dvice needed - project management

[fraggle]

advice - paysite, progect management
Dam this is hard to work out

Basically i have been asked to quote for the entire management of 10 niche based paysites (fully developed)
an affiliate scheme (ditto - the usual php referer system)
2 tgps - functioning with content but not much surfer activity
manage and update content area - inc purchasing
manage/outsourec all tech
and provide marketing for the affiliate scheme, TGP and sites (30domains available)

can anyone give me their views on charges, interests, potential slip ups anything
are there any project management companies around?

Im thinking a flat fee, a pay option (on profits) and costs..

cheers

[Bill]

You are giving far too little information as to the actual specs of the job for anyone to give you sound advice.

Altho, in general, your idea of a flat fee plus costs plus a percentage is a good one.

The problem is that it sounds as tho you may be dealing with inexperienced capital, and since it is harder than ever now to be successful with a paysite system, you are likely to have dissapointed clients when they realize that there is more to this game than putting up a paysite and raking in the money.

[fraggle]

Hi Bill

I know i am being vague - this partly as i dont want tol go into too much detail and secondly as i am reviewing them as we speak

Im interested in discussion as it will help me progress with my thoughts and expand ideas a little - also thought it may be interesting...

I also understand your point about clients expecting too much - i dont think (and hope) this will be too much of an issue - also there is a pretty good marketing infrastructure in place...

Its as much the concept and approach im interested in rather than specifics really.

I sent you a pm BTW.

[Bill]

"concept and approach" -- can you clarify this please?

By concept, do you mean the concept of the paysite system, or the concept of how to manage such a task?

In general, I would start by taking a yellow pad and pen and breaking the job apart into it's natural components.

Identify the parts of the job that you _don't_ know how to price- this gives you your first research goals, finding prices for the components you don't understand.

Establish how much money you have to spend, and start creating a budget. Remember, capital always tells you it has more money than it actually has.

Remember, everything _always_ costs twice as much, and takes twice as long, as your worst estimates. If you follow that rule, you can't go too far wrong.

[fraggle]

Conceptually - i mean the concept of taking on an entire system in the form of project management - its not a regular occurence and thus there are no business models with which i can compare (in this sector anyway)

Approach - with reference to the above i am interested in opinion on how people would approach such a service - just ideas, potential pitfalls etc

Doubling the time and costs - hehe I totally agree - this should be applied to everything in business i think

So far i have broken the lot down into blocks each with tech, marketing, outsource and budgeting requirements -most can be done in house as ive got a graphic designer and programmer. Even so (and like any busienss plan but perhaps more so) estimating revenues and costs is very difficult - best and worst case scenario here i come

[Bill]

Sounds like an interesting challenge. Not necessarily my idea of a good time anymore, because a lot of ego massaging will be involved, tons more so if your capital is as inexperienced as I still suspect they are.

It's actually a pretty typical business management problem, except that this business is porn, with the emotional charge and risks that brings.

Probably the safest thing for you to do is to propose to begin the job at a weekly "salary"(actually a contracted management fee per week) payment with an option on a percentage if the project succeeds past a certain defined point. That way you can jump in and start working, they have the benefit of being able to change their minds.

This is equivalent to a fixed fee plus costs plus a percentage, except that it is in effect cancellable week by week. In your contract/letter of agreement define a series of review dates, at which time the contract can be renegotiated. You can raise your fee, propose a bid for the whole job, or your clients can "fire" you, on those dates.

Anyway, sounds interesting.

[fraggle]

yes I think the main challenge is the contract

No seriously I am looking forward to it, I plan to put a member of staff on to the majority of the work under my direction.

Im interested to see how productive it is as I have never started with a product almost in its entirety - its like working back though it all before you can start.

Thanks for your views on the contract this is useful and appropriate.

[rockhound]

Originally posted by Bill
Sounds like an interesting challenge. Not necessarily my idea of a good time anymore, because a lot of ego massaging will be involved, tons more so if your capital is as inexperienced as I still suspect they are.

It's actually a pretty typical business management problem, except that this business is porn, with the emotional charge and risks that brings.

Probably the safest thing for you to do is to propose to begin the job at a weekly "salary"(actually a contracted management fee per week) payment with an option on a percentage if the project succeeds past a certain defined point. That way you can jump in and start working, they have the benefit of being able to change their minds.

This is equivalent to a fixed fee plus costs plus a percentage, except that it is in effect cancellable week by week. In your contract/letter of agreement define a series of review dates, at which time the contract can be renegotiated. You can raise your fee, propose a bid for the whole job, or your clients can "fire" you, on those dates.

Anyway, sounds interesting.

i like the idea of the setting review dates where the agreement can be changed depending on how things turn out.

i might have to see if i can that into my current agreements.

you have some great points here.. thanks

[fraggle]

yes an exit clause for both parties is always useful as its so hard to predict what will happen with these things

Pay Options (bonuses, sale options etc) are essential too i think otherwise the supplier can get bored and client dissatisfied