Using Warriors For Hire?

5 replies
Hey Warriors,

A little background, at the start of this year I decided to take action and start my own web design business on the side with the ultimate goal to make it my full time job. I built my own site, had a logo designed, business cards, the works, I was really happy with everything. I did a few websites for free for friends and family who own their own business, and about 2 weeks in I landed my first client from a craigslist ad, I closed $1k deal and was pumped! I began working on his site, at the same time I started a very niche focused email campaign, got a bite and closed a $5k deal with recurring! Sadly I had to back out of the $5k deal which was crushing, as my 9to5 demanded a lot of my time and energy during this time. The firs $1k client became a pain to deal with as he was very picky and wanted the littlest details changed or edited and his site which should have been a few weeks, turned into a few months. With my 9to5 really getting hectic I had to table the web design business, however I want to pick it back up again, but would like to go about it a different way.

I felt that I had a good handle on finding clients, and closing them as the first two were relatively quick, my question is, I have seen many people talk about selling the service and using Warriors For Hire to do the actual work. Can anyone elaborate on this process as I keep getting lost in my own head when I think about it.

I keep going back to that first really picky client and if I had used WFH there would have been so much back and forth between the client to me, me to the WFH, and then back to the client, is this how it would be or was I going about something wrong? My next question would be around pricing, obviously I need to turn a profit so I need to make sure that I am selling a service that has a profit built in, to be able to cover the cost of the WFH, would my model change to getting the requirements from the client, getting a quote from a WFH and then going back to the client with the final price?

I want to be successful, and I don't want to fall down that pitfall of having to turn down deals, or not have time to focus on more than one site or future business because of the focus needed on a project.

I look forward to everyone's thoughts and advice!

Thanks!
#help a newbie #hire #warriors #warriors for hire #web desgin
  • Profile picture of the author Jason Kanigan
    Your up front contracts need work. You must tell prospects how you go about doing what you do, or you cannot be upset when they do something you don't want them to.

    By telling people up front "This is how I work"...particularly in the area of revisions (I, for example, give three revisions to design & copywriting clients before they have to start paying for them), you will avoid problems like this. Do it before any money changes hands.

    This way you screen out attention-needy clients before you sign them up. If your clients all understand how you work, and don't need a lot of attention, you can comfortably sub a lot of the work out.

    This is a serious part of your sales process, and I encourage you to examine your sales process because it sounds like you're "winging it".
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  • Profile picture of the author Aaron Doud
    First I want to congratulate you on your high paying 9 to 5 job. Wait I know what you are thinking, "Aaron I never said how much I get paid." And you'd be right. But it must be a lot because you gave up a $5k deal with recurring to keep it.

    You choose your job over your business. And there is nothing wrong with that on the surface. The problem is you took on and backed out of a $5k deal. I'm not sure how long that $5k deal would have taken but if that would have replaced a month or more of your income I think if you were serious about this business you would have and should have made the opposite choice.

    Not to mention you could have given up other things to make time for it. Like TV and sleep.

    I don't know all the details but you need to think hard about why you choose to back out of that deal. It could say a lot about rather you should continue on this path. It may be you are more comfortable working for others. And there is no shame in that. You can make good money as an employee.

    But if the reason you are doing the business is to get more money yet you deep down prefer to be an employee you have a goal/effect mismatch. If that is the case maybe you would be better off by focusing on getting a raise, promotion, or a job that has better pay and is a better fit.

    Sorry to take this thread off on a tangent. But when I read that this came to mind and I believe a little soul searching on why you choose the job over the $5k will be good for you.

    Was it because your jobs pays really good? That's great but if you want to replace that income you will need to find a way to work more till you can jump to self employed.

    Was it because like the $1k it seemed like more work than it was worth? If so that means you need to set boundaries and higher prices. You should be happy when you get clients. If you are not that is your fault not theirs.

    Was it because other things were more important to spend your time on? If so you need to figure out if you have time to do this. If you work 50hrs per week even figuring 10 hours per day for sleep, eating, grooming and the commute you are left with 48hrs. Almost as many hours as you are currently working. If you choose to spend them watching TV, surfing the net, or etc that is fine. But you need to be aware of how many hours a week you can work on your business and schedule clients based on that.

    You need to find the reason you did it and what it means for where you want to be in the future and how you will get there.
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    • Profile picture of the author pmmorris
      Originally Posted by Aaron Doud View Post

      Was it because your jobs pays really good?
      Originally Posted by Aaron Doud View Post

      That's great but if you want to replace that income you will need to find a way to work more till you can jump to self employed.

      Was it because like the $1k it seemed like more work than it was worth?
      If so that means you need to set boundaries and higher prices. You should be happy when you get clients. If you are not that is your fault not theirs.

      Was it because other things were more important to spend your time on? If so you need to figure out if you have time to do this. If you work 50hrs per week even figuring 10 hours per day for sleep, eating, grooming and the commute you are left with 48hrs. Almost as many hours as you are currently working. If you choose to spend them watching TV, surfing the net, or etc that is fine. But you need to be aware of how many hours a week you can work on your business and schedule clients based on that.

      You need to find the reason you did it and what it means for where you want to be in the future and how you will get there.
      Aaron this was a brutally honest post and I very much appreciate it, and your points above are all true, I think the biggest thing that really bothered me was that 1k deal really was such a hassle and a stress for me, and with it being my first gig I was scared that, thats how they would all be. My reasoning for backing out of the 5k deal was my concern over not being able to devout enough time to the project due to the amount of work needed from my 9to5, and the clients wanted bi-weekly in person meetings in the middle of the day that with my job I would not be able to make, so I felt rather than start the project and start to slip up, I backed out.

      Bottom line you both touched on the same point that I need to restructure my contract a bit to be very clear cut in revisions and the services and expectations that I provide.

      I appreciate both of your responses!
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  • Profile picture of the author Aaron Doud
    You're welcome. Don't let the first bad gig ruin it for you. The right contract and expectations set in the beginning will take care of that.

    Just make sure you know what you can or cannot do. Most people on this forum would kill to land a $5k deal. Walking away may or may not have been the best option. Only you know for sure.

    But making sure you don't have to walk away in the future is the key. Not enough tme for a $5k deal? Explain the time it would take you to complete it. If they are ok with that great. If not suggest someone who can handle it for them in the time frame they need. The key is to always be a professional and always be growing the business.

    Take baby steps if you need to but make sure you are moving forward towards the goal you truly want.
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    • Profile picture of the author zartsval
      Maybe after the first client you found you like working for others better.

      I have been thinking of getting more client work as opposed to just putting my art online to sell. I can make a lot more money but there would be more pressure as well. I am not sure I am ready to take it to the next level.
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