Too often you may find that informing people about what you do results in a barrage of questions, and some may expect you to provide them with an on-the-spot consultation or tutorial.
Have you been in this situation?
Time is as important as it is expensive when you work alone, especially when someone wants to know everything you’ve learned in a nanosecond.
“That sounds like fun” or “Hey, I have a question. How do you…?” are frequent ways people start asking me for sales and marketing advice.
My gift of gab is a blessing, but not when inquirers want the equivalent of a free strategy session.
I’ve learned how to effectively stop people who will never hire me from seeking free advice by customizing a response that fits the question. Perhaps the following statements will help you to develop your own response.
“That’s what I teach in my adult course. Here’s my card. Check my Web site for classes in your area.”
“You’ll receive a custom strategy through a consultation so that this problem is solved for good. My rate is (cost) per hour. When do you want to start?”
What do you say to bring the free advice train to a halt?
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{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
That is a very good strategy. I have ran across people who want to know everything you do for 2 reasons. The first is that they know their speaking with someone knowledgeable, so their trying to grasp as much information before you leave. The second is because it saves them money if they can learn to do it themselves, which I have no problem with. The least they can do is pay you for your time.
Thank you for all the great posts from last year! I look forward to reading your blog, because they are always full of information that I can put to use. Thank you again, and God bless you in 2010.
Shirley,
I’m still at the point where my Circle of Reciprocity is stuck at FREE.
That being said, I liked what Seth Godin recently wrote about Two Lemonade Stands. His contention is that given the right circumstances, if you provide a “tip jar” with a glass of free lemonade, then you will reap greater rewards.
I just need to create the right kind of Tip Jar!
Hi Carlo,
I agree with your two assessments, and after many years realize that if we as marketers don’t put a value on our expertise, no one else will either.
That’s why we must know when to give away what we know and when to draw the line. It may take time to get it right, but this technique can be mastered.
Hi Shari,
Your circumstances are understandable both by me and, I bet, other marketers who read your comments.
I remember when I was stuck at free and had to assess my self worth before moving from the free train to the paid one. This was accomplished by listening to and reading about techniques that stopped people from expecting what I had for no charge.
Once you decide on the boundaries, your tip jar will overflow.