Considering Taking On Sales Partner - Any Advice?

[NickPower]

Hello All,

I know many of you are savvy and much more experienced in business than myself, so I hope if you have any knowledge in the area of taking on a sales partner, you might be generous enough to share.

Basically, I have a very successful Web Design & Marketing business. We provide amazing websites and deliver leads to our clients via the websites and marketing we create.

We also do well in terms of new customers coming our way both through referrals and marketing of our own - BUT IT'S TOO SLOW!!! (I actually posted about this a while back).

Seriously, we could handle growth at 10x the rate we are currently seeing.

So, I'm considering finding and taking on a 50-50 partner in this business who can spearhead the sales side of the business (the face to face, over the phone, closing deals side).

I've been able to do very well at this myself over the years but I feel the time has come to bring in someone with a true talent for sales and drive to match.

So, would you have any advice on where to begin to find such a person?

Realistically it's a good salesperson who is motivated and a self starter but also ready to take the plunge into the unknown and betting on themselves because that's what this would mean.

The product is not a gamble, it sells and we have a large number of case studies and testimonials to back us up.

With my modest sales ability and lazy work ethic, I've been able to build this into something pretty great. I believe the sky's the limit with the right person spearheading the sales.

I've tried advertising via Gumtree - quality of applicant wasn't there, not that surprising.

I could post on s1Jobs.com or something like that, but I don't think my ideal candidate is on a job site as those are for people looking for salaried positions.

I came across Agent Base thanks to the people on this forum but I've seen mixed reviews and again, I'm left wondering if the type of person on there is a good fit.

My feeling is that my ideal partner is without a doubt already using LinkedIn but so far I'm struggling to filter down using their search facility, although I have requested to join some sales orientated groups - perhaps that will bare some fruit.

Anyway, I just wanted to throw this out there in case some very generous person on here has experience or knowledge in this area and can shed some light.

Thanks for reading.

Nick Ferrara

 

[Nochexman]

Hi Nick, from your description I would be surprised if you had not already met someone who might fit your bill. It does not sound like you have had a sheltered existence!

Alternatively, you could write individually to your extensive personal contact list and ask if they could suggest someone to you. You might also find that some of the people you contact put themselves forward.

 

[NickPower]

I'm going through my personal contacts trying to think of anyone who might fit the bill. Many of my friends make their income selling but I'm struggling to picture any of them leaving the security of a salary. Maybe I'm wrong but I don't see it.

Good idea though about contacting those people to ask them for potential candidates. I'm in the process of doing that.

Thanks for taking the time to respond.

 

[The Byre]

I'm considering finding and taking on a 50-50 partner in this business who can spearhead the sales side of the business (the face to face, over the phone, closing deals side).

"Any advice?"

Yes - don't!

Nearly every time I see a partnership, it ends in tears! Get an employee or a sales agent and pay him or her a fat commission, but keep them at arms length - for the sake of both of you!

 

[The Byre]

P.S. A proper telephone number and an address would go a long way to get someone like me to actually pick up the phone and ask about prices and options.

You claim to be the on-line marketing expert, but you fail to market yourself properly. Before anybody is going to book or contact a one-man show, they have to get for who that man is and what he is all about. In other words, emotional proximity - how the hell can you create emotional proximity, when you remain anonymous!!!???

 

[NickPower]

Very good points made. I am currently working on a new website version which will be live this week with all kinds of changes (the one you see currently is a year old).

One of the changes is adding a business address and going back to the landline number. I've travelled a bit this year which is why there isn't an address and currently a mob number.

What you said struck a chord though, I've always been taught to focus on the customer first because their biggest concern is themselves, they don't give a hoot about me, until I've demonstrated I can solve their problem.

But, having a bio on there for myself so they can start to get to know me is something I'm going to implement in the new build.

Thanks for your input.

 

[JamesComer]

Hi Nick

I hope you are well.

I am a recently self employed accountant and like you at times can find everything moving a bit too slowly. So I have also looked at alternatives for potentially a sales indidivdual or someone banging the drum so to speak. The thing that I have found is that in your line of work where people rely on you to create their image of the business in web form it is very much people sell the product. I for one, would be more impressed if i spoke directly with you (the guy who would be managing and building the site) rather than a generic sales person.

From my end, I have found that focusing my mind on marketing and who I am trying to attract has worked a lot better than having someone else try to sell my services. This has led to not only an increase in leads but more importantly quality leads.

My advice, would be to spend some quality time brainstorming your ideal client and then work a marketing / sales plan from there. You probably then wont need a sales person and not be burdened with giving some of your business away.

Anyhow I hope that helps in some form or another. If you want more tips on the brainstorming I have been on a few sales / lead generator type course and would be happy to share the highlights. PM me if you would like this.

Thanks

James

 

[Gecko001]

One of the changes is adding a business address and going back to the landline number. I've travelled a bit this year which is why there isn't an address and currently a mob number.

Yes definitely get a landline number. When you phone someone on a landline, you are fairly certain that they are in their office with all the information that they need at hand and you have their undivided attention. Also you are fairly certain the person at the other end of the phone will be able to talk freely and not worry about who is listening to the conversation.

 

[AllUpHere]

Hi Nick



From my end, I have found that focusing my mind on marketing and who I am trying to attract has worked a lot better than having someone else try to sell my services. This has led to not only an increase in leads but more importantly quality leads.

My advice, would be to spend some quality time brainstorming your ideal client and then work a marketing / sales plan from there. You probably then wont need a sales person and not be burdened with giving some of your business away.


Thanks

James

I completely agree with this. A service based business like web design or accounting doesn't need a sales person, it just needs a decent marketing strategy. Using sales people just engineers a competitive disadvantage into your business.

 

[john1989]

Completely agree with the @The Byre

Look at the legal forum and you will see regular fall outs and disagreements between partners.

 

[Siraj Ali]

you could write individually to your extensive personal contact list and ask if they could suggest someone to you.

 

[NickPower]

I completely agree with this. A service based business like web design or accounting doesn't need a sales person, it just needs a decent marketing strategy. Using sales people just engineers a competitive disadvantage into your business.

You say it engineers a competitive disadvantage into your business. Can you elaborate on that, as I'm not sure how that could be the case.

Have an excellent sales person going out and bringing in deals at a commission for example - what's the downside?

Thanks for the PM btw.