5 Questions To Ask Yourself Before You Sign Up For That Free Call
The beginning of the New Year promises tons of emails hitting your inbox offering a new teleseries, webinar, coaching program – you name it – I bet you have received something from someone who has your email soliciting your attention under the guise of a free call.
Honestly, I did a free preview call last week for my Social Networking Made Simple membership group. Coaches and entrepreneurs need to self-promote as I discussed in my blog a few weeks ago, however, this past week over twenty offers for free stuff crossed my inbox. What to do? Read them all, participate in everything?
Since my byline is Overcome Your Overwhelm, I would like to share my strategy on how to sort through the offers, the invitations, and the emails in order to make a sound business decision that will benefit you and your business.
1) Do you know the person making the offer? Sounds simple enough, right. And by know I mean do you have some kind of relationship with them online or off? Do you like and trust them? If the answer is no to any of the above, unsubscribe.
2) Do you need what they are offering? Are they solving a pressing pain, problem or predicament you have, and, here is the key - have you actively been searching for a solution?Is solving this problem on the top of your priority list? You may not need their offer immediately; in this case inquire as to when the class or call will be happening again. Put it on the back burner, in other words.
3) Sounds obvious, but have to ask. Is their program in your marketing budget? Yes, I know the email says free call, but there is usually some kind of special offer with a bonus included. Do you have the money to invest? Is a payment plan going to be offered?
4) How much time will the new program take? As entrepreneurs, budgeting time is just as important as budgeting money. If you commit, can you follow through?
5) Avoid being a serial student. Smart marketers know exactly how to catch your attention. Never sign up immediately. Sleep on it. Read through the email again and refer to points 1-4 above before making a decision.
As a social media coach, I have two coaches. Two people I like and trust who have delivered for me time and time again. And I discovered them via the free call. I strongly believe in signing up for preview programs when the circumstances fit my budget, my time constraints and my interest level, and the needs of my business. Reviewing your business plan (and I certainly hope you have one) before spending time and money is essential.
How many programs have you signed up for that you never completed or found to be a total waste of your time? What did you participate in that was a life-changer for you? Please tell your story!
Laurie Hurley is a social media consultant and hostess of The Social Networking NewsHour on internet radio. She offers a preview call for her programs, but only to those who have opted in to her list!
10 Comments:
By Susan Berland 24 Jan 2013
Your points are excellent and worth following. I used to sign up for every free call until I realized that I needed to budget my time as much as my money. I still have a hard time unsubscribing to some of the lists I’m on but I really need to do that! If I’m just deleting their email without reading it, do I really need it in my inbox? I have a spending plan for the year so I know what I can and cannot do. Sometimes I will go to a free event as I did a couple of weeks ago. I got a ton of valuable information and while I wanted to sign up for the program, it was not in my plan so I didn’t. Whew! No more of that for me!
Susan Berland
By Laurie Hurley 24 Jan 2013
I think what you are saying Susan is that budgeting both your time and money helps to keep you disciplined! That is a great plan! I do the same thing. I had to choose between two programs this month. I need and want both of them but could only realistically afford one. So I weighed the pros and cons and made my decision. Really, really hard to do. I agree with you – sticking to a strategic plan works.
By Stephanie Foley 23 Jan 2013
Thanks for an important message. As bargain shoppers we think that free is free when it really sucks up our precious time! Discerning consumers are getting clearer about when to invest time and money.
By Laurie Hurley 24 Jan 2013
I agree, Stephanie. And, I have learned over the past two years or so that a free call is never really free. There is always an offer at the end!
By Donna McCord 23 Jan 2013
Yes, I do get quite a few invitations, emails and phone as well! and I appreciate your suggestions on how to make a decision without guilt or anxiety! I sometimes feel as though I need to do everything, but i am learning that it is impossible…beyond that, it is not very smart! Time is precious, and as you say, we need to make sure we are using what time we have wisely. I have certain people/services I am using that are working well for me, and am finally getting over the temptation to end up with multiple mentors/coaches/services that tend to conflict with each other and ultimately confuse the heck out of me. If something is working, I say stick with it until it is not working for you anymore! But as you also say, I need to do what I am told to do and put to use what I am learning if it is going to be of any value.
By Laurie Hurley 24 Jan 2013
I hear you, Donna. I have finally landed with one business coach. I am hanging in there and not investing in lots of free calls or classes. Having too many people advising us can cause confusion and ultimately harm out efforts. Staying focused on one’s goals and making a business plan and sticking to it really helps. Thanks for commenting!
By Jan R Miesse 23 Jan 2013
Good advise Laurie! I’ve wasted money on books I haven’t read on How-To’s and more. We must prioritize. Thanks! bloom on.. Jan
By Laurie Hurley 24 Jan 2013
Yes, Jan. Somehow people get sucked in with good intentions most of the time. I think many just run out of time.
By Julie Musial 21 Jan 2013
Laurie, I have seen many serial students. Unfortunately, they don’t take action on what they learned. I go to many seminars and make sure to apply what I learned. I’ve seen studies that say less than 5% of people actually implement what they learn at seminars.
By Laurie Hurley 21 Jan 2013
I’ve heard that statistic, too Julie. I don’t get why people waste time and money. Maybe it is wishful thinking on their part, but they have to do the work to get the benefits. The stat I read is 68% of people sign up for programs and then never even access them! Amazing to me. Thanks for commenting. We seem to be fairly like-minded