At some time or other, usually in a social setting, you’ve been asked for and given free advice and information. While this may be unavoidable when at a party, when developing a new business relationship, it is vital to clearly state, from the outset, that, as a professional, you get paid for services delivered, including consulting.
It is often accepted practice to meet the first time at no charge. This is the time to say that while this initial meeting is free, the next one will be on the clock. Explain your fee structure and follow the meeting with the fee arrangement in a written letter or formal proposal and contract.
This is how business works. Until now.
Now we are spending lots of time on the social web giving it all away. Hard selling is taboo. Often discussions of rates and paying for information and expertise is also forbidden, especially in social communities.
How to get around this? First, consider your time is money. Share your expertise where you will most likely get feedback and possibly business. Remember that social networking is a marketing and outreach tool. While a lot of C-floor executives are socializing online, this may be a better use of your marketing, human resources, or development staff.
Guest blog. You can still share your expertise and opinion, without having to maintain a blog yourself. This is also a good way to cross-market your work. Write a white paper once or twice a month to share with others in the industries where your clients and customers reside. Do some research to see who is and established blogger with a lot of readers and ask them if they’d like to have a monthly article from you. You’ll save yourself and them time — and they will do a lot of the heavy lifting on the marketing side.
Time management. Take a time management course, hire a consultant, or DIY (do it yourself), but learn the principles of time management – and put them into practice. Set appointments for when you will read and respond to email, list and group discussions, and still enjoy your life, while growing your business.
It is easy to get swept into the vortex of Web 2.0 – to get so caught up, you lose sight of the goal. The way to make it all work for you is to keep your eye on the proverbial clock. Remember you learned what you know from years of education and practical hands on experience. This is your value – and it will be that for others if you make that happen.
Gayley Knight is a guest blogger for GMI. She is Founder/Principal of Business Her Way (a social media management company). Delighting in opening the technology world for your company, Gayley draws on her extensive network and personal business experience to simplify your online world. Showing you best social business practices and simple tech tools designed to increase your business visibility brings social media into perspective, saving you time and money. You can contact her directly at http://www.businessherway.net or via email at gayley@mothergeek.com.
At some time or other, usually in a social setting, you’ve been asked for and given free advice and information. While this may be unavoidable when at a party, when developing a new business relationship, it is vital to clearly state, from the outset, that, as a professional, you get paid for services delivered, including consulting.
It is often accepted practice to meet the first time at no charge. This is the time to say that while this initial meeting is free, the next one will be on the clock. Explain your fee structure and follow the meeting with the fee arrangement in a written letter or formal proposal and contract.
This is how business works. Until now.
At some time or other, usually in a social setting, you’ve been asked for and given free advice and information. While this may be unavoidable when at a party, when developing a new business relationship, it is vital to clearly state, from the outset, that, as a professional, you get paid for services delivered, including consulting.
It is often accepted practice to meet the first time at no charge. This is the time to say that while this initial meeting is free, the next one will be on the clock. Explain your fee structure and follow the meeting with the fee arrangement in a written letter or formal proposal and contract.
This is how business works. Until now.
Now we are spending lots of time on the social web giving it all away. Hard selling is taboo. Often discussions of rates and paying for information and expertise is also forbidden, especially in social communities.
How to get around this? First, consider your time is money. Share your expertise where you will most likely get feedback and possibly business. Remember that social networking is a marketing and outreach tool. While a lot of C-floor executives are socializing online, this may be a better use of your marketing, human resources, or development staff.
Guest blog. You can still share your expertise and opinion, without having to maintain a blog yourself. This is also a good way to cross-market your work. Write a white paper once or twice a month to share with others in the industries where your clients and customers reside. Do some research to see who is and established blogger with a lot of readers and ask them if they’d like to have a monthly article from you. You’ll save yourself and them time – and they will do a lot of the heavy lifting on the marketing side.
Time management. Take a time management course, hire a consultant, or DIY (do it yourself), but learn the principles of time management – and put them into practice. Set appointments for when you will read and respond to email, list and group discussions, and still enjoy your life, while growing your business.
It is easy to get swept into the vortex of Web 2.0 – to get so caught up, you lose sight of the goal. The way to make it all work for you is to keep your eye on the proverbial clock. Remember you learned what you know from years of education and practical hands on experience. This is your value – and it will be that for others if you make that happen.
Gayley Knight is a guest blogger for GMI. She is Founder/Principal of Business Her Way (a social media management company). Delighting in opening the technology world for your company, Gayley draws on her extensive network and personal business experience to simplify your online world. Showing you best social business practices and simple tech tools designed to increase your business visibility brings social media into perspective, saving you time and money. You can contact her directly at http://www.businessherway.net or via email at gayley@mothergeek.com.
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