Justifying Recurring Monthly Charges

rainingproblems · 9th Mar 2012, 03:01 PM

So you create a mobile website for a client and charge them a fee. Quite understandable. One of your other business models might include text message marketing.

If you decided to do a package deal such as mobile web plus text message marketing for a monthly fee, do you present it as such to your client? How do you justify a recurring monthly charge for the website (it's understandable if the client is paying maintenance on the mobile site)

Also, how do you justify a monthly fee if the client runs their own text messaging campaigns? I would think if they wanted to do it like that, then you'd be charging them just for set-up etc.

midasman09 · 9th Mar 2012, 05:17 PM

2 Items to "justify" a "Monthly Fee" for your mobile sites;

1) Offer "Google Analaytics" as a Monthly Service to your Mobile clients showing How Many Visitors they've had to their Mobile Site...etc. (Take a look at what www.DudaMobile.com provides on a Monthly Basis to their Accounts)

2) Set up a "Mobile Site Directory" for their area...where YOU provide the Domain .....thereby eliminating the NEED to get involved with "Re-Directs" for each of your clients. Take a gander at one I'm working on for restaurants in Princeton, NJ; Princeton Restaurants

You are providing QR Codes and URL access to YOUR Mobile Directory.

Don Alm

HypeText · 9th Mar 2012, 05:33 PM

Originally Posted by rainingproblems

So you create a mobile website for a client and charge them a fee. Quite understandable. One of your other business models might include text message marketing.

If you decided to do a package deal such as mobile web plus text message marketing for a monthly fee, do you present it as such to your client? How do you justify a recurring monthly charge for the website (it's understandable if the client is paying maintenance on the mobile site)

Also, how do you justify a monthly fee if the client runs their own text messaging campaigns? I would think if they wanted to do it like that, then you'd be charging them just for set-up etc.

If you are Hosting the Mobile Website then you can obviously justify a Hosting Fee as well.

If you are hosting the site AND providing Text Message Marketing then you simply "bundle" the fees and there is less complication.

Keep in mind that if the client is managing their own campaigns, there will still be a monthly fee for whatever package they are on so bundling is still viable.

Danielm · 9th Mar 2012, 07:40 PM

What Hypetext said, if you are providing a service there is a fee for that. If they are using text messages and you pay for it, they should pay. If you build the website and host it, they pay, if you do monthly maintenance or even offer it, there should be a fee, etc.

Now, if you build it, don't host and don't offer maintenance then you can't really justify charging them money if you aren't actually doing anything.

rainingproblems · 9th Mar 2012, 09:54 PM

Originally Posted by midasman09

2 Items to "justify" a "Monthly Fee" for your mobile sites;

2) Set up a "Mobile Site Directory" for their area...where YOU provide the Domain .....thereby eliminating the NEED to get involved with "Re-Directs" for each of your clients. Take a gander at one I'm working on for restaurants in Princeton, NJ; Princeton Restaurants

You are providing QR Codes and URL access to YOUR Mobile Directory.

Don Alm

I like the idea of the mobile site directory....am thinking in this model you'll have to convince the business owner to list their site in your directory?

P.S. Are you from Jersey too?

rainingproblems · 9th Mar 2012, 10:16 PM

Originally Posted by HypeText

If you are Hosting the Mobile Website then you can obviously justify a Hosting Fee as well.

If you are hosting the site AND providing Text Message Marketing then you simply "bundle" the fees and there is less complication.

Keep in mind that if the client is managing their own campaigns, there will still be a monthly fee for whatever package they are on so bundling is still viable.

Perhaps I ought to clarify this further....

The client already has a website and their own hosting and therefore you are charging for the install on a sub-domain e.g. m.theirsite.com. Not unless you register a .mobi domain and host it...but am thinking you'd need access to their cpanel to put in their redirect code so it would seem pointless to do a .mobi instead of a m. subdomain. I understand that you can host the site on your own domain but then again why would a business owner want to redirect to a sub-domain on your site.

It would make sense if the monthly fee your charging is for site maintenance, not unless you offer no updates or update at per-hour costs

Am also assuming here that 'consultants' allowing their clients to run their own campaigns are going white label, is this correct? Because if you have having more than one client and are not white label, my assumption is that you have purchased several keywords and text credits and your clients are separated by keywords. It would therefore seem unlikely to allow them access to your account. The bigger question here then is if you're providing white label, why would a client go with your standard $99 package when they can go to the originator and pay a fraction of what you re charging them.

HypeText · 10th Mar 2012, 12:22 AM

Originally Posted by rainingproblems

Perhaps I ought to clarify this further....

The client already has a website and their own hosting and therefore you are charging for the install on a sub-domain e.g. m.theirsite.com. Not unless you register a .mobi domain and host it...but am thinking you'd need access to their cpanel to put in their redirect code so it would seem pointless to do a .mobi instead of a m. subdomain. I understand that you can host the site on your own domain but then again why would a business owner want to redirect to a sub-domain on your site.

It would make sense if the monthly fee your charging is for site maintenance, not unless you offer no updates or update at per-hour costs

One word of advice I will offer to you is this...

Letting a client "Self Manage" their Account often leads to high levels of attrition because they often have no idea what they are doing.

Managing a Clients campaigns not only maximizes the effectiveness of the campaigns and keeps the customer happy and paying, but it is also a very lucrative source of revenue.

By the way...its always good to provide your client with their log in information, even if you are managing the account. It gives them a feeling of control and keeps them in the loop,

Am also assuming here that 'consultants' allowing their clients to run their own campaigns are going white label, is this correct? Because if you have having more than one client and are not white label, my assumption is that you have purchased several keywords and text credits and your clients are separated by keywords. It would therefore seem unlikely to allow them access to your account. The bigger question here then is if you're providing white label, why would a client go with your standard $99 package when they can go to the originator and pay a fraction of what you re charging them.

You can still host the mobile site by Creating a CNAME Entry on their domain Registration and pointing it at the Server Hosting the Mobile site.

White Labels can be expensive and many of the companies offering them are also competing against their Resellers...often for less so you make a valid point.

We offer private Label Reseller Accounts and solve that problem by only doing business in our own geographic area and not signing Resellers within this area. That way Resellers are free to operate in their own back yard.

When and if a Marketer decides to go White Label this is something they certainly should take into consideration.

rainingproblems · 10th Mar 2012, 07:12 AM

HypeText...thanks for your great posts.

One thing you mentioned is to give your clients access to their accounts even though you manage them.

Follow me here for a sec. You are the marketing consultant. You are working with 5 clients at the moment. For profitability's sake, you are not going to purchase from 5 different providers. You might use a couple but at a min, you have at least 1 provider and purchased at least 5 keywords to differentiate your customers.

How exactly do you give your client their login details. Will they not be able to see the campaigns you're running for your other clients.

P.S. It could also mean that I totally don't get it either

chrisnotes · 10th Mar 2012, 07:25 AM

If you are using 1 provider for all of your clients, did you purchase a reseller package? If so, this would allow each of your customers the ability to access and manage their own campaigns and such. However, I do not advise this since most business owners are going to be overwhelmed and could mess things up. After all, you are the consultant and managing everything yourself will justify recurring monthly payments and put more money into your pocket.

rainingproblems · 10th Mar 2012, 07:35 AM

Originally Posted by chrisnotes

If you are using 1 provider for all of your clients, did you purchase a reseller package? If so, this would allow each of your customers the ability to access and manage their own campaigns and such. However, I do not advise this since most business owners are going to be overwhelmed and could mess things up. After all, you are the consultant and managing everything yourself will justify recurring monthly payments and put more money into your pocket.

Hey Chris

Am thinking going forward that is probably the most prudent thing to do, have a reseller account. My reference here was in terms of a consultant who is just starting out and hasn't yet acquired enough customers under his belt to purchase white label rights.

Thanks

HypeText · 10th Mar 2012, 08:22 AM

Originally Posted by rainingproblems

HypeText...thanks for your great posts.

One thing you mentioned is to give your clients access to their accounts even though you manage them.

Follow me here for a sec. You are the marketing consultant. You are working with 5 clients at the moment. For profitability's sake, you are not going to purchase from 5 different providers. You might use a couple but at a min, you have at least 1 provider and purchased at least 5 keywords to differentiate your customers.

How exactly do you give your client their login details. Will they not be able to see the campaigns you're running for your other clients.

P.S. It could also mean that I totally don't get it either

If you have more than couple Clients then you should have some sort or Reseller Account in which case you would be able to set up separate Accounts for each client.

While White Labels can be pricey, there are less expensive alternatives. For instance, we have private label accounts that allow you to operate under your own name and have access to all your clients accounts.

Buying an Account at retail and then trying to simply share the account with multiple accounts might seem like an easy way to go, but it really isnt and will just turn out to be less profitable for you.

Posted from Warrior Forum Reader for Android

chrisnotes · 11th Mar 2012, 06:53 AM

Keep in mind that most companies that offer reseller packages have FREE trials. If you use a basic "keyword" during that free trial then you can use it until you land your first 1 or 2 clients. Then you will be set to move forward. Trumpia has a great program IMO.

9th Mar 2012, 03:01 PM	#1
rainingproblems Active Warrior Join Date: 2009 Location: New Jersey Posts: 62 Thanks: 14 Thanked 15 Times in 9 Posts Blog Entries: 2	Justifying Recurring Monthly Charges Share on: So you create a mobile website for a client and charge them a fee. Quite understandable. One of your other business models might include text message marketing. If you decided to do a package deal such as mobile web plus text message marketing for a monthly fee, do you present it as such to your client? How do you justify a recurring monthly charge for the website (it's understandable if the client is paying maintenance on the mobile site) Also, how do you justify a monthly fee if the client runs their own text messaging campaigns? I would think if they wanted to do it like that, then you'd be charging them just for set-up etc.

9th Mar 2012, 05:17 PM	#2
midasman09 Banned Join Date: 2009 Posts: 1,279 Thanks: 7 Thanked 1,525 Times in 531 Posts	Re: Justifying Recurring Monthly Charges Share on: 2 Items to "justify" a "Monthly Fee" for your mobile sites; 1) Offer "Google Analaytics" as a Monthly Service to your Mobile clients showing How Many Visitors they've had to their Mobile Site...etc. (Take a look at what www.DudaMobile.com provides on a Monthly Basis to their Accounts) 2) Set up a "Mobile Site Directory" for their area...where YOU provide the Domain .....thereby eliminating the NEED to get involved with "Re-Directs" for each of your clients. Take a gander at one I'm working on for restaurants in Princeton, NJ; Princeton Restaurants You are providing QR Codes and URL access to YOUR Mobile Directory. Don Alm

9th Mar 2012, 07:40 PM	#4
Danielm HyperActive Warrior Join Date: 2010 Posts: 205 Thanks: 3 Thanked 22 Times in 20 Posts	Re: Justifying Recurring Monthly Charges Share on: What Hypetext said, if you are providing a service there is a fee for that. If they are using text messages and you pay for it, they should pay. If you build the website and host it, they pay, if you do monthly maintenance or even offer it, there should be a fee, etc. Now, if you build it, don't host and don't offer maintenance then you can't really justify charging them money if you aren't actually doing anything.

10th Mar 2012, 07:12 AM	#8
rainingproblems Active Warrior Join Date: 2009 Location: New Jersey Posts: 62 Thanks: 14 Thanked 15 Times in 9 Posts Blog Entries: 2	Re: Justifying Recurring Monthly Charges Share on: HypeText...thanks for your great posts. One thing you mentioned is to give your clients access to their accounts even though you manage them. Follow me here for a sec. You are the marketing consultant. You are working with 5 clients at the moment. For profitability's sake, you are not going to purchase from 5 different providers. You might use a couple but at a min, you have at least 1 provider and purchased at least 5 keywords to differentiate your customers. How exactly do you give your client their login details. Will they not be able to see the campaigns you're running for your other clients. P.S. It could also mean that I totally don't get it either

10th Mar 2012, 07:25 AM	#9
chrisnotes Active Warrior Join Date: 2011 Posts: 51 Thanks: 6 Thanked 7 Times in 7 Posts	Re: Justifying Recurring Monthly Charges Share on: If you are using 1 provider for all of your clients, did you purchase a reseller package? If so, this would allow each of your customers the ability to access and manage their own campaigns and such. However, I do not advise this since most business owners are going to be overwhelmed and could mess things up. After all, you are the consultant and managing everything yourself will justify recurring monthly payments and put more money into your pocket.

11th Mar 2012, 06:53 AM	#12
chrisnotes Active Warrior Join Date: 2011 Posts: 51 Thanks: 6 Thanked 7 Times in 7 Posts	Re: Justifying Recurring Monthly Charges Share on: Keep in mind that most companies that offer reseller packages have FREE trials. If you use a basic "keyword" during that free trial then you can use it until you land your first 1 or 2 clients. Then you will be set to move forward. Trumpia has a great program IMO.