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How can I find partners for my new web design company?

by DavidIWD
16 replies
Hello,

I need your help here.

I am looking, as most here, to earn some extra money by working online, this is not original. Well, now I know what to do, I want to build custom web sites for small businesses. I have been able to find some reliable people to work for me, to design the sites in fact, I'm setting up my own site right now, it will be ready soon. But the thing is, I'm not good at selling and I'm already very busy with my full time job and my time schedule doesn't allow me to visit shops and small businesses to offer my services.

I would really prefer to find some partners willing to sell my web sites under their own name. They find a customer, send me all the information needed and I create the site for them. They choose their own price and pocket the difference between the low fee I ask and the price their customer will pay.

How could I advertise, where should I post, to find these partners I need?

Thank you in advance for your great advice and help.
#company #design #find #partners #web
  • Profile picture of the author rihan123
    https://www.elance.com/

    https://www.upwork.com/
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  • Profile picture of the author hannahlist
    Can you develop mobile apps?

    That's where the action is and I can get you business.

    I need a solid reliable partner though.

    Otherwise, it's not going to work out.
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    • Profile picture of the author hfocusmx
      Originally Posted by hannahlist View Post

      Can you develop mobile apps?

      That's where the action is and I can get you business.

      I need a solid reliable partner though.

      Otherwise, it's not going to work out.
      Hannahlist, I'm in the mobile app space. How can I contact you for us to discuss?
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  • Profile picture of the author Jack Gordon
    Generally speaking, there is no getting away from sales. Even finding people to sell for you requires selling them on becoming your affiliate reseller.

    I think you'll find that without an effective sales machine in place, you will have trouble keeping affiliates in place. If they are any good, there will always be others trying to sell them on reselling for them in addition to - or instead of - you.

    If you are afraid of sales, you should not go into business for yourself. It's like going to work in a steakhouse kitchen, yet you are afraid of flames. Sales is a required element of business.

    Instead of trying to manage other salespeople, if you are really serious about wanting to do this, it sounds like you should find yourself a partner who can focus on the selling.

    Also, you may find some benefit from spending some time in the offline section.
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    Fifteen Lessons I have learned over 15 years and six businesses (or, My 1000th-Post Manifesto)
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  • Profile picture of the author DavidIWD
    Thank you for your replies until now.

    No, I don't develop mobile apps hanahlist, sorry.

    Keep them coming please.
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  • Profile picture of the author ChristianLemke
    You have to learn selling your products - its very important and thats a difficult part to outsource - especially you are working for small businesses - you don´t even sell your products or services - you sell you and the trust in you.
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    www.christian-lemke.com
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  • Profile picture of the author creativebuzz
    David, creating custom web sites is not an easy job. Every client can understand a different thing by "custom". So at some point you will have to deal yourself with the final client.

    If you are planning to do websites for business in your town, a good idea would be to hire someone for 2 - 4 weeks who can go and visit small businesses and then get back to you with responses.

    Also think about including seo in your services. Most business owners are buying websites to get more clients. If you just create a website with no visitors... the buyers will not recommend you to others because they have no use, no ROI, no real benefit from their new website.

    If you hire someone for marketing, you will need to give him a "script". Most of the buyers will ask "why do I need a website?". You must be prepared to have a good answer.

    Good luck!
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  • Profile picture of the author DavidIWD
    I will say clearly on my site what a client can expect for the solution I offer.

    I'm not looking specially to find some customers in my city, anywhere in the world is fine as long as I have a partner willing to work with me. If the client has some questions, the parner can still send them to me, I will forward the answer to the partner, still being invisible to his client.

    The problem with the idea to hire someone is that I don't have the budget for that.

    Thank you for your messages. Keep them coming. I'm still waiting ideas to where to go/post to find some partners.
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  • Profile picture of the author Jack Gordon
    Originally Posted by DavidIWD View Post

    But the thing is, I'm not good at selling and I'm already very busy with my full time job and my time schedule doesn't allow me to visit shops and small businesses to offer my services.
    You don't want to hear this, but you are not going into this in a way that gives any reasonable chance of success.

    You are thinking about you and your problems/limitations.

    Instead, answer the question of why people will want to sell for you? It doesn't sound like you have any of the following:

    1) A good reputation
    2) A reliable sales support system for affiliates
    3) A set of proven sales materials for affiliates to use with their markets
    4) An infrastructure for dealing with (and paying) affiliates

    All four of those are just the first step that you'll need to have in place BEFORE you can recruit a single worthwhile sales partner.

    The way you get there is to start selling it yourself and build on small successes until you are forced to expand to keep up with demand. By then you have some practical experience and successes to share with your sales partners, and they can have some assurance that you are not going to flake out on them the moment things get challenging.
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    Fifteen Lessons I have learned over 15 years and six businesses (or, My 1000th-Post Manifesto)
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    • Profile picture of the author Steve B
      The obvious question needs to be asked . . .

      Have you posted in the Warrior Joint Ventures section of the forum?

      Why not?

      Steve
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      Steve Browne, online business strategies, tips, guidance, and resources
      SteveBrowneDirect

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      • Profile picture of the author DavidIWD
        Originally Posted by Steve B View Post

        The obvious question needs to be asked . . .

        Have you posted in the Warrior Joint Ventures section of the forum?

        Why not?

        Steve
        I didn't yet, I might do it a bit later. Now I'm really looking at all existing options I have to find the people I'm looking for.

        Thank you for the suggestion Steve.
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    • Profile picture of the author kk075
      Originally Posted by Jack Gordon View Post

      You don't want to hear this, but you are not going into this in a way that gives any reasonable chance of success.

      You are thinking about you and your problems/limitations.
      Jack is 100% right....there's no substitute for putting in the time and finding a unique value proposition for your clients. If you don't want to do that, then your only other option is to work with existing design firms that have an overflow of work.

      To find them, just post on Craigslist, here and similar forums/boards where web designers are likely to frequent. Even going this route though, you'll still have to be able to sell yourself.

      For example, I need a quick, simple site finished right now. I bought a Parallax theme for it and I have the basic layout. All I'm looking for is for someone to configure the slider, play with the colors and download the basic plug-ins. It's maybe a day's worth of work total and when I posted the ad to Craigslist yesterday, I got 35+ responses.

      Let's say that you're #36. How do you convince me that you're the one to finish out this site for me? You have to sell yourself, and there is absolutely no way around that. So you want a job that can lead to more quick, easy jobs? Sell me on your skills. It's that easy.
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      Learn to sell like a pro through Web Synergy's marketing blog.

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    • Profile picture of the author DavidIWD
      Originally Posted by Jack Gordon View Post

      You don't want to hear this, but you are not going into this in a way that gives any reasonable chance of success.

      You are thinking about you and your problems/limitations.

      Instead, answer the question of why people will want to sell for you? It doesn't sound like you have any of the following:

      1) A good reputation
      2) A reliable sales support system for affiliates
      I'm not looking for affiliates, I'm looking for "entrepreneurs". People who wants to sell under their name but need somebody to make the sites for them for a price allowing them to make a good margin.
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      • Profile picture of the author Jack Gordon
        Originally Posted by DavidIWD View Post

        I'm not looking for affiliates, I'm looking for "entrepreneurs". People who wants to sell under their name but need somebody to make the sites for them for a price allowing them to make a good margin.
        I get what you are trying to do. I just don't see a viable path for doing it with the information you have given us.

        Whether they are affiliates reselling your service or "entrepreneurs" white labeling your service, your challenges are the same.

        You have no reputation, and no time or interest to do sales work.

        You've got to have (at a bare minimum) one or the other if you have any hope of getting others on board this dream bus. Until then, prepare for great disappointment along the way.

        Nobody is going to do this for you.
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        Fifteen Lessons I have learned over 15 years and six businesses (or, My 1000th-Post Manifesto)
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  • Profile picture of the author yestyle
    Banned
    Originally Posted by DavidIWD View Post

    Hello,



    I would really prefer to find some partners willing to sell my web sites under their own name......

    How could I advertise, where should I post, to find these partners I need?

    Thank you in advance for your great advice and help.
    Which type of products are you having? what do you want from partners?

    Show me if they are good, I can help you to sell your products or websites
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  • Profile picture of the author JohnSmat
    Yes you can do it from elance.com it is best way.
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