brokerage

I’m running an intermediary service as my side-business. I intermediate my clients’ need by referring or subcontracting projects to my list of partners.

I believe that my service is now becoming a niche in today’s boundless business.

Here’s why.

Intermediary is dead?

The Internet lacklusters the intermediary service business. If you want to buy and sell, you can DIY it. Just go to eBay or other online marketplaces and do your thing.

Does this mean that the intermediary business is obsolete and dead?

I don’t think so – I have several reasons to back my word :)

Intermediary is no longer a general business service – it is a niche

Intermediary – or brokerage – is no longer a mainstream in business service industry. In my opinion, intermediary service is a niche in today’s business.

People seeking a broker or intermediary are usually looking for these two things – efficiency and privacy.

Instead of searching by themselves, people would like to do other more important things while subcontracting the project to those who are more experienced and has a network of trusted partners.

Privacy is paramount in finding brokerage service, especially for the financial broker, simply because of the nature of the service, offering financial solutions – this is where most people are turned off.

Once you contact a financial broker, in my experience, suddenly some people calling you saying that their service is better than the one you contacted. It just happened!

How to look for trusted intermediary

I prove myself to be a trusted intermediary through time. However, the reputation doesn’t come easily. To connect to potential clients, I joined forums, job boards, and intermediary directory.

Forums and job boards work differently, but share similar trust systems. You get a positive or negative reputation by how well you complete the project.

However, the most effective of all, in my case, is joining an intermediary directory.

One of such directory is Global Broker Finder, a paid brokerage network that is acting as a meeting place that connect listed brokers with people looking for brokers.

Brokers joining such directory shout themselves “trusted” – because of the fee to join and the reputation at stake for joining the network.

In conclusion – if you are a broker, consider joining a broker network to increase your visibility and circle of trust.

Ivan Widjaya
A part-time intermediary

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