Ok..with this post I officially announce that I stop giving free SEO / SMO / WebAnalytics/ Online marketing / PPC management / Affilate Marketing / Mobile Marketing… advice to friends, family, Fortune 500 companies and Non-profits.
I’ve worked in the online industry since 1995 and I always loved what I am doing. I am really fortunate to work in this amazing fast-paced industry and it’s just incredible fun. But even that I love what I am doing, l think it is time to announce that I don’t do any free consulting anymore.
This week alone I’ve had 3 requests from friends and companies that needed some kind of “help”. One request was a friend, another one a Non-profit, but the best came from an international well-known Fortune 500 brand.
I’ve almost finished the job for this company in my spare time, but since I know for fact, that their agency wanted to charge them $50.000 for about the same work, that I did for free, I am kind of bummed. Especially that they had the budget for stuff like this and would have paid for it without even thinking about it.
Do you give constant advice for friends, family, non-profits and even companies without charging a dime?
July 15th, 2008 at 6:06 am
I always give away free consulting services….the first 30 minutes exactly, after that it’s on the books or they are on their own.
Because of the reputation I’ve picked up in the NY startup space people often approach me for help or advice either online or in person at speaking events - unless I’m really really under the gun with other projects my answer is always “come have a sit down with me in my office tomorrow and I’ll see what I can do for you in the first 30 minutes atfer that my rates are XXX per hour”.
About 50% of the time I can solve their problem in 30 mins, or we both come to the conlusion I’m not the right person for the project (but with my rolodex I almost always have someone to reccomend that they can talk to);
The other 50% about half weren’t able to fund my hourly rate and half are so impressed with what advice I was able to give in the 30 mins that they sign on for a fixed number of hours consulting agreement with a decision to review after that period is up.
Eitherway it’s a fast and easy way to get to a situation where both parties are happy and have gotten something done.
Cheers,
Dean Collins
http://www.Cognation.net/Profile
July 15th, 2008 at 7:51 am
Free for a Fortune 500 company??? Are you mad, sir?
July 15th, 2008 at 8:57 am
@ThatGuy
I guess regarding this case the answer to your question is: Yes.