Joint Venture Expert Mike Merz – Joint Venture Brokering
Terms As Of 03/22/09
Here are my basic terms and conditions, in a nutshell.
Most of my Brokering gigs fall under the following
terms and procedures.
Right off the bat … if I agree to send out a JVNP
mailing, or Broker for you in any way … it is with
the understanding that I will either be the only
JV Broker employed, or I will have the first shot
at bringing prospective partners on board.
The reason … after over 5 years Brokering JVs,
that I’m forced to make this rule is that it has
become popular to ‘piggyback’ my JV launches
… other JV Brokers find out what I’m going to
announce, and they contact the merchant and
offer to bring on partners for them.
Greed gets the better of the merchants, and they
start handing out referral accounts …
(Either that, or the merchants … themselves, bring
on multiple JV Brokers without taking into
consideration that doing so may greatly dilute the
JV Broker’s individual efforts.)
Usually, this does not bother me … as I have no
fear of competition, but due to the fact that I get
a lot more work than most of these Brokers … they
have no problem getting announcements out before
I do, robbing my long time partners of the exclusive
nature of my recommendations … and letting every
Tom, Dick, and Harry on board launches that were
at one time exclusive.
If I do find another Broker or 2nd Tier Referrer
promoting what was supposed to be an exclusive
launch before our Partners (whether via the JVNP
mailing or prior to individual 1 on 1 recruitment)
have a chance to see it … the merchant will lose
out on the one on one High Level partner
recruitment end of the deal … so please be warned.
That does not mean I’m against allowing 2 Tier
referrers within the Network I’ve helped create
through my brokering, but the window of
opportunity and number of referrals should be
limited to my downline’s productive partners,
and not mailed out to general opt in lists
simply to bring on as many warm bodies as
possible. It should also be known that my fee
for sales made by the referral’s of my downline
is 1% of total sales after negative adjustments.
OK, with that out of the way …
Once we agree on the aforementioned, a launch
strategy, and a time line, the merchant either …
A) Sets up a unique JV registration page with a
basic intro & what’s in it for the JV partners and
their subscribers. An autoresponder form with first
and last name and email which creates a list of
my referrals (For ClickBank and Paydotcom run
campaigns, add an extra field to gather their ID
for easier identification). Please also include
my email jvnotify @ gmail.com for instant
email notification of leads so I have a personal
record. If you’re using either AWeber or JVListPro,
simply click ‘My Lists’, choose ‘List Settings’, select
the list you’ve set up for me in the drop down, and
find ‘Subscriber Alerts’. Put my name and the
aforementioned preferred email in the form and
I’ll receive the notifications for that list. A similar
option is available in most other popular ARs.
I also recommend Adrian Ling’s easyClickMate,
Sid Hale’s Rapid Action Profits, Jeremy Gislason
& Simon Hodgkinson’s Member Speed, aMember Pro,
Marc Goldman’s GoldbarOne, & Infusionsoft.
After the first refund period, we take the remaining
referred sales. My fee is 10% of total sales, low
ticket. Higher tickets are negotiable. In regards to
continuity, I usually stay on as long as the program
runs … though it is negotiable.
I’ll also need a JV lead in letter to send to both my
JV Notify Pro partners and those I email one on one.
B) Sets up a 2nd Tier referral account in my name,
Mike Merz, and email, im4newbies @ gmail.com, at
the same rate of referred partner sale commission
as mentioned earlier … but calculated per sale.
Please also include my email im4newbies @ gmail.com
for instant email notification of leads so I have a
personal record.
I’d prefer a unique URL off the product site that
redirects through my 2nd Tier referral URL
(EX> productsite.com/vipjv.html) to show that
we’re working together, as opposed to me
simply racking up 2nd Tier commissions. 😉
I generally employ either one or both of the
following methods to bring on partners …
– A premium joint venture JVNotifyPro.com mailing
to my list of JV minded partners. Level of experience
ranges from JV Newbie to Super Affiliate. Rules
for these mailings are explained in depth in the
mailing archives @ www.JVNotifyPro.com
– 1 on 1, individual mailing to my personal list of
JV partners.
NOTE – My job is to get your foot in the door and
help you make the initial connection. Your job is
to build a rapport with the prospective JV partner
and nurture the relationship. My service can help
you gain new relationships of mutual benefit that
can offer rewards for years to come … but it’s up
to you to prove yourself worthy of your end of the
process. Offer no personal interaction and simply
blast broadcasts every few days … and your
probably going to leave a lot of money, and potential
long term relationships, on the table. I’ll do my part
… if you do yours, I’ve no doubt we’ll have positive
results. If not … we probably won’t.
Also … I need to know your launch plan and time line
(as I’ve got to schedule the JVNP launch, and need
at least a few weeks to a month notice for that).
But … I can start one on ones with proven partners
prior to that.
Would also help if you could get together a list of
players you already have on board, and perhaps
a ‘wish list’ of partners you have no rapport with I
can start off with.
I do expect the following follow through from you
to make things work for both of us.
– I’m assuming that you have tested all facets of
your marketing system prior to your request for JV
Partners … bringing partners in blind just because
you feel your product is the best thing since sliced
bread won’t cut it … they want proof, and you’ll have
to provide it.
– Give your potential partners ample time to set up
and schedule their promotions … coming to them a
week before launch … or even pre launch, is going
to no doubt dilute the efforts of those that you do
attract, and the attraction of strong partners outside
of your inner circle … period.
– Either identify, yourself, or from my recommendations,
partners that are known to have performed well in the
past … do your best to connect with them and establish
an ongoing dialogue. It is important that you keep your
known or perceived inner circle informed and motivated
during the entire pre launch and launch.
– Select the strong performers that have replied with an
interest in promoting your launch, but have not yet
created an account … do it for them. Follow up and
let them know that you realize they are busy, so you’ve
taken the liberty of creating an account for them … no
obligation to promote, simply as a convenience. Remind
them to look for a confirmation email … if necessary.
– With all other partners, do not simply rely on occasional
email broadcasts … report positive news, numbers,
contest updates, and social proof at timed intervals …
keep your partners engaged and focused.
– Your JV Partners are busy folks, and they have a lot
of things going on that can take them away from focusing
on your promotion which is why I recommend you make
your notifications at timed intervals so they are easy to
follow, include ad copy examples whenever possible,
append links and log in details in every email … including
sales notifications. If you have most of the aforementioned
available via a JV blog or JV area … post the link in every
email. It is of absolute importance that you make it as
easy as possible for your JV Partners to follow your
promotion, stay informed, and have everything at hands
reach at all times … don’t make them jump through hoops
to make sales for you. K.I.S.S. works very well, here.
– Approximately 24 hours into launch, search your stats
for the known strong performers that have zero or little
activity in their account … follow up with a ‘I’m concerned
that you’re not receiving the JV notifications …’ email,
reminding them that you’re following up with them,
personally, because you want to make sure they have
everything they need to make sales.
– If the aforementioned mentions that they don’t think
they’ll be able to promote during the launch due to
prior commitments … or any other reason short of
them not wanting to promote your product, tell them
to name a date in the future and you’ll set up a special
launch just for their list.
– Be clear from the get go when affiliates will be paid for
their promotions.
It is expected that you will do your part as a merchant
or JV/Affiliate /Launch Manager to follow through on
the aforementioned … 100%. Failure to do so may
cause results to be less than optimal, and possibly dismiss
the likelihood that I’ll agree to work with you in the future.
So … please take the aforementioned VERY seriously.
Also … regardless of how good my reputation is, there is
no guarantee working with me will result in a successful
launch. Usually, yes … and even when it does not go well,
it’s rarely my fault. But I’m not >Gasp!< perfect.
Which is why I’m one of the few JV Brokers that does
not ask for an upfront fee or retainer of any kind … I don’t
make money unless you do, period. I have that kind of
confidence … I’ve been able to make a great living for over
5 years working solely on performance. I’m proud of that. 😉
Best,
Mike Merz
http://www.jvnotifypro.com
jvnotify @ gmail.com
1-732-921-3100
1-732-993-6225
Let’s Stay Connected …
Twitter – http://twitter.com/jvnotifypro
Face Book – http://profile.to/mikemerz/
Myspace – http://www.myspace.com/jvnotifypro