Should You Charge When Someone Wants to Pick Your Brain?

[gen Y advantage]

I came across this blog and found it rather interesting. I was wondering what fellow soloists thought about this topic?

http://blog.brazencareerist.com/2012...ck-your-brain/

I have been to many coffees and lunches where I find that the intention of the other party was really to pick my brains. Considering to charge for that... seems a little crazy?

[TheGoldenGoose]

Not crazy at all!

Advice is a service.

I charge for initial consults, a one hour fee, then if they proceed it is deducted from their final invoice. This prevents tyre kickers and rewards the genuinely interested.

[Uncomplicating]

Originally Posted by TheGoldenGoose

Not crazy at all!

Advice is a service.

I charge for initial consults, a one hour fee, then if they proceed it is deducted from their final invoice. This prevents tyre kickers and rewards the genuinely interested.

Absolutely right.

[Divert To Mobile]

I think its fair to charge for your knowledge if they benefit from it.

Steve

[gen Y advantage]

How would you bring up such a conversation when people ask you to come have coffee?

There is a lot of research around gender differences and doing business. Usually women focus on building relationships first, before making business.

Is this relationship building, or do 'we' really need to step up and ask for a sale?

[TheGoldenGoose]

You don't want to be forever meeting with people that will just waste your time.

If you don't value your time, nobody else ever will.

Put your foot down, you will lose clients.. but you will gain respect.

You will only ever lose clients that you didn't want anyway

If someone asked me, I would tell them I have an initial consult fee XX for meetings. I would also say that this is because the value I provide in a consultation isn't just a 'meet and greet'.

I completely understand relationship building, but there needs to be a level of respect for the fact that you are not having dinner out as friends, it is a professional transaction.

[gen Y advantage]

Originally Posted by TheGoldenGoose

You don't want to be forever meeting with people that will just waste your time.

If you don't value your time, nobody else ever will.

Put your foot down, you will lose clients.. but you will gain respect.

You will only ever lose clients that you didn't want anyway

If someone asked me, I would tell them I have an initial consult fee XX for meetings. I would also say that this is because the value I provide in a consultation isn't just a 'meet and greet'.

I completely understand relationship building, but there needs to be a level of respect for the fact that you are not having dinner out as friends, it is a professional transaction.

Thank you for this, just what I needed.

On another note, I have noticed when you comment you have little social media icons that people can click on that leads to your social media pages. May I ask how you have done this?

Regards,

[Paul B.]

Originally Posted by gen Y advantage

Thank you for this, just what I needed.

On another note, I have noticed when you comment you have little social media icons that people can click on that leads to your social media pages. May I ask how you have done this?

Regards,

I believe you can do it in the forum control panel under the tab 'edit your details'.

[FS Concierge]

Originally Posted by gen Y advantage

I have noticed when you comment you have little social media icons that people can click on that leads to your social media pages. May I ask how you have done this?

Originally Posted by Paul B.

I believe you can do it in the forum control panel under the tab 'edit your details'.

Hi Linda,

Paul is correct, that's exactly how you do it.

Just be careful NOT to include the http:// when you add the info, as otherwise the links won't work.

Let me know if you need any help,
Jayne

[Gordan]

If its someone I know personally then I obviously dont charge for advice. But if its one of my clients, then yes definitely charge for advice. The industry I work in is service orientated so your brain is your bread and butter.