When most business owners think of online joint ventures, they assume they are for the businesses selling products, however the truth is that many online service providers can also benefit from, and profit from joint ventures.

Here are just a few of the ways a service provider can benefit from a joint venture partnership:

1. Ad swaps:

Most online service providers, whether they are virtual assistants, copywriters, designers, coaches, bookkeepers, transcriptionist etc…have a website and a newsletter.

One potential partnership might include the swapping of advertising space with a relevant business. This can be particularly helpful if you're on a budget and looking for new clients.

For example, a business coach could swap ad space on a website or in an newsletter with a virtual assistant. Many people using a business coach are often looking for ways to optimize their time, and a virtual assistant may be exactly what they're looking for.

Likewise, people using a virtual assistant might be able to benefit from the services of a business coach, particularly if they're looking for ways to grow their business.

2. Email and promotions:

If you have an opt-in list, or at least a list of customers, you can promote the services of a relevant business in your communications, or even as part of your next business promotions. Likewise, your partner can do the same for you.

One idea to consider is not merely swapping, but placing an ad in your regular email communications with the agreement that you receive a small percentage of the profits.

3. Guest Bloggers:

Blogging on your own site connects you with your customers. Blogging on another website connects you with potentially news customers.

Blogging is an excellent way to establish not only a rapport with prospects, but also to demonstrate your skills and knowledge thereby increasing your credibility as a service provider.

You can swap guest Blogs or you can share any profits that come your way by virtue of the blog, or you can make some other arrangement that works well for the both you and your joint venture partner.

4. Newsletter content writer:

Like Blogs, swapping newsletter content is something that will help build your exposure and credibility. Additionally, newsletters are easily shared with others and archived for lasting stickiness.

5. Product creation:

Many service providers offer information products such as e-books that they give away with a newsletter subscription or even books or audio recordings that they sell.

Partnering with another business to create such product can be a tremendous opportunity. You can create a promotional product to give away for free which includes advertisements or offers in the book for both of your businesses, and then distribute it to both of your lists to give each partner mutual exposure.

6. Swap services:

As a service provider you can offer your services in exchange for a partner's services. For example, a copywriter may be excellent at writing copy but horrible at designing a website.

Trade a comparable amount of copywriting projects for a complete website overhaul and you've both benefited tremendously from the deal.

7. Cross-selling:

Cross-selling is a partnership opportunity that most service businesses forget about. For example, as a virtual assistant you could promote and offer copywriting services to your clients as a partnership.

Your copywriting partner could advertise that they also provide transcription, web updating and other tasks a virtual assistant handles. This way you are bringing in business for each other.

The opportunities for service providers to benefit from online joint venture partnerships is endless, and only as limiting as your imagination. All you need to remember is that Joint Ventures are all about mutual benefit.