Random Thought on a Sales Lead from Yesterday

I had this lead (website owner, wanting a redesign and more) call me yesterday and tell me he would like someone to take control of marketing his website and work on a commission (only) basis.

I told him that we could only do hourly work, and would require to be paid for our efforts upfront. While saying it, I knew he wouldn’t do it, he of course is looking for a no risk situation. One where I make money only if he does.

I was thinking about it again, and its a great idea, and I’d love to provide something like that for him because EVERYONE would want it. Somehow there is a business opportunity there, but I’m just not coming up with it. I mean, EVERYONE, is looking for exactly what he’s looking for. And where there is a need or problem to solve, there is a business opportunity.

But doesn’t it really boil down to this : He wants some way to collect checks while he sits on his lazy butt doing nothing, and oh by the way he doesn’t want to invest anything upfront, and would like me to take the risk of marketing his business on the hopes it could sell something.

Uh, Hello! If I was willing to do that, why wouldn’t I just make it completely my business and cut him out entirely? For the cost of a $10.00 domain name, I think I would go ahead and cut out the profit scraper. He never told me what he would bringing to the table, to make his “cut” of the profits worth it?

So I’m probably wrong that there is even a business opportunity there, except in that he should be educated about what he’s really asking someone to do. Though I doubt he’d pay for that education either. At least next time, I will attempt to educate the person asking for this, and maybe that will open their eyes enough to actually pay for the service they are requesting.

I post this because I believe in honesty being the best policy, and we’ll all get further ahead with the truth.