We have an idea we’d like to try with a few folks who think they could be good at pitching Highrise.
I’m not sure if we’d call the idea a reseller program, affiliate program, or a partner program, but we do think it will be a great opportunity for you to make money selling a product that often sells itself.
If you’re a reseller or a salesperson or someone who thinks they can get Highrise in front of the right people, drop us an email at svn [at] 37signals.com and include “37signals Affiliate” in the subject.
We’re going to be selective and only pick about 10 companies/people to work with on this program so serious inquiries only please. Thank you.
Bazily
on 25 Oct 07Oddly, this doesn’t seem to be the simple, 37 Signals, way to attack the problem, which I can only guess is lack of subscribers.
From your analysis, you probably know you need to get users to try Highrise before they become subscribers. So what’s the best way to increase trial use?
The best part of the story is that you already have thousands of trial users identified, who either signed up when you launched or are users of other 37S products.
In the web world, free products or longer trials usually work, especially with such a sticky application like CRM where I’d be locked in if I used it for a while.
I’d be interested to see you market different trial versions, maybe 1 longer, 1 with more features, and another with no expiration, to your existing dormant trial users.
The cost of running an extra 500 users on your system has to be cheaper than all the upfront work of finding resellers, coding the reseller screens, and working out the legal/terms/conditions.
Plus, do you really want someone running around representing your brand image? When it comes to making the sale or protecting your brand you’re worked hard to build, they’ve got an easy choice.
JF
on 25 Oct 07Bazily: Actually, Highrise is our fastest growing product ever. Its doing exceptionally well. I’m actually surprised how well it’s doing so far.
But it’s also our newest product so we’re experimenting with some promotional ideas to see how they work with products that aren’t as established as products like Basecamp or Backpack are.
Tim
on 25 Oct 07I would suspect todays earlier post about:
"What is the best way to get customers who signup to actually use a product?"is related to this new cause for marketing Highrise. I wonder what the conversion rate of trial to paying customers is for Highrise compared to the other 37signal products.
Furthermore, one might allude to the fact that 37signals might want to push Highrise into the enterprise market from yesterdays post entitled “Enterprise Software Sucks”
Of course, that’s just what my 8 ball says.
Kevin Milden
on 25 Oct 07We cut out the middle man and just send people directly to your site. Maybe there are services such as training, set-up or integration that can be sold.
How much margin can really be made on reselling an application that everyone knows 37 Signals created? Kinda like trying to resell Google Apps.
I admire your tact of turning you biggest fans and customers into your sales team. Unlike Salesforce.com’s sales team who is overly aggressive if they get a whiff that you are interested.
pwb
on 26 Oct 07Bazily, there’s no problem. Businesses like to increase sales.
Kevin, there are 10s of millions of internet users who have never heard of 37Signals or Basecamp. This is a reasonable way to push the product without adding headcount or major spending.
Matt Brown
on 26 Oct 07@Tim
“Ahhh The Force is strong in this one.”
Brian Breslin
on 26 Oct 07you know, I’ve got a highrise account, and ultimately never use it. Not because its bad, but i haven’t seen enough straightforward tutorials as to how i can use it to its potential and make it seamless in my life. please put out a series of real life how-to guides on how to use it for sales, support, etc.
Stacy
on 26 Oct 07Not enough margin in web apps to go this route and actually pay salespeople an attractive amount. A CRM affiliate is not the same as a book affiliate (like Amazon) because the market size is not there, for one thing.
I think thes CRM tools have a smallish market. That’s why SalesForce.com has created a bigger pie for itself with all kinds of new integration thingies.
It would be better hitch Highrise onto other tools to drive sales. Integrate more with other apps.
Jim
on 26 Oct 07“Actually, Highrise is our fastest growing product ever. Its doing exceptionally well. I’m actually surprised how well it’s doing so far.”
That kind of sounds like spin… fasting growing? It seems like it would be common sense that your newest product would be the fastest growing, but is it making any money?
DHH
on 26 Oct 07Jim, we’ve never launched a paying product that has not been profitable. Our primary measure of growth is cash money, not eyeballs or other secondary indicators. So when we’re talking about “fastest growing”, we’re talking about growth in money made.
Mike
on 26 Oct 07You have to think the VC money from Jeff Bezos is playing a part in this. The VC people are turning up the heat and 37s is scrambling to hit quarterly targets.
Can I have a troll cap?
JF
on 26 Oct 07Man, the cynics are out in full force! This is humorous.
Guys/gals: Highrise is rockin. All is well. We’re just experimenting with some new ideas to see if how well they work. We’re keeping an open mind and trying some stuff. It’s healthy. It’s a good thing.
FYI: We’ve had an Affiliate Program for Basecamp and Backpack for a couple of years now. Highrise doesn’t have one yet, which is one of the reasons why we have some flexibility to try something a little different this time.
Mike
on 26 Oct 0737s:
Don’t let these people drag you down, they just want to see you fail.
Bazily
on 26 Oct 07@JF: I don’t doubt it’s your fastest growing product, and I’m only suggesting another way to fix the issue hinted at in the post. I just think that other promotional opportunities exist that would be easier and simpler.
@pwb: If a business is considering a new marketing effort, there better be a reason. An experimental, cash paying (not credits like Basecamp) affiliate program is not #1 on the list of how to increase sales. As much as businesses like increasing sales, they don’t like wasting time and money.
Warning to all, please keep your opinions of the internets, they are not welcome.
JF
on 26 Oct 07Affiliate program is not #1 on the list of how to increase sales.
Bazily, you’re in a battle with yourself now. We never said anything about #1 way or #2 way or #3 way—you did. This wasn’t a post about the best way to do anything, it’s a post about one idea we’d like to experiment with.
Back to work.
Patrick
on 27 Oct 07I have a lot customers who would be perfect referrals for basecamp and your other products. In fact I have already recommended your products to other people. We currently use Basecamp and Highrise in our business and love it. I would love to get some kind of incentive for recommending it to others.
Rob Poitras
on 29 Oct 07If they are going to sell highrise then they should also be able to sell your other products. There are still so many small business that aren’t really web savvy (probably haven’t heard of 37S) but would really benefit from using your software.
This discussion is closed.