The verdict in three sentences
The opportunity is enormous: 60 to 70 % of local SMEs have no professional website, and many know it. Your job as a referral partner is to find these prospects, deliver a 30-second pitch and pass the lead — the agency closes and delivers. With a referral closing rate of 15 to 25 %, 10 qualified meetings yield 2 to 3 sales, meaning several hundred thousand FCFA in commission.
Where to find clients: 3 channels
Three approaches dominate. None is better in absolute terms; combine them based on your network and time.
| Channel | Effort | Closing rate | Ideal target |
|---|---|---|---|
| Field prospecting | High | 20 – 25 % | Shops, restaurants, clinics |
| LinkedIn / social | Medium | 15 – 20 % | Structured SMEs, executives |
| Network / word-of-mouth | Low | 25 – 30 % | Warm referrals |
Field prospecting converts strongly because the personalized mobile demo (the prospect's name and city already in the site) creates an immediate "wow" effect. The network converts best but depends on your relationship capital.
Targeting the tickets that pay most
Not all sales are equal. A showcase site pays quickly; an e-commerce or marketplace pays big. A smart partner mixes volume (showcase) and large tickets.
| Sale type | Ticket 2026 | Rate | Commission | Cycle |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Showcase Starter | 250,000 FCFA | 15 % | 37,500 FCFA | Short (days) |
| Showcase Premium | 1,200,000 FCFA | 15 % | 180,000 FCFA | Short-medium |
| E-commerce Starter | 1,000,000 FCFA | 12 % | 120,000 FCFA | Medium |
| E-commerce Premium | 4,000,000 FCFA | 12 % | 480,000 FCFA | Medium-long |
| Marketplace | 2,500,000+ FCFA | 10 % | 250,000+ FCFA | Long |
A merchant already selling in-store who wants to go online is an e-commerce prospect: don't offer just a showcase, raise the ticket to e-commerce and its 120,000 to 480,000 FCFA commission.
Need a professional website?
Kolonell builds websites that attract clients, optimized for the Sénégalese market. Free quote in 2 minutes.
Mini case study
Ibrahim, a referral partner, holds 10 meetings in one month: 6 shops (showcase) and 4 stores wanting to sell online (e-commerce). At a 20 % close rate, he signs 2 sales.
Say one Showcase Premium (1,200,000 FCFA) and one E-commerce Starter (1,000,000 FCFA). Commission: (1,200,000 × 15 %) + (1,000,000 × 12 %) = 180,000 + 120,000 = 300,000 FCFA this month. He also puts both on maintenance (100,000 FCFA/month): recurring = 2 × 100,000 × 5 % = 10,000 FCFA/month added to his base.
FAQ
What 30-second pitch works? "Your customers search for you on Google and can't find you. I can show you in 2 minutes a site in your name, with Wave payment. Interested?" — concrete, clear benefit, backed by a demo.
How many meetings per sale? At a 15-25 % close rate, expect 4 to 7 qualified meetings per sale. Ten meetings a month yield 2 to 3 sales.
Should I sell the price or the result? The result: more customers, more orders, integrated mobile money payment. Price comes after, justified by the demo and quote the agency provides.
How do I raise my average commission? Spot e-commerce prospects (they already sell something) and institutional ones. An e-commerce ticket at 12 % far exceeds a showcase, and a single premium sale can be worth 480,000 FCFA.
Who handles the demo and quote? Kolonell provides the personalized demos and quote generator. You focus on the relationship and booking meetings.
Join the Kolonell referral program and turn your meetings into commissions. 15 % showcase (+5 % recurring), 12 % e-commerce, 10 % marketplace, 8 % institutional — we supply demos and quotes, you collect. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
