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'Purchase' Team Members for a website?

by benelevatos
15 replies
Fellow marketers, hi!

I am in the process of creating a web design business, and on the website I am going to have a 'team members' section. Personally, I think this looks pretty cool - and from an outsiders view, if a potential client looks on our website and sees we have a good number of staff, then this could potentially show that we are a big(ger) company with a good number of staff.

Realistically, there are going to be 2-3 official members on board. However, we would like to show between 5 and 6 members who 'work' for us.

Does any body know of anything out there where you could potentially pay to use someone on your website? E.g are there any websites for it, would PeoplePerHour etc cover this?

Look forward to hearing your opinions on the above, and any ideas!
#members #purchase #team #website
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  • Profile picture of the author Nick Million
    I don't think its a good idea to lie for business. If I were you I'd put my 2-3 legit workers there and call it a day.
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  • Profile picture of the author JohnMcCabe
    Why is 5-6 the magic number? If you want to fake it, why not 20 or 30?

    If you have 2-3 real team members, show 2-3 and position yourself as a boutique agency.

    If you absolutely have to inflate the size of your staff, you could borrow a page from magazine publishers (sorry, pun intended). Look at the masthead in the front of the magazine. You'll likely see a Publisher or Editor, a handful of Associate Editors, and a list of Contributors. The titles may change, but the idea will stay the same.

    You have your figurehead, the person at the top of the organization table. Then you have your regular team members. Finally, you have the people who do some of the work, but aren't necessarily full-on team members. If you outsource any of the work, these are your contributors, rather than trying to hire models.

    If you hire people to simply appear on your team page, and you get caught out, your reputation is shot.
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  • Profile picture of the author drpure
    Good write up
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  • Profile picture of the author ryanbiddulph
    Hi benelevatos,

    Uh-oh....bad move my friend.

    Here's why: when you lie now, you will be caught in a lie down the road, and another....and another...like an episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm, or George on Seinfeld.

    I do get wanting to impress people by seeming more big time but also know this; my 2 web developer aka designer buddies are solo acts and make sweet coin while enjoying their gig too.

    Succeed solo. People will hire you. You are enough. I promise.

    Move away from trying to impress or trying to be credible. Fall so in love with your craft that it bleeds through your being, doing your web gig for free, for practice, all day long.

    You will find the perfect clients who see your skills and passion and could care less about a 7 or 30 person or 1 person operation.

    Ryan
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    Ryan Biddulph helps you to be a successful blogger with his courses, manuals and blog at Blogging From Paradise
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  • Profile picture of the author OptedIn
    This is hilarious. Almost as good as, "Should I use a pen name or my real name on my website/blog/etc.?" - followed closely by, "How important are testimonials on my website?"

    The answer is - always has been - and always will be the same.

    It doesn't matter.

    1. Whatever name you use, who besides your mother will know if the name displayed is your real name or a pen name? WHO???

    2. You can put as many testimonials as you like on your website that say anything you choose. Who - besides yourself will know if any of them are real? WHO???

    3. You can put as many team members on your site as you choose. Who, besides yourself will know if those people actually exists? WHO???

    Think about it, laugh about it and then - forget about it. This is not a real thing. Pondering it is the ultimate time-waster!

    You're welcome!
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    "He not busy being born, is busy dying." - Bob Dylan • "I vibe with the light-dark point. Heavy." - Words that Bob Dylan wishes he had written.

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  • Profile picture of the author IGotMine
    I'm reminded of a story from back in the snail mail days.

    A new startup, a one-man show that didn't want to appear as such.

    He made recordings of a busy office; typewriters clacking, phones ringing, people discussing important issues, etc.

    Every time the phone rang he would turn on the tape.

    He claimed the questions and objections to the size or legitimacy of his business vanished.

    Power perceived is power achieved.
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    • Profile picture of the author OptedIn
      Originally Posted by IGotMine View Post

      Power perceived is power achieved.
      "Fake it 'til you make it." Get with the times. :-)
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      "He not busy being born, is busy dying." - Bob Dylan • "I vibe with the light-dark point. Heavy." - Words that Bob Dylan wishes he had written.

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  • Profile picture of the author The Oz Affiliate
    Why not actually have a team that do work for you?
    i.e. - outsource specialists who will do the work. These people will effectively be contractors, but they still work for, and fly the flag for your company.

    You could have say a dozen in your "team" and interviews them by way of "show me what you can do" and any of your clients that need that sort of work done.. you can provide for them.

    This way your company will always be able to complete a customers request, not falling into the trap of "Im sorry, we cant produce that for you".

    There is nothing wrong with outsourcing additional work via sites like Fiverr.. but you want to take it one step further, and have like a permanent consultant.. and showcase him or her on your website as part of the team.. nothing wrong with that.

    I would happily put my hand up and do some work for you. If you needed someone to build your clients sales funnels, landing pages , set up and maintain E-mail responders etc..
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    • Profile picture of the author benelevatos
      I like this idea, and funnily enough is an idea I had. We have a freelancer graphics designer on board (going further a field than just web designing) which we were going to include as well.

      Will take you up on that one! Will drop you a message over the next few days.
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  • Profile picture of the author rwbovee
    You could probably find some Fiverr people who would do that.
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  • Profile picture of the author laurencewins
    Same as if you need an editor or a writer. I do both those things and much more.
    Never lie because you always have to remember what lie you tell to who, and you'll inevitably end up deep in manure. If you need a team, then hire REAL people. There's nothing to say that they work with you full time.
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    Cheers, Laurence.
    Writer/Editor/Proofreader.

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  • Profile picture of the author hfbadvertising
    Nobody really cares. Just do the work. Be a trustful and honest business. People want a service done that's why they contact you in the first place not because you have 6, 10, 20 people on your team.
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    Harris Brown
    HFB Advertising

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  • Profile picture of the author cearionmarie
    A business built on trust is a business people will love. Be authentic.
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    Cearion Uy - Marketing Advisor
    www.influencerauditor.com

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  • Profile picture of the author Daniel1000
    Not a good idea.

    There's nothing wrong with having just a few members on the team.

    There's nothing wrong with not showing the members of the team on the about page.

    A mistake we tend to make is comparing ourselves to mature companies and products when we're just starting out.

    Do it like this, stick any website in the way back machine and see how their site looked a few years ago.

    You'll see they've gone through quite a few changes.

    I realized one of my competitors who's a major market leader and is racing to the upstream market started with a single plan at $5/month.

    That aside, it's never a good idea to lie about your business. You can omit facts that aren't important but you should never lie. That's a recipe to get ****ed over.
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  • Profile picture of the author acemetillidie0001
    Quality over quantity always wins out. Instead of looking bigger then you really are, why not be as big as you really can be. In this, the sky's the limit if you're looking to quality of production, customer service and delivery end product, even if your team only consists of 2-3 people.

    Let growth be natural and most important, honest. Honesty is the best business practice anyone can consider, and good business practices lead to natural growth...

    Scott.
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