Hey, y'all --

I'm so excited! I got my first marketing client this morning!

We're doing it on a commission/royalty basis -- I'll get a percentage of the new business I bring in.

One day, I'll be at the point where I can charge five figures up front, plus royalties, but for now, royalties will do just fine.

This solves problems for them -- they would like to expand, but don't want to waste money on advertising that doesn't work. And they're happy to pay on performance. Furthermore, I like feeling I've earned the money they will be paying me.

I love the idea of making money by helping other people make money!

Life is good.

Thanks to everyone who has offered encouragement and suggestions. May you all be richly blessed.

I love my new job!

- Valeria

Congrats Valeria!

The experience will be worth more than the $$ it brings in.

Valeria,

One of the things I do to add revenue to my projects, when at all possible, is earning a percentage on any color printing that's used. The wholesale printer I use pays me for life on any new clients I bring in, even if they stop using my ohter services. I can't put url's here, so email me at schulte @ nmoa.org and I send you the link.

<expunge off-topic commentary>

Congratulations, Valeria!

The first one's always the hardest.

Now all you have to do is just wash, rinse, and repeat
your way to the greatest heights of success!

Wishing you all the best in '08!

Hey Valeria,

Congratulations on getting your first project.

Though you'll certainly gain a lot of experience from this project, I suggest you still charge the client a small fee up front.

Doing this will help you in two ways:
a) First, the guy will be serious about implementing your advice and not take it casually.
b) Second, it will put some cash into your pocket in case the guy decides to cheat you out of your money later.

The second one is more likely to happen because at most times you're working with a complete stranger.

And since this is an offline project, there's also no way to be sure about the numbers unless you have your own employees taking and fulfilling the orders.

The owner of the business might argue that some of the new sales were obtained due to the success of his previous advertising campaigns...and there could be no way to prove him wrong.

- Dean.

Happy New Year, y'all!

Thanks for the great advice.

Bruce (and Dean), you're right about not being able to track the sales. I do plan to code everything possible, but no, I won't have access to the results.

It will boil down to trust. I agree, it's not an ideal situation for the long run, but I can live with that for this first project. After all, I need the experience, so payment of any kind is a bonus to me. Even a huge success for the owner won't bring in huge bucks for me -- Michael is right about the experience being worth more than the dollar amount I will receive for this project.

And it beats the alternative -- signing up and paying for the popular entry-level course so often mentioned on this board.

Not that I have anything at all against paying to learn -- shoot, one of the reasons I need more money is to pay for going back to school! I would stay in school forever if I could, so why not see if I can make that happen?

Nothing like giving the gray matter a good workout, ya know?

Dean, I like your suggestion of charging a little bit up front. I will try to swing that for the next client -- the first one and I have already agreed to the terms.

Michael, Jessalynn, thank you so much!

Schulte, I'll email you for further information later today -- or if you see this, can you email me through the board with the info?

2008 is gonna be great!

- Valeria

Dude...sometimes you are just too mean.

Congratulations Valerie 2008,

Just make sure that your client can reach you at all times. Good customer support and good lines of communication will build a good working relationship. Remember, in order for someone to want to continue working with you, they have to get to know you, like you and trust you.

Here's wishing you many more clients in 2008,
MRRB