Comments on: Free Samples Sell Your Work

By: Jim Raffel

Jim Raffel — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 20:36:06 +0000

Interesting points. I'm suggesting that the “free sample” only be free in that dollars don't exchange. I feel it would only be fair for the blogger or site manager in question to agree to a blog post in exchange for the evaluation. my friend, of course would be under no obligation to extend this offer to anyone she did not want to.

By: Jim Raffel

Jim Raffel — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 20:32:58 +0000

Sounds like a perfect example of giving away free samples to get more future work to me Brian.

By: Shannon Steffen

Shannon Steffen — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 18:45:28 +0000

“I have a friend who does human SEO work…”

If I am correct in assuming who that friend is, I can tell you that she already uses that technique and it works wonders. The only step now is to make it more of a process to generate that authority through online blog posts of both potential and existing client. This SEO friend of yours needs to careful though because each “human SEO overview” takes time – seeing as there is no automation. If such free samples are advertised, the flood of requests for that free sample would be impossible to meet.

Samples are the low hanging fruit that generates business when potential clients are on the wall. They have to be used wisely and without costing the company too much money or human capital (time).

Thanks for the “is darn good at it” by the way. I'm sure she appreciates it!

By: Brian Mayer | MKE

Brian Mayer | MKE — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 02:46:47 +0000

The only things we give away are for fund raising purposes, and we have found that to be highly successful. We give out session certificates to preschools for their silent auctions as well as pretty much any other organization that fits within our market. It's a great win for all three parties involved.

By: Jim Raffel

Jim Raffel — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 01:10:23 +0000

Wow, what a great story. Anytime the decision maker walks in the room and engages with you good things are likely to happen.

By: Fossil Designs, LLC

Fossil Designs, LLC — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 17:53:56 +0000

As a practice I offer a free half hour consultation to prospective clients where we can talk about their project and determine whether or not we'd be a good fit for one another.

So early in the spring I was doing a few workshops related to why businesses would want to be on the web and how you could run your business using all free, open source software. One of the people attending was the marketing director for a local company with roughly 70-80 employees. We spoke briefly after the workshop, I gave him my contact information and all was right in the world.

Fast forward four months. I get an email from this person asking me if they could schedule a meeting. I replied sure I'd be happy to do a free half hour consultation. So, we set a date.

I arrive at the meeting on time and as he and I are talking, the owner of the company walks into the conference room. The marketing director introduces to the boss who then sits down for a few questions of his own.

Well long story short, a half hour free consultation turned into an impromptu four hour meeting that ended with the boss asking me to send him a contract for the project work so we could get the ball rolling.

So by taking the time to listen, explain things, and answer several questions I ended up with a contract worth $2800. Not bad for four hours face-to-face time.