Forum Moderators: LifeinAsia
I have a website about consumer widgets related to a certain profession. A member of this profession recently developed a specialized widget - not something that is directly available to consumers, but something that consumers could get only with the assistance of a professional widgeter. There are currently only a handful of professional widgeters who offer it.
Recently, I've been getting inquiries from professional widgeters eager to provide this widget to their clients. The widget isn't cheap, has potential for high demand, and I'm quite sure the widget inventor could profit from providing it through these other widgeters.
My questions are:
1) Would it be crass of me to contact the widget inventor and suggest a business relationship wherein I received a fee for referring interested professional widgeters to them? How would you approach the issue?
2) Assuming they were open to this, how would you work out the details?
Any and all suggestions greatly appreciated!
As for the contacting, how about a phone call? use the whois information if you don't already know the number
Are you trying to sell advertising, or do you wish to pursue a pay-for-performance model? Can you handle the transaction youurself, and just order the widget from the inventor? Can you trust them to pay you for a sale that might take a while?
Is there a tech-support component to this product? This would affect your ability to handle it yourself. Is there more information you could tell us?
This widget is something which needs to be customized for each client by a professional widgeter (which I am not) and manufactured in a widget lab. So no, I really can't handle that myself. I was thinking of some type of pay-per-lead type arrangement - . It would be difficult if not impossible to track actual sales as the widget-customization and orders would take place offline, so I'm thinking perhaps some flat amount for referring a new widgetter?
About 15% of my site's search traffic is looking for information on this widget and this AM I received yet another inquiry from a very interested professional widgeter. The widget inventor has a bee-you-tee-ful Flash site ... which you need to dig through the SERPS with a fine-toothed comb to find! Whereas my ugly-but-functional little site is quite visible.
I would just call the person up and offer referrals for a fee. Tell them about the PPC program, and do it yourself. It doesnt have to be fancy, just effective and measurable.
And my ugly but flash free site works well too. Funny.
