Something for Nuthin'...Get Your Advice for Free

by Guest Blogger, Lena West, Chief Social Media Strategist at xynoMedia Technology

(Those of you 'in the know' will be able to connect the image below with the title of this post. If not, feel free to enjoy the post anyway!)

Last week, a colleague forwarded a connection request on LinkedIn for a woman who pegged me as a "kindred spirit" and was obviously really interested in speaking with me.

So, you know the deal with LinkedIn...the whole point is the networking factor. I responded to my colleague's request to connect with this lady, Nell (not her real name).

Nell sends me this great note and asks me to please take a look at her website, give her my opinion and then she requests that I call her so I can give her some ideas about how she can integrate social media into her existing site.

Give her some ideas? I have something to GIVE her alright. No mention of payment. Nada. Surely she knows that this is what my firm is PAID to do?

After staring at the screen with a I-can't-believe-people-still-expect-to-get--free-'ideas' look on my face, I wrote her back.

"Nell: Please send a link to your website. I'm more than happy to take a quick look and give you my first impressions. As for the ideas, I'm happy that you'd like to work with me. Before we get started on any work, let's talk about what your goals are, map them to your budget and then we can set up some regular times to talk strategy. And, if you need help with the strategy implementation, my team can assist with that for an additional fee. Thanks again for your interest, Lena."

Raise your hand if you think I heard from Nell again.

In less than 30 seconds, I had gotten rid of a tire kicker, who, if I had agreed to speak with her, would have most certainly wasted my time, sucked my brain dry of any and all ideas with a plea to help her for free in exchange for "visibility" and "referrals". No thanks. I'll take my money now.

I might sound really elitist, and I don't much care. I shouldn't be stunned by this...I'm from NY after all, but I am shocked. People really do want you to help them for free. And, it's always the people with no money who are going to "give eBay/Yahoo/Google/Facebook a run for their money". Yeah, right. Where are you running if you can't afford track shoes?

Bottom line: You teach people how to treat you. I'd rather be known as the jerk who gets paid well for her consulting advice, than as a broke jerk. Happy Money Monday.

Comments

[Lena West]

@Ardith: Amen!

@Bonnie: Yeah, you would think with ALL the material available about how to network, someone would have a clue by now. Someone? Anyone? Hello? Is this thing on on on on *echo*

Thanks for reading and commenting!

[Ardith Lowell]

Well, Lena, you've done it again. You are spot on with a topic that obviously resonates with a number of people. So count me in with the other respondents. I'll add that I find the concept of networking without doing the work---aka establsihing and then maintaining periodic contact---beyond annoying; it's lazy and not true networking.

Regards,

Ardith

[Bonnie]

I love your solution, Lena!

As for LinkedIn and networking, I'm not sure which annoys me more: "connecting" with me out of the blue to (1) ask for free consulting, or (2) try to sell me something. Both give networking a bad rap.

[Lena West]

@Irene:

We stopped the "runaway proposals" by requiring that a client spend time with us talking about their goals, etc. And, we don't write proposals without setting a time on their schedule to go over them afterward.

Usually, people who just want a quote won't take the time to sit down with you and talk -- and they won't set up the next time to talk either.

Thanks for reading and commenting!

[Irene]

That resonates with me too. I can remember the days when I asked for 'free' advice too. Somewhat surprisingly, the lady graciously indulged me. (Thanks Mable). The ones that get me are the tire kickers who call/email for a quote then disappear into the ethernet without so much as a thank you. Nearly always women in middle management too.

[Lena West]

@John: I'm glad to know it's not just me!

@Sherri: Systems rock! I agree.

@Mary: Yeah, budget is always the concern because if they haven't budgeted for a project, it's basically unimportant.

@Kate: I can only imagine what an appraiser goes through. They think you can just look at a piece and tell them. They don't realize the hours of research and the time and devotion it took for an expert to learn how to value a piece.

Thanks for reading and writing everyone!

[Kate]

Good post. I am on the other side of the coin. Always looking for advice.
However, and that's a big however, I certainly not expect someone to help me for free if that is what their business is.

In my business of owning www.TheCapodimonteShoppe.com we offer a service for people who want appraisals. Naturally I charge for this because not only do I have to pay the appraiser, I need to make a small percentage.

Yet you would not believe the number of people I get who email me wanting to know how much their piece is worth. Most times I refer them to our appraisal page and that's the end of it. Sometimes I just get so frustrated with them that I hit delete. Grrrrrrr.

[Mary Schmidt]

There's something about "marketing" that somehow people are astounded that we expect to get paid. "I'll call you to pick your brain" "Get a few ideas" etc. etc. I tell people I'm happy to chat for a few minutes, even give a couple of impressions, but...after that, yes, I do expect to get paid. And, I can get "exposure" on my own.

Then there are the ones who want to "meet and discuss the proposal" Uh-huh.

A recent experience reminded me that I really need to bring up that budget FIRST thing. Thanks for the nudge.

[Sheri McConnell]

Hi Lena,

Great post! I have found putting systems in place in the business weeds most of the tire kickers out. And I still hit the delete key a lot too (especially at Facebook).

Some systems: a automated voice mail system that directs them to the website for information and then hiring a virtual assistant to return all calls has really helped too. These both are minimal expenses compared to the amount of money and time spent trying to weed through all the inquiries on your own.

[john harper]

For a moment, I thought I was reading my post. It continues to amaze me how many people want free, but can't seem to give of themselves.