There's an old saying, "you're only as good as the company you keep." I firmly believe that saying applies to your business associates and marketing partners as well.

So I figured it's about time I showed you my online networking strategy -- a plan that can easily double or even triple your profits this year.

But first take a second and grab this great gift from my ol' friend Jeremy Gislason...
 

So why is it that so many Internet entrepreneurs have a tendency to go it alone, rather than networking with others in their niche?

I believe there are two reasons people stink at networking:

Reason 1: They mistakenly look at other marketers in their niche as the "competition".

This can be a huge mistake.

Sure, if you're promoting a product that does the same exact thing as another marketer, it would be difficult to form a profitable alliance with them. But every niche contains related products and services that offer great opportunities to network.

Reason 2: Most marketers have no idea how to network properly with other business owners in their niche and related niches.

Yet online, it is easier than ever.

Today I want to share with you a proven online networking plan. When done properly, this can increase your profits substantially, no matter what niche you are in. It put me into six figures a year.

Here's the plan...

Step 1. Start making a networking "dream team" list.

The first step is as simple as writing down a list of 10-15 popular newsletter publishers or bloggers in your niche, and niches closely related to yours. Get on their subscriber lists if you're not already on them. Read the information they publish regularly. Basically, lurk for a few weeks to a month.

Step 2. Get to know your potential networking partners.

During that lurking period, familiarize yourself with their writing style, their personality and their likes and dislikes. Save all that information along with each publishers first name and their email address or contact page. You can use an excel file, a text file or even hand written notes. Just keep it organized.

Step 3. Start slowly approaching your new partners one at a time.

Many marketers, especially new marketers, feel intimidated when it comes to contacting other marketers who've managed to grow a substantial following. But it's easy if you know how.

The secret is to go slowly.

If you start emailing everyone on your list of potential partners at once, chances are you will be considered a spammer. You won't get the partners you want, or even worse, may destroy your reputation in the process.

Rather than hit them all at once, email them individually. Also, take it slow. Don't hit them with a JV proposal or ad swap request right away, let them "meet" you with no pretenses.

You can do that by simply sending them a compliment. Let's face it, everyone likes a little flattery. Be courteous and complimentary. Tell them the things you like about their business. Tell them you think their newsletter or blog is great, and why. You will be surprised at how much attention you receive by using a little well placed flattery as you proceed to develop your relationships with potential partners.

Step 4. Give them something of value to earn their trust.

Once you get to know them a little, rather than coming right out and asking them to swap ads or do a JV, give them something of value. It could be a product or service you sell or even something you acquired the rights to. Or, you could simply mention their site in your newsletter or blog.

This strategy really breaks the ice and shows them you're willing to send business their way without demanding or even expecting reciprocation. When people have done this with me in the past, I was much more open to working with them in the future, and in some cases even felt somewhat obligated to do so!

Right after this quick special offer, I'll give you a real, working example of this plan in action.

OK, taking all that info from the first half of this article, lets put together a working example...

Let's say you are a blogger who writes about Labrador Retreivers. You have a growing following of dog lovers and your blog is starting to earn some decent commissions from affiliate links and adsense ads. You're even considering writing an ebook for people who are buying a Labrador retriever.

Let's walk through each step from above and implement the strategy.

Step 1. Start a networking "dream team" list.

A few quick searches at Google and Google Blog Search for Labrador Retrievers, Yellow Labs, Chocolate Labs, Black Labs, Labrador Retriever ezines, Labrador Retriever newsletters and other related keywords yields plenty of sites and blogs to check out. After 10 minutes of poking around I've started a list of popular newsletter publishers and bloggers including clublabrador.com, labpups.com, justlabradors.com and a dozen or so more. I bookmark all the pages, get on their subscriber lists, sign up in their web forums and start lurking for a few weeks to a month.

Step 2. Get to know the potential networking partners.

During that lurking period, I familiarize myself with their writing style, their personality and their likes and dislikes. As I do, I write down that info, along with each publishers first name and their email address or contact page. I also categorize my list by moving the best potential candidates up on the list as I uncover more information about each one.

Step 3. Start slowly approaching potential partners one at a time.

Again, the secret here is to go slowly.

I start by posting some occasional help in the forum style sites and at the blogs that allow posting. Next, I contact the owners of each site and compliment them on their site. I let them know what a Lab fanatic I am and how I love spending time reading all their posts and their newsletter issues. As I get replies, I make notes in my list next to each publisher so I know which ones I've "broken the ice" with.

Step 4. Give them something of value to earn their trust.

Once I've conversed with a publisher and gotten to know them a little, rather than coming right out and asking them to swap ads or do a JV, I give them something of value. I start out by asking them if it's OK if I mention their site in my Lab related newsletter or blog.

A few weeks later, I contact them again, this time with a gift for their readers. If they accept, I quickly put together a quality guide or ebook with tips for new Lab owners. I also brand the ebook for the publisher so that if they buy my full guide, they earn a commission. It does not have to be anything big, just something helpful and with good value. (Here's a video that shows you how to create a PDF ebook for free.)

Do you see where this is headed? You've not only formed an alliance that can earn you both added income for years, you've already started generating that income for each other. As your business evolves over the coming months and years, you'll have a valuable partner you can count on to recommend your new products and services. You can also send simple "cross recommendation" emails to your growing email list which will result in more long term profits for you.

Remember, this is just ONE networking partner. Rinse and repeat this process with 5, 10, 20 or even 50 potential partners and you may be shocked at how your business will grow. This is not theory, it is a proven tactic I used in my own business that shot it to six figures a year.

You now have a plan to double or even triple your profits this year, all that's left for you to do is get started.

See ya in a few weeks...
Jim Daniels

P.S. If you want a more help with setting up a successful info-product business online, this free package of mine will help.

Whether you want to completely phase out your day job like I did, or you just want to supplement your household income, you have to start somewhere.

Why not take this proven plan and run with it.

P.P.S. This discount offer will help you get started. It's from the place where I now host most of my sites, including all my WordPress blogs -- Hostgator...