New Platform

Know-how to Be Shared Anytime and Anywhere

London (UK), June 2017 - The way people acquire and share expertise and "know-how" will change forever thanks to a new platform that has launched in the UK. IT consultants and experts - and those seeking such expertise - are among the key targets.

121with is an online marketplace for those either providing or seeking know-how. From the same platform, the know-how is delivered from the "seller" to the "buyer" via live and interactive video.

The 121with platform enables the sharing and receiving of expertise primarily via live one-on-one video sessions. After the session, a direct and instant payment is made to the "Provider" (the seller) by the "Seeker" (the buyer) through Stripe, 121with's third-party payment merchant.

121with offer small businesses the perfect platform for access to IT support - with many experts available immediately for those "my emails aren’t working" and similar urgent issues.  And 121with are not just talking about trouble-shooting simple matters such as "have you tried switching it off and on?", but also when greater technical expertise is required.

For small businesses in need of expertise but with a limited budget, imagine how much money could be saved "employing" the know-how of a top-ranked professional to impart crucial tips and advice. This, however, is only supplied when it’s needed and charges are made per minute, rather than a set fee for an onsite day - or more.

For IT consultants and experts, whether sole-traders or working within a company, providing the expertise will bring additional income, without leaving the home or office. IT Support is regularly needed by small businesses that can’t afford to employ an expert as a staff member – or by consumers who have technical issues from home. With 121with, having remote support can now be equally effective.

Furthermore, with apps such as TeamViewer, experts can quickly access your PC or laptop to remotely help solve problems whose solutions prove too complicated to explain.

The 121with platform offers Providers a completely risk-free advertising and marketing platform. Creating a profile and promoting their know-how is free of charge.

Using relevant tag words, Providers can choose the keywords they want Seekers to find in the online marketplace. They will benefit from a free "shop window" where their know-how can be found by those seeking it.

Unlike other online marketplaces that demand high commission rates of 50%+ and massive "slashed prices" from merchants and suppliers, 121with takes just 20% from each call made on its platform - and does not dictate the rates the Providers set.

121with Joint Managing Director Tom Stokely said, "Everyone has knowledge. Whether it’s gained through hobbies, experience, education, effort, or circumstance, both qualified AND life skills have a place on 121with.

"With 4G now available to the masses, with 5G just around the corner, and with smartphone and video usage at an all-time high, the ingredients are all in place for a platform enabling anyone wanting to share and sell their skills and knowledge to others.

"The 121with platform is perfect for services traditionally offered via face-to-face meetings, such as legal and financial advice. But it is equally suited for those 'softer' know-how matters, such as make-up lessons, creative writing, interview advice, violin lessons, delivering a speech - and a thousand other topics."

121with Joint Managing Director Alex Valentine comments, "Unlike generic and pre-recorded video tutorials on YouTube, 121with is exploiting the interactive and personalised benefits that live video delivers. In turn, 121with enables know-how to be shared at a much better cost than traditional routes - with cost savings to both Seeker and Provider.

"For example, a nutritionist consultant will usually charge a rounded-up hourly rate for a client consultation, yet often the appointment can be adequately covered in less time. By charging per minute on the 121with platform, Seekers can pay only for the time they need. For the nutritionist, using the 121with platform will mean that costs are reduced; for instance, unpaid travel time and travel expenses to a client's own premises or the need for office space or dedicated space within their own home are not necessary."

Video has become crucial for small businesses. In fact, Business Advice states, "Live video for small business is taking the world of content marketing by storm. In its first year, users of Periscope – the Twitter-owned live video feed – watched an average of 110 years of content every day. Facebook users currently watch more than 100m hours of video every day."

Valentine concludes, "121with enables talent from which others will benefit:  mothers, fathers, self-employed consultants who work from home, retirees, or anyone who has a wealth of experience and knowledge waiting to be tapped into. The opportunities are endless to anyone with knowledge, for both business and personal reasons, and on any matter or subject."