Posted on Sunday, 7th February 2010 by CopywritingCat
Every so often I get an email query. Usually it happens on my career site, which I still keep active, but occasionally I get queries to “just look over a page and make some suggestions.”
What I’d like to write back is, “No wonder you are having problems in your career or business! You haven’t caught on to the way the world works. Private pros don’t donate their services.”
Of course I realize that some very skilled professionals offer everyone a free consultation and then use the opportunity to create an upsell. That works if someone wants long-term consulting or coaching but for one-off advice, I’ve found it’s not helpful.
So…how many ways to say no? I was just thinking out loud after getting the latest: a missive from someone who claims to be earning six figures, anticipates layoffs, and wonders, “Can you give me some free advice?”
Just…”No.”
“Are you a registered charity?”
“Free advice is worth what you pay for it.”
“Why not ask your mother? She’ll help you for free (although some moms are getting smart and charging these days).”
“Why do you think I will spend half an hour reading your material and then give you some feedback, when I normally charge for this service?”
I’ve created a page to send people who ask for free advice, but I keep wondering: why would someone ask?
What do you think?
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