Freelance Sales
Discussion
Hey all,
We're really struggling with sales - we're a small team and most of the time we're flat out and we don't make time to do sales - meaning we go from super busy to empty and repeat.
Is there anyone here doing freelance / commission based sales, or anyone who has used any sort of lead generating system or a freelance sales person they would recommend?
Cheers,
Alex.
We're really struggling with sales - we're a small team and most of the time we're flat out and we don't make time to do sales - meaning we go from super busy to empty and repeat.
Is there anyone here doing freelance / commission based sales, or anyone who has used any sort of lead generating system or a freelance sales person they would recommend?
Cheers,
Alex.
Altrezia said:
Hey all,
We're really struggling with sales - we're a small team and most of the time we're flat out and we don't make time to do sales - meaning we go from super busy to empty and repeat.
We're really struggling with sales - we're a small team and most of the time we're flat out and we don't make time to do sales - meaning we go from super busy to empty and repeat.
Altrezia said:
Simpo Two said:
If you're flat out making websites what will you do when the salesman brings in a biggy to add to the pile and says the client wants it by Monday?
Extra resources are always easy to find. 
You'll need to build a database of potential customers and nurture them along the sales cycle until you can integrate it with your production availability. A lot of people think that you turn up, offer a price and shake hands but in reality you need to manage your customers to be in a position to purchase your service at a time that is mutually beneficial.
I suppose I could, but I really hate selling so was hoping there was an easy way out of it 
What are your plans for the future? To me a freelance sales person would be a short term solution - might not always be available, might get a long term contract with someone else, etc.
You really want your sales to be in-house, in my opinion, so you can teach them how you want to sell, what you want to sell, how you guys work so they're not selling unrealistic expectations, etc. The last thing you want is to start working with someone, build up a good working relationship with them and then they leave.
So for me, there would be two options open to you. Either budget over the next few months to save up to hire a sales guy. You could hire someone on a commission only basis, but I've generally found that the only people that go for those jobs are sales people that can't get a decent salary-plus-commission job.
Or, pimp yourselves out to a few agencies to handle their overflow. You don't need to worry about sales then.
You really want your sales to be in-house, in my opinion, so you can teach them how you want to sell, what you want to sell, how you guys work so they're not selling unrealistic expectations, etc. The last thing you want is to start working with someone, build up a good working relationship with them and then they leave.
So for me, there would be two options open to you. Either budget over the next few months to save up to hire a sales guy. You could hire someone on a commission only basis, but I've generally found that the only people that go for those jobs are sales people that can't get a decent salary-plus-commission job.
Or, pimp yourselves out to a few agencies to handle their overflow. You don't need to worry about sales then.
Just a note webby guys, Ive recently gone with a company that want to work to increase sales on my site - a new sort of approach but not unique.
Its not cheap circa £50k per annum inc SEO but the hook is initially a complete site makeover after analysis and discussion, with technical SEO, full sales funnel analysis inc bounce and abandon, link bait and tuning plus over time blogging etc.
The first 3 months are site work and technical seo, this will make enough of a improvement (they say) to cover the ongoing SEO and more so it should pay for itself in 3 months to further improve. If after the 3 month revamp I am not happy I don't have to go with them for the SEO, marketing, link bait programme etc and I will have had a full site revamp for not a lot.
If I do agree to go with them and we miss SALES targets agreed then they are prepared to rebate 20% of the yearly invoice.
Its quite a partnership that we have both bought into and its because they need ongoing revenue so have turned from a site maker to a business getter and its not really rocket science as long as prices are competitive and service good any webby can drive sales (?)
Its not cheap circa £50k per annum inc SEO but the hook is initially a complete site makeover after analysis and discussion, with technical SEO, full sales funnel analysis inc bounce and abandon, link bait and tuning plus over time blogging etc.
The first 3 months are site work and technical seo, this will make enough of a improvement (they say) to cover the ongoing SEO and more so it should pay for itself in 3 months to further improve. If after the 3 month revamp I am not happy I don't have to go with them for the SEO, marketing, link bait programme etc and I will have had a full site revamp for not a lot.
If I do agree to go with them and we miss SALES targets agreed then they are prepared to rebate 20% of the yearly invoice.
Its quite a partnership that we have both bought into and its because they need ongoing revenue so have turned from a site maker to a business getter and its not really rocket science as long as prices are competitive and service good any webby can drive sales (?)
Undirection said:
How do you generate business now? You say you don't have much time to spend on sales, is it that or is it that sales can be quite hard and for a non-sales person and this presents you (and many people in business) with a huge challenge?
Most of our work comes to us - so yes you're right - it's a scary prospect to go selling. I am a programmer which is about as far away from Salesman as you can get, personality wise. Give me a dark room full of screens anyday!I call a comms manager a strategic sales and partnership guy - ie he will look at the wider remit of the company and develop a customer offering to suit it - rather than saying we do websites, they will look at a wider picture.
Developing a recurring revenue stream for web developers is crucial or they just end up pimping themselves to whoever is busy or worse still adding SEO to the "ability" list.
As a "customer" I am over the moon with the approach of my new webby and I am happy to give them a large amount based on the fact that they are working on every aspect of gaining my company profitable sales. HOWEVER its early days and may go mammaries north
Developing a recurring revenue stream for web developers is crucial or they just end up pimping themselves to whoever is busy or worse still adding SEO to the "ability" list.
As a "customer" I am over the moon with the approach of my new webby and I am happy to give them a large amount based on the fact that they are working on every aspect of gaining my company profitable sales. HOWEVER its early days and may go mammaries north
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