When is it ok to say, It just won't work?

[Enigmabomb]

I'm doing some SEO/Design/Sale Development for a website. We decided we would do a 1 month trial of my work for $300, + 1/2 the profit after they recoup advertising expenses.

Here's the problem: They have a shitty product and practically no margin. So, even good SEO work is worthless if no one is searching for what they are selling. And it's tough to do PPC because one conversion doesn't cover the cost of the clicks.

I'm tapping pretty much every thing I know to do, and they still aren't converting. The fact that the guys running it are old, and are marketing it to youth doesnt help either. I've been making big changes based on that too.

Facebook ads
adwords
good links
Banner impressions on similiar niche forums
Reviews from influential blogs in the niche

I'm only a week into this campaign, and I can already tell it's not going to work. Do I keep riding it out until day 30? Do I refund them and tell them sorry? Do I take a different marketing approach?

Ever been in this situation where it just isnt working?

thanks

josh

 

[BigWill]

Really if its a shitty product you can't do much for them. I would just refund them and move on. That bonus you are hoping for from the sales will never come, no point to keep working for it.

 

[Rockpile]

Your time is worth more than nothing, which is what you're going to make by the sounds of it. Cut your losses and move on.

 

[Enigmabomb]

The only other solution I can think of is trying to find bigger margins in their items; but as it is their at a devils triangle so to speak: Any higher priced and they price themselves out of the market, and any lower priced, they basically are selling at cost.

The most difficult thing about this is they want ROI, and I just cant give that too them with 20% margin.

 

[trigatch4]

What WILL make everything work?

Tell them you are halting the campaign as the infrastructure needs to be updated before promotions can be successful. Refund them the money and tell them you'd be happy to change the scope of the project and help them further develop their concept so that it is more sellable.

Then... if you can help them do that... you can start the work you are currently supposed to be doing now.

They could take offense to the fact that you don't think there product and/or approach is suitable - so put it delicately. Worst thing that happens is you walk away and invest your time in a project with greater potential. On the flip side, you could get a bigger contract to do a complete overhaul. But... don't take that job unless you know you can make it work... otherwise that will be viewed as "2 failures" and you will have created a "negative reference" so to speak.

Good luck.

 

[Enigmabomb]

I think that's going to be the best concept. If they can get a 50% margin, I'd work for them all day long, and I think I'm doing them a great service by telling them this 4 days into the campaign rather than 4 months. Not to mention giving them the refund.