Marketing required

[John Clavey]

I am sure I am in the same situation as many UK businesses where by I have a great product that is selling ok, but I would like to take it to the next level and get more customers.

Are there companies out there that would like to take on the marketing and sales for a share of the profits?

 

[WebshopMechanic]

I'll be honest John, this is unlikely. The reason for this is because everyone has bills to pay and there is usually a ton of front-loaded work and results are not 100% (as much as I'd like to say they are). Yes, there are lots of great people out there who can deliver (I'd like to think I'm one of them) but they do need to earn a living.

However, on the flip side, I totally see things from your perspective and that you don't want to throw a load of cash at something without the guarantee of results. My suggestion to you is to educate yourself / your people internally to market the business. That way, you future-proof yourself and things will not fall off a cliff when the relationship comes to an end (which will happen eventually, on good or bad terms).

I started my own site (WebshopMechanic.com) to help educate small businesses about marketing and ecommerce so they can do it themselves. I heard so many bad stories about people being fleeced by marketing agencies with quirky names or they were spending cash on ads without knowing what they were actually doing, so I decided to make it super simple.

If you understand how it all works then, if you want to outsource it, you can do but at least you know you won't have the wool pulled over your eyes by some bean-bag-yielding agency.

You can check it out if you like. I'm not selling anything.

I'm also around here if you need to ask any questions in a particular area.

Matt

 

[John Clavey]

Thanks Matt

Yes, it is a catch 22 situation for me. I am a software developer and very good at it, the product developed is making money and will continue to make a profit, but I don't want to become a sales/marketing person, I am happy to outsource that side of the business, but I don't have enough income as yet to pay the huge bills these companies want.

Yet long term a company that took profits from this would do very well if they were willing to invest their own time (as I have already done) . Surely there are companies out there who are successful enough to invest some time using profits made from other deals to reap the rewards in the near future ?

Appreciate your answer

John

 

[alex360]

Hi John I see more and more businesses recruiting self employed people, I also understand Matt point, You may people who could very interested if the commission offered is attractive and that join Matt point they will have bills to pay so they need to make a decent salary, you also need to keep in mind that these people will represent your business on the front of your customers so they need to be brilliant. PM me

 

[CharlotteS]

Hi John,
Think of it this way around - say the software that you develop was a sales tool or automates processes that will save on staffing costs, or maybe it's a procurement tool made to save on costs. You're pretty sure that, used correctly and implemented as intended it will increase profit (or induce savings) for the company that you are selling to. Are you happy to develop it and work on it, implement into their current systems for free based on your client's future profit/savings? How are you going to calculate what was a result of your software and what was from something else? How are you going to legally protect yourself (you'll have to fork out for legal assistance on this).

A better route would be to look at employing someone on a high commision/low salary basis - but then will you really be getting the best person - possibly not.

I think your best routes are either to do as Matt say's do a little bit of self-education and maybe try one or two new ideas, or alternatively put aside some budget - but work with a marketing agency or freelancer who can maybe just offer to do just a small project for you, and as you see results (and gain income) build up from there.

 

[Alan]

Just a thought, if your software is good and selling, instead of looking for a marketing company to 'invest' in it, why not look for a private investor to invest in it.

I know Dragon's den is a sh*t representation of investors, but the concept of all those businesses pitching is mainly they have something and they haven't got the cash to promote it to the next level. The ones that get investment are the one with a working product and have sales. Sounds like you have a product and you have sales.

 

[John Clavey]

Indeed, I think it would be a great product for an investor to invest in, but again this is a new world to me and I wouldn't know where to start looking for an investor. I have had previous offers from friends of friends on a previous project and I have have tried advertising on the Angel Investor website, but no offers as yet.

I believe if I can find the right person to take this forward then it will be a great success.

But I also can't afford the risk of ploughing money into a marketing company which I have no experience of. OK this might be the best way forward, but how do I know? They might just take my money and make a few calls that produces zero business. I would rather find a single person who has a track record and other income who is willing to invest a bit of his/her time for a commission .

All advise so far much appreciated

 

[antropy]

bean-bag-yielding agency

Hahaha love this

I'm not selling anything.

I've seen your posts and they're all incredibly well written, stuff like that takes time and experience and as you mentioned everyone has bills to pay, so you must be selling something?

 

[CharlotteS]

It’s seriously not going to happen - no one worth their salt is going to work on that basis, and while in theory I agree that it’s a leap of faith to use a new supplier - it’s the same for ANY supplier - so you do your research, get references etc, or just don’t go down that route just yet.

Or what about a skills swap - supplying development in exchange?

Or - depending on your software - go down the tendering route (though you’re likely to need to pay an agency to do it well).

(P.s you never did answer my question about supplying your software on a commission basis )

 

[John Clavey]

Skills swap, as in I provide the software solution for someone to sell and make a nice profit whilst I continue to add new features, exactly what I am offering

Yes, I am looking for a company to supply my software solution on a commission basis.

I can't help but think of this the other way around. If I was a keen salesperson I would looking for solutions to sell, if I couldn't find any I would either have to supply the same as everyone else (like selling quickbooks or similar) or I would have the expense of getting a software developer to create my solution to sell. What I am offering if easy, a working solution, proven in the marketplace and ready to sell in big numbers, someone should be biting my hand off !

 

[Jason Potter]

I own a marketing company and I work with several companies on a profit share basis. Get in touch for a chat

 

[leadresults]

Our business model is 'Paid On Results Marketing', please feel free to ping me a message with more information on your business and what you are selling...

 

[Andrew Robinson]

Hi, are you still in need of marketing help? If so, there are pro's and con's to essentially 'no win no fee' marketing. I'll happily go through with you what we can offer and see whether it is appropriate for you and your business. Please do get in touch

 

[AWA Training]

I am kind of in the same boat. Only rather software, i write educational online programmes. AS with the above, it is in profit but need help to take it to the next level.
I tried magazines for diddly squat back, with them wanting to waste more money tweaking adverts. for more months of dolling out precious cash.

Sadly i think marketing is a double-edged sword, it costs money (they also have bills to pay). But you need the cash to invest in the first place.

 

[Furqan721]

I am not the marketing guy here but I will recommend you to go for a business partner who has good marketing skills and who can promote your business and decide a share with the partner!

Finding a marketing agency or someone self employed person will be difficult to deal in long run!

 

[SEO.co.uk]

Private message me your number. We can discuss various options available.

 

[AWA Training]

I think on consideration of the above, the best thing is to look at organic ways of growing.

Networking with the right people, with people who could easily invest in your venture. You could engage with a marketing or PR company, but i sense this is going to cost and whether or not you convert leads to a sale they are still going to want their pound of flesh.

Like people here, i too have a product to sell, which is selling reasonably well too, but ready to go to the next level. However, i am rapidly coming to the conclusion it is the back of an envelope that is needed with some good old fashioned brain storming. Considering some marketing stunts and a push to get the boat out to sea.

 

[AWA Training]

This is a stock photo, but whenever i think of a good business idea, a good product, i think of a ship on the shore waiting for the tide to come in, to make it float. The trick is, getting the boat out to sea (the market) - if that makes sense https://www.google.co.uk/search?rlz...2...0i67k1.0.0Kq8-8syCLw#imgrc=MaKhDrHIrW2NCM:

 

[James Eaton]

I can see this is a dated thread; if you still need assistance however Madness Marketing in Portsmouth will make considerations for assisting new starters with their marketing etc. subject to understanding the business and offering.

Thanks

 

[John Clavey]

I am still looking for people who want to market my live scoring systems.

see my LeagueAppLive website