Well I just ticked off a bunch of folks

I have been helping some friends but today.

[bwnbwn]

I sent out a mass email to many people I have been helping with website issues server issues ranking etc that from now on I would be charging 100 an hour for my work. I really don't think people understand the cost of driving traffic, the time it takes to make code changes, the time it takes to do what we do for a living. I made the call today it is pay or sorry I am busy. I have gotten some responders back but all I do is tell them to find another source or pay me what I am worth, it is that simple.

No more free work from me I might sound like a jackass but if you do it for one more and more expect it, so today that came to an end. I also raised all my prices on the clients. I have I gaven them a month to move on either way I will have more time on my hands or more money in my pocket. I am fine with either or.

[incrediBILL]

I agree with all that and have taken a similar stance in the past but there is a certain amount of goodwill you can generate doing 'favors' or 'quickies' for people that creates word of mouth and can come back to pay you in spades.

In other words, Mr. Grinch, don't let your heart harden and ruin your own Xmas by accident :)

[BeeDeeDubbleU]

I know how you feel. I get calls from old clients asking advice on stuff and before I know it 20 (unpaid) minutes or more has elapsed. It gets annoying.

[incrediBILL]

Send them a bill for thirty minutes consultation time.

One way to stop disruptive time suck phone calls is to keep a five minute timer on your desktop, phone or tablet and click it the minute the call starts and you have an alarm which could be a ringing phone sound, and an easy escape.

Tricks of the trade ;)


In all seriousness, time management makes or breaks consultants so customers on the phone are the death of productivity. I used to have a client that liked to stay on the phone when his website had a problem until it was resolved which is very distracting and takes a lot of time when someone that doesn't know squat about it is sitting there offering unhelpful suggestions nonstop. after doing this a time or two I finally put my foot down and told him I can't focus on the phone and he was possibly losing more sales the longer it took me to resolve this which got him off the phone.

Clients. ugh.

[edited by: incrediBILL at 12:53 am (utc) on Apr 29, 2013]

[BeeDeeDubbleU]

You just reminded me Bill. I used to have an icon on my desktop that linked to an audio file of a phone ringing. I need to set that up again. :)

[Visit Thailand]

audio file of a phone ringing

That's a clever idea BDW.

[bwnbwn]

I drew the line in the sand because I am continually contacted with help me request. There comes a time when enough is enough so to be fair or politically correct I am making no exceptions.

I did add in the email calls from friends are welcomed but if it has anything to do with website work I am sorry I will have to charge my rate. Seems my friends only called when they needed help.

[lucy24]

I used to have an icon on my desktop that linked to an audio file of a phone ringing.

I dunno. It kinda reminds me of when my youngest brother was an infant and my mother would catch herself saying when he cried "Shh! You'll wake the baby!"

:)

[incrediBILL]

Seems my friends only called when they needed help.

Makes you question why they were your friends in the first place.

It's like office workplace relationships as you think they're friends until they stop calling a few months after you quit working together. That's when you know it was just a friendship of convenience or they could use you and now have no use for you.

People suck.

[bwnbwn]

Yep Bill way I figure it so why the call. I never call them for a need just me so why there aint't no going back. I know about friends x Marine from the 70's, there are 2 kinds of friends-
1- you can depend on,
2- there for the ride.

I got to many of 2.

[cmendla]

A good chunk of my business is hardware/software related. I had a bunch of people who would call looking for free advice. As a previous poster mentioned, you end up losing 20 or 30 minutes easily..

What you also lose is your train of thought. ..

I just had 'one of those calls' yesterday. A guy who ends up averaging about 1 or 2 hours billable time at most.

My answer was "Sorry but I'd have to see the problem. I can come out this afternoon".. Of course, he was just looking for the freebee


Now, I do have one client/friend where advice is quid pro quo. I don't mind taking some time with him because he's done a hell of a lot for me over the years and continues to do so.