Something for nothing.

[Jodimyatt]

What are people opinions on free assessments, I offer free assessments for all my services, IT support, Web Design, Security, and Cleaning, as I thought this would be the best way to get my foot though the door.

Yet everyone always seems to be a bit negative towards this and not proving very sucessful, part of me thinks I should charge a reduced rate as people will not think I am trying to con them then.

I admit I am always a bit wary towards free offers and always think what’s the catch.

Just wondered other people views on this do you feel great something for nothing or I am being conned.

 

[Alpha]

In my experience free tends to be met with either distrust as you mention in that we have been bombarded by so many "free" offers of things like holidays, gifts etc only to then find the catch involved or as I have noticed many people will take up the free information and then you will hear nothing from them again. Many examples of this can be found even on these forums.
Look at the number of people who do not introduce themselves, post a question in a section and once answered are never to be seen again.

My Financial Services colleague also pointed out the fact that because many people prefer him to be commission based he can do alot of work putting proposals together with risk profiles only to not earn anything when the client takes the free advice but not any product that he would earn commission on (embarrassingly my Brother did this to him when he saved him and his partners family 70k in inheritance/CGT tax but they did not go for the slightly riskier proposals which would save the other £90k and those actually would have earnt him commission!!)

Free has always been proposed as a way of getting your foot in the door but for the reason above its effectiveness seems less now than offering something free IF they take a certain product.

 

[Rob Holmes]

I've experimented a bit - and found that 1. It attracted the wrong sort of people 2. I sold less offering cheap service than an expensive service. I concluded at the time (and still do) it is 'percieved value'.

There are exceptions but in general you offer a free taster and hope they come back for more right?

Personally I don't want to attract people that want free for starters as from experience they never stop wanting free !!

Also I don't like getting free services as I feel obliged to reciprocate on one hand and unable to specify exactly what I want on the other.

The same goes for cheap!

Our customers pay more but can demand more (and get it)

I hardly ever go for free or cheap - I like to pay more and get more.

Rob

 

[Rob Holmes]

And just picking up this point..

My Financial Services colleague also pointed out the fact that because many people prefer him to be commission based he can do alot of work putting proposals together with risk profiles only to not earn anything when the client takes the free advice but not any product that he would earn commission on (embarrassingly my Brother did this to him when he saved him and his partners family 70k in inheritance/CGT tax but they did not go for the slightly riskier proposals which would save the other £90k and those actually would have earnt him commission!!

I charge for meetings and consultations too

Rob

 

[Ozzy]

My old SEO/SEM company charged for quotations, and the charge was deducted from the end contract value.
This done the filtering for me as I only attracted high profile corporate and celebrity clients, and as you say they demand more but when you are earning enough money you don't mind giving that extra. Problem is SEO is just too damn time consuming

 

[Rob Holmes]

If people are paying good money then I definately don't mind going the extra mile

I hadn't thought to offer it as a discount at the end - I just offer my services at a daily rate and within the bounds of the business I'll do what they want in that day!