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How would you sell this service?

by belgianguy
3 replies
I have been approached by a group of people who want an online platform for their service. They all provide a service by phone or skype. Each call lasts about 90 minutes and they charge 50 euros per session (+- $70).

They have approached me to build a website and get targeted visitors via seo, ppc, social media,...). They want to get more customers like this and are willing to give me a percentage of the profit in exchange for the site if I maintain it and keep the visitors coming.

I have a couple of options as far as I can see

- Create a system with mobile billing (pay per minute) and get a percentage of every call. The problem with this is that most customers become repeat customers. This is not some fortune telling hocus pocus scam. The service they deliver is of top quality. But they could tell their customers to call them on another number the next time they need a consultation which would make me lose my percentage.

Also, this system is not very user friendly for repeat customers.

- Collect potential customers and sell them for a fixed fee to the people in this group.
But when a customer visits the site and wants to speak with someone right away, this doesn't work either.


Does anyone have a better solution to this problem? The perfect solution:
- lets visitors connect with a consultant right away via skype or phone
- is user friendly
- lets me keep a commission of repeat customers.


Thank you for any suggestion you may have!
#sell #service
  • Profile picture of the author Marx Vergel Melencio
    You don't entirely trust this group/organization, huh? Well, a simple solution is to tell this group you'll place a message in the pages of the site, saying that the numbers listed on the site are the only authentic numbers that customers should call, and if a customer is asked to call another number that isn't on the list, then it's a phoney number that might endanger the customer's privacy or personal information or something...

    You could also include a protective clause in your contract with this group/organization. Also tell them you'll be doing random checks and will be deploying other people to do these random checks for you...
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  • Profile picture of the author KenThompson
    It's a pain and unfortunate that you'll need to find some way to track this. The bottom line is they can always circumvent what you do during their phone consultations.

    It seems they do not have the funds to pay you upfront for the site and marketing. Or, they have it and don't want to pay upfront.

    Most experienced marketers decline the future payment from profits plan unless they're dealing with people they know and trust. That's not the case with your situation.

    You can ask about being paid upfront for the work and forget the future profit share offer. Regardless of what you think about their service, you don't know how well they'll do with it. Plus there are the current issues you're facing with their offer.

    Lastly, you can always walk away from it.

    Ken
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  • Profile picture of the author lotsofsnow
    Originally Posted by belgianguy View Post

    They have approached me to build a website and get targeted visitors via seo, ppc, social media,...). They want to get more customers like this and are willing to give me a percentage of the profit in exchange for the site if I maintain it and keep the visitors coming.
    If you are smart you charge them for this. UP FRONT.
    If they do not agree to ANY upfront payment: you should not walk away but run as fast as you can.

    No, seriously.

    Targeted visitors do not just stumble in. You have to invest time and money for this to happen.

    If this would be through a trusted 3rd party like for example Linkshare: Ok, you might give it a try.
    But even then: Build a web site for free??? Maybe refer them to the salavation armee.

    People that have money usually have no problem paying others. People that contact other and suggest "percentage of the profit in exchange" deals usually have no money or no intend to pay.
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