themselves first...

The only exceptions would be close partners who have kept me informed of the product all the way... I may have seen beta 1 and 2, and just may not have had a chance to see final for whatever reason..

Blind promotion is bad for any decent list owner... so send your product out to anyone you really want to promote your product for you...

They are helping you... help them by making it easy to decide whether to promote you (in regards to making it easy, if they have to log into something to make it work, create the login for them before you send it, even write the sales pitch with their name and usual signiture included) make our lives easy and we will give you a chance...

Yes, I would absolutely suggest sending a review copy out. Guru's that care about their reputation should be checking stuff out before promoting. Time is money though, and I'd also suggest including a bullet point list that summarizes the benefits of your book, so they can quickly see if it is something their list would be interested in.

Matt

Yes, of course.

More of that, you have to make a short review. If this is interesting for the guru, he will read your product and you have the chance to make a JV with him.

If you don't offer a review copy you're essentially asking anyone you approach to endorse your product sight unseen - in all practicality, you might as well be asking them to lie for you. Such requests are unprofessional and routinely deleted.

Definitely send them a copy.

Most people won't even look at a proposal that doesn't have a link to a copy of the product, so make sure you send a link to it the first time you contact them.

I am just sitting here and trying to imagine the next "guru" after receiving your JV proposal and looking for some background info on you... and finding this post.

Not very trust-building to discover that you assumed they would steal (not still) your book. :rolleyes:

No one is going to blindly promote something to their list, even if you had a long standing relationship with that person and they trusted you implicitly would they still require a copy to review and rightly so, no doubt they've taken time to grow and cultivate their list and they're not about to throw that all away on a whim.

My advice, give the review copy, it's good business practice.

You can't be afraid to give out your eBook either. If trusting potential JV partners with your product is an issue then you need to undertake some due diligence on your part and be wise with whom you share your eBook.

Helper

I suspect you are very new to this so let me (as someone who is approached a lot by folks wanting me to promote their stuff) give you a few hints

You make it as easy as you can for me because I'm the one doing you the favour so don't make it difficult. (You'll get a very polite no)

This means..

1. You attach the product or you send me to a download link (I rarely promote stuff to my list I haven't seen)

2. If it's a membership, you either make me a member, or ask me if I would like to become a member. (You don't expect me to pay)

3. You write me an email with no grammatical errors, (because if it's an ebook your selling that would put me straight off)

4. You bullet point all the salinet points

5. You tell me why you think this is such a good product and why you think it will sell well.

There is more, but it will do for starters, you've already been given other good advice

Cheers
Kim

I almost started laughing on this one. You are wanting to partner with large list owners, and are worried they will steal your work? You're kidding, right?

If they have a large list, they are making money. They would have no reason to steal your work, and would be risking their own reputation. They do not maintain a big list by doing stupid things, they maintain a big list because they provide value.

I cannot imagine any of the Warriors who have a big list taking that risk.

You do realize by having a mindset which expects to be cheated, you are inviting in that exact behavior? Expect the best from your partners, and it is what you will get.

My list is my income .

My contributions to my list determine their impression of me .

My reputation is at stake with every email I send .

Would it profit me to send out a product blind ?

As far as stealing your product , it will be stolen within the first 100 sales . maybe not word for word but if it is a somewhat original idea ... it won't be for long .

That is why I chuckle every time someone thinks they are going to get something earth shattering for $47 .

While many think they will get something to retire on for $47, $97 or whatever, I feel lucky to find a simple nugget for such prices .

Ah, a chance to play my favorite role - CONTRARIAN!

Let's be PRACTICAL.

Who here believes that everyone promotes ONLY material they have
thoroughly checked and reviewed - raise your hand?!

We don't live in an ideal world!

Yet, trust with one's audience is built up by doing the 'right'
things - like reviewing material before promoting it (or if not,
explicitly stating that upfront in any promotion)

Now, to address the question: "Must I send a review copy?"

Yes, good JV practice involves sending (or offering) a review
copy.

Interesting that you mention you're worried they'll steal your
material and rewrite it - yet you are considering a JV deal
with the person. Isn't trust at the root of all successful
relationships?

Fix that issue, and others will take care of themselves!

All success
Dr.Mani

To the OP: you better listen to what Dr. Mani says!

And before even thinking of any JV adventure - please, do yourself a favour and read his "legendary" post about how to do a JV proposal. It is in the old part of the forum:
The Warrior Forum - A Masterful LOW-KEY JV Approach - Deconstructed
(yes, it even has a link for a free downloadable pdf file!)

Good luck!

Thanks Istvan I enjoyed that thread
-WD

I believe enough Warriors have suggested a review copy is essential to secure a JV deal so there's no sense in being redundant.

The one thing I think you should re-consider is that you want to receive the 75% of the sale. Usually with a JV deal, it's the other way around and they receive the higher percentage of the commissioned sale. Heck, on some of my deals, I will give the JV partner 100% if it helps me build a mailing list.

Finally, since you're on the internet, people judge you by the way you write. This includes spelling, syntax and grammatical structure. If you are going to solicit anyone, be sure your request contains avoidable errors.

Best of luck to you--

Michael Cruz

I would never promote anything I haven't read thats for sure. I wouldn't expect anyone else too either.

It doesn't matter either way because you will find you will be turned down anyway. 75% commission on a one-off deal is just not what they are looking for.

Sorry to disappoint you.

Will

Here's the deal fella...

You'll need to provide much more then a review copy. Personally, I charge $500 just to read 50 pages and even then I won't promote 95% of the time.

The last thing most successful marketers need is another book to read, especially if it's coming from a relative newbie. This isn't always the case, but quite often it's the truth.

I'd send a review copy, two tickets to Cheech & Chongs latest tour and a 12 pack of micro brew and you'll have a better shot.

Good luck.

Well you have been given a lot of good suggestions in here but there is one thing you can do to get their attention make them some money.
become an affiliate for them and excel that will get their attention pretty quick and then they don't mind helping as it is a reciprocal thing.

money for these guys doesn't ring a lot of bells for them they make a lot they expect a lot in return reciprocal promotion at least 50-75% commission some 100% Here is what I would do if I were you.

I would set up an affiliate program blast that program out to affiliate directories work with them when they sign up provide all the banners and promotional material get your name built up.

Pay on time every time give bonuses for the ones who do real well this will serve as a huge motivator for them to do more and will give you a good name then slowly but surely you will have people approach you to do jv's don't go for the big dog go for the little guys after all the big guys do that too. that is what I would do.
-WD

Your answer is quite simple.

Don't give them a full copy. Just a chapter or two to whet everyone's whistle should do the trick.

News flash my friend...you can send your "guru du jour" your ebook, your
first born, and a case of Cuban cigars and the chances of getting them to
even look at it are slim to none.

The folks who are even worth contacting (the ones who are going to make
you sales) don't care about your ebook because they get a gazillion requests
for JVs (actually, not technically true JVs but just an affiliate pitch) that
they don't have time to read your book unless you are somebody to them.

So that's the first thing you need to do...become somebody to these
people.

Sure, you can contact Joe Blow and probably get him to promote your
book (maybe even sight unseen) but don't expect to make any sales.

And a reputable affiliate partner (won't call them JV partners) will insist
on seeing your product because their reputation is at stake.

I will never promote a product without looking at it first, especially in
the MMO niche because that's where my list is. I respect that list and
the last thing I want to do is promote something that's crap.

So I insist on looking at it...and anybody worth their salt will insist on
the same.

But before you even get to that point, you better develop a relationship
with the person or you're going nowhere fast.

That's my 2 cents on the subject.

As Steven has stated , a big time G_U_R_U is more than likely not interested .

A civil approach to 10 people with only 10,000 list members can add up to a jv mailing that reaches 100,000.

A lot easier crowd to negotiate with.