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Don't Be Afraid Of The Guru's

by Ernie Lo
12 replies
I know it can be a daunting thing for a newbie or even a marketer who has somewhat of a name to actually approach a guru and ask to do a JV with them.

Sure approaching A Grade guys like Mike F, John Reese or Willie Crawford (Willie is infact very approachable) may not result in a yes, as these guys are very busy and have more JV requests then they can poke a stick at.....

BUT

There are thousands more other marketers who are just waiting for the right offer to come along.

Have a product/service that their list will be responsive to. If you know Mr Guru X uses and promotes Article Marketing stuff...then if you have a new cool Article marketing product that has a USP, he already knows that his list will eat more of it up.

most importantly.....JUST ASK!

I've gotten many knock backs but I've also gotten several "gurus" involved with an upcoming launch (marketers who in the past I could only dream would want to JV with me) by meeting the following criteria:

- Make it relate to their list
- Make sure your product has a USP (do something unique/new)
- Offer generous commissions
- Make it easy for them (provide all promo materials)

By doing the above..

you're essentially making it hard for them to say NO!
#afraid #guru
  • Profile picture of the author jhongren
    Hi Ernie, you are right. We all start from scratch and so do the gurus.

    We are all in fact humans and it is ok to approach them. The worst thing that can happen is a "no" from them. Just move on. There are another 6 billion people to contact and so let's move on. =)

    But we don't take it personally. It is ok. They have their reasons such as they are busy with their projects and so on.

    Even we do say "no" to request now and then, don't we?

    So it is ok to ask them some questions, intelligent and specific questions pertaining to their products so to speak.

    Build that relationship first. Offer them your help. Be their friend first. Give help more than just take from them.

    This is the basic of starting any relationship, even in offline world.

    Btw, I am trying to get into Willie Crawford's list. Any url to recommend?

    Thanks alot,
    John
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    • Profile picture of the author Ernie Lo
      You're exactly right John.


      Umm well I could provide you the URL to my launch....you may have better luck than I did



      Originally Posted by jhongren View Post


      Btw, I am trying to get into Willie Crawford's list. Any url to recommend?

      Thanks alot,
      John
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    • Profile picture of the author matthewd
      Originally Posted by jhongren View Post

      Build that relationship first.
      That is the best advice right there. I have gotten a few JVs for my book, but the big ones are from people that I previously had a relationship with.

      There is one coming up in particular that is great. I have been doing a little bit of work for this person for a few months now and have developed a great relationship with him.

      It is a lot harder to approach people cold b/c you have to really make yourself stand out from the other hundreds or thousands that want to score JVs from them. But when you have given them something of value, it is sooo much easier to get the promotion.
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      • Profile picture of the author jhongren
        Thanks Matthew.

        You see, when you become a friend to the guru or anyone else, you surpass many others and emerge from the JV requests noises. You are now a friend. Not a stranger anymore and there is an element of trust.

        So start building that relationship first. It is time consuming but it is the best. I always like to make friends (without the thought that I must benefit from this). I do my best to give help and I am happy whenever I have given help.

        So give first, without the expectation of receiving back. In this way, you will feel happier whenever after you help. =)

        Cheers,
        John
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        • Profile picture of the author AndrewCavanagh
          One of the most profound lessons on joint ventures I ever got was in this simple line:

          "You can spend months or years building relationships with potential joint venture partners and nothing seems to be happening.

          "Then the right third person comes along and you all make a fortune together."

          Building those relationships really is the key.

          Also most people trying to set up joint ventures have waaay too rigid and self serving ideas of what they want.

          If you just focus on building relationships and working out what other potential joint venture partners want and need you can come up with joint ventures that even big names will accept and you'll be far more likely to make a ton of money in the process.

          Kindest regards,
          Andrew Cavanagh
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          • Profile picture of the author DougBarger
            Well said, Andrew.

            Yes, relationships are so key.

            I'm really thankful for the friendships made in this business and all 3 of the people you have mentioned Ernie are approachable and great men.

            Have some fun,
            Doug
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            => Stay tuned...

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            • Profile picture of the author Bev Clement
              Good advice being given. I would add another thing that many people forget, and that is being able to help a guru.

              I remember reading one post on the old forum, where a guru was asking for help locating a certain book. They couldn't remember the title but had enough information to give clues to the book.

              It was a fun thread, someone came in and gave a suggestion of a book title, but left the guru do the hard work of locating it. You then had a pile of people coming in saying, if you do find it give me a copy.

              I had looked at a book which covered the same topic, and sent the guru a PM. I gave him a download link to the book and asked if that would help. I knew it wasn't the exact book, but it was very close. I had found it on a membership site with unrestricted rights.

              They said it was, and suddenly everyone and their dog was asking for a free copy. The guru was asking what rights, as he wanted to pass it to their client, I sent them the whole package.

              What happened then, was that the guru gave me his email address, plus a whole load of other things and I have worked with them.

              That could have been done by a lot of people if they hadn't been on the give me mode, and had tried to find the product and then give it away. Heck even if I had to buy it, the price would have been worth it.
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              • Profile picture of the author AndrewCavanagh
                Bev I would say that the way you treated this guru is the way you should try to treat everyone you come in contact with.

                First it's good business.

                Second it's part of being a good human being to be of service.

                Finally you never know which of the people you come in contact with will end up being wildly successful.

                As a millionaire friend of mine was fond of repeating:

                "You should be nice to people you meet on the way up because they're the same people you'll meet on the way back down."

                Kindest regards,
                Andrew Cavanagh
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              • Profile picture of the author Heather Vale
                Originally Posted by Bev Clement View Post

                Good advice being given. I would add another thing that many people forget, and that is being able to help a guru.

                ....

                What happened then, was that the guru gave me his email address, plus a whole load of other things and I have worked with them.

                That could have been done by a lot of people if they hadn't been on the give me mode, and had tried to find the product and then give it away. Heck even if I had to buy it, the price would have been worth it.
                Yes, same thing with me... Mike Filsaime tells this story, too.

                I had been asking him for an interview for about 6 months, for different projects I was working on, and never got a response... finally I had gotten a "maybe, but not for a few months" since he was traveling and speaking.

                Anyhow, in the meantime, his "Death of IM" report came out, and the first draft that circulated hadn't been edited because Joel Comm sent his email too early... so I let Mike know through Tom Beal that I could proofread and edit it for him.

                So they sent me over the word doc, I edited it and sent it back... and Mike said, "Whenever you want to interview me, just let me know, I'm there."

                It was because I offered to help without asking for anything in return -- the law of reciprocity.

                I have since interviewed him about 5 times and worked with him on integration marketing, so... offering to help people is a great way to make connections and get ahead, as long as you do it because you WANT to help, not just to see what they'll give you back.

                Sometimes the payback won't come from that same person, and that's fine when you're in the mindset that helping out is not about getting help back; but somebody else will eventually give you value that's equal to at least what you've given others, guaranteed.

                cheers
                Heather
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                • Profile picture of the author jcomm
                  Originally Posted by Heather Vale View Post

                  Yes, same thing with me... Mike Filsaime tells this story, too.

                  Anyhow, in the meantime, his "Death of IM" report came out, and the first draft that circulated hadn't been edited because Joel Comm sent his email too early... so I let Mike know through Tom Beal that I could proofread and edit it for him.
                  Boy, I'm never gonna get rid of that albatross, am I? ;-)

                  Joel
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  • Profile picture of the author Mike Bogowski
    Nice Post and 100% correct!

    To use an old cliche, if you dont ask you dont get

    I can remember approaching Joe Vitale a couple of years ago. He politely declined but I was able to get some direct email with him and a few words of encouragement which helped push me along the way.

    As you say, many will say NO but very few will say NO without a reason or some words of advice and thats worth the effort in itself.
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