The practical business of finding highly productive agents and joint ventures in the foreign market for many still remains an enigma. Often, US companies are relying on luck instead of strategy in identifying their international representation. Many companies get into exporting almost by happenstance: Most export sales are simply a spin-off from domestic contracts. Simply, most agent and distributor relationships are born from random inquiries or chance meetings at trade shows. When asked how they obtained their international representation, many companies have no recollection whatsoever of how or why the relationship began. Strange as it may seem, the same is true of joint venture relationships. With the growing use of the internet, one could be fooled into thinking the odds of success in finding that elusive, top-performing trade partner will be increased. The key is to remember at all times that promotional materials are not stand-alone, clean "information". The Internet can be used to provide indicators of activity and reach; however, these benefits in no way eliminate the more conventional, strategic wisdom that highly successful sales organizations, in one way or another, employ.