::Conversation with a mainstream site owner:: Advice needed.

[xenigo]

Here's my response to a conversation we just had on the phone. He says he wants to try to figure this stuff out on his own. He expressed interest in having me work for a percentage of sales, instead of as an hourly employee. He said it was getting too expensive. He also threw in "well you don't have any experience in the truck industry..." to which I responded "no, but I can sell Viagra online without being a Pharmacist. I can sell anything."

I told him I'd do it for 40%, and by my research is a very fair figure. I need some input.

I was giving our conversation some thought, and I have a few points to mention. 40% as someone who is generating the traffic for your site is on par, if not below, industry standard for doing what I’m offering to do for you. Keep in mind you’re starting from zero. You don’t have any online business to speak of at the moment, so everything I’m doing for you is profit you wouldn’t have had otherwise.

Here’s what I can do, that you will have difficulty doing on your own:

• Purchased traffic campaign management: I can make sure all of the traffic we buy is converting properly, and ensure that we’re not overpaying for unproductive traffic.
• Search Engine Optimization: I have the ability to generate search engine friendly content that pulls traffic.
• Content Production: I can write articles based on the videos, and photos taken in your shop – product installation tutorials, new product highlights, etc.
• Networking with other webmasters: I know how to get people to listen to me, as an experienced webmaster. I have a lot of experience with traffic generation via ‘trading traffic’.
• Day-to-Day site management: This is a pain in the ass, and you have a shop to run. You don’t want to be tied behind your computer learning how to overcome all the technical problems (and required site maintenance) that come up from day to day.

And you should give this some thought, because it is in your best interest to have me handle this for you. This isn’t something anyone can easily pick up and run with. I know you said you want to do this on your own, but I don’t think that’s very realistic. Also, all of the above site responsibilities don’t require me to know anything about truck technology. I get the product information straight from the manufacturers, etc. If I need to do a product review, I’ll come down and test the product myself.