Back Asswards Your Value System Is

I find the off-line business world to be caught up in the same sort of thing with regards to marketing as ya'll have stated.

Case in point.

I was asked about 3 weeks ago to meet with a local company to create a marketing plan for a solar product that they have produced. After 2 fairly in-depth meetings, I presented a proposal. I told them where the problems were, and that I would be willing to do the job for a percentage of each sell, but if I couldn't produce the sales, they didn't owe me a thing.

I would work to set up a network of distributors around the country (construction folks, home remodelers, etc.), and re-create the ads that they presently have in Mother Earth and a few other publications.

I also said that after 6 months I would have in place the folks they needed to continue the program, and I would back out, and stay on retainer to make sure the program continued if they wanted. Or, they could take the whole thing and run with it and I would ride off into the sunset.

Now the funny thing is that the folks with the product have been trying to sell the products around the country for 8 months.

They gave me over a thousand leads that has come in since they started, but had never sold 1 solar system.

After evaluation, I saw the problems with their lack of conversions, developed a solution, and didn't want anything for the service unless I produced results...but they balked.

The problem??? My price. They said I was asking for too much of the pie. The system sells for $1,300 to $1,800 dollars. Their total cost is $384.00. I asked for $100.00 for each sale. They only wanted to pay $25.00.

I was shocked. Here they are with NO sales, a good product, someone who would do the job for nothing unless results were produced, and would walk away after 6 months and they would have the whole marketing campaign in place...and they balked.

They are good old boy's that came up with a solar solution for a problem, but are "clueless" as to marketing.

Meeting with business owners and corporate management is always an adventure.


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John,

Great example of people who just don't appreciate the value of a sound marketing plan, let alone the person who develops it for them. I hope all your work & ideas were legally well-protected.

I must admit, I can see the difficulty in selling a "solar system". Zoning laws are ridiculous, and the cost of insurance against meteor showers & gravitational fluxes alone is just, well... astronomical. 8^}

Chris

At 100.00 of the 900.00 (approximate profit) I think you asked too little, therefore they figured you were asking too much. As Jay Abraham says, "When I gave my information and ideas away for free, no one acted on it. But at $3000 per hour everyone sees credibility." Jay also gets 25% of any profits.

Michael