Here’s What No One Tells You About A Middle Man!

Here's a guide to starting as a middleman in digital services: find trusted providers, set prices, build a social presence, and manage client expectations for success.

11/7/20243 min read

When I began my career in digital marketing, I started as a middleman. It was an emotional rollercoaster!

As a middleman (or middlewoman), you need patience, a deep understanding of your services or products, and strong upselling skills. Without these, you won’t last long. I remember my first experience: I lost a client because I didn’t fully understand the service they wanted or how to price it. They needed full branding and a website design—imagine the money I could have earned if I’d known about upselling, website design, and branding packages!

To this day, my heart aches when I think of that missed opportunity. But hey, everything happens for a reason, right?

So, let’s dive into what it means to be a middleman (thanks to Google’s definition): “a person who facilitates a transaction or supply chain between buyers and sellers.”

So, How Do You Start?

Starting is easier if you already know someone who offers the service you want to sell as a middleman. Here’s how you can get started:

  • Find Reliable Service Providers: For example, if you want to offer graphic design, website design, and business photography, start by building contacts with experienced, trustworthy professionals who aren’t greedy or selfish. It’s essential to find people you can work with long-term.

  • Understand Their Services: Get familiar with what each service provider offers, their processes, and their pricing. This will help you better serve clients.

  • Create a Pricing Sheet: Make a sheet listing the services, with columns for the seller’s prices and your own rates. This way, when you land a client, you’ll know exactly what you’ll make and which provider to assign the work to.

  • Build a Social Media Presence: Set up a social media page and post examples of the work you’ve ‘done.’ Showcase yourself as the one offering these services. Start with a post listing your services, and share it with friends, family, colleagues, and even in WhatsApp groups. An ad can also help get clients faster.

  • Promote Your Services: Design a social media post listing what you offer, then share it with friends, family, and in social and professional groups. An ad can also boost your reach.

Challenges of Being a Middleman

Being a middleman isn’t always smooth. Here are some things that can go wrong and how to handle them:

  • Communication Issues: Communicate clearly with both clients and sellers to ensure everyone understands the deal. If a client is difficult, set up a meeting between yourself and the seller, and use your phone to mediate if necessary.

  • Keep Your Contacts Private: Avoid giving clients the direct contacts of your sellers. Only do this if you completely trust the seller to respect your role. If the client has complex questions, it may help to connect them directly while you’re present, ensuring no one bypasses you.

Not Sure What Services to Offer?

Here’s a list of 20 services you could offer as a middleman from home:

  1. Dropshipping – Partner with suppliers and manage orders without holding inventory.

  2. Affiliate Marketing – Promote products and earn commissions on sales.

  3. Wholesale Sourcing – Connect retailers with wholesalers and earn a percentage.

  4. Freelance Platform Brokerage – Help clients find freelancers on Upwork, Fiverr, etc.

  5. Real Estate Lead Generation – Connect sellers with buyers or renters.

  6. Digital Product Reselling – Resell digital products like e-books or courses.

  7. Content Aggregation – Collect and sell curated content, e.g., articles or posts.

  8. Social Media Influencer Campaign Management – Connect brands with influencers.

  9. SEO Services Reselling – Work with SEO experts to offer optimization services.

  10. Website or App Brokerage – Facilitate buying and selling of websites/apps.

  11. Virtual Assistant Services Reselling – Find and manage VAs for businesses.

  12. Customer Service Outsourcing – Connect companies with customer service agents.

  13. Event Ticket Reselling – Resell tickets at a markup.

  14. Ad Management Services – Connect businesses with ad specialists.

  15. Content Creation Outsourcing – Find freelancers for writing, design, or video.

  16. Courier Service Middleman – Coordinate logistics for clients needing couriers.

  17. Tutoring Services Coordination – Match students with tutors and take a fee.

  18. Graphic Design Brokerage – Connect clients with freelance designers.

  19. Lead Generation for Businesses – Provide leads for industries like insurance or real estate.

  20. Online Course Reselling – Act as a middleman for online course platforms.

Important Tip: Don’t give away your contacts unless the seller or buyer offers you a commission for each referral. Otherwise, keep your network confidential.

The Ups and Downs of Middleman Life

Middleman work isn’t easy. Some months, you might have zero clients, while in others, you could earn twice as much as someone working a 9-to-5. You need discipline, commitment, and grit. But when you do land that first client, everything starts to fall into place.

Remember, treat your first few clients like royalty. Deliver the best possible service, as they’ll be the key to expanding your network and building your portfolio.

You Can Do It—I’m Rooting for You!

Next Blog: How to Be a Freelancer.

I post new blog posts every Monday, TikTok and Instagram posts on Monday-Friday, and a YouTube video every Friday. Free consultations are also available via Zoom; feel free to reach out by email if you have inquiries or want to work together!

If you’re ready to dive into middleman work, this blog should give you a solid foundation. Go for it, and remember, it’s about persistence and growth!

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