One of the best things I’ve borrowed from Ilise’s marketing strategy is the “free chat” or consultation.

A free consultation is a great way to gather info about possible projects and also to get to know the types of people who are contacting you. There are lots of things you should do during your free consultation—like finding out about budget and timeframe—but there is one thing you definitely shouldn’t do…

The free chat is all about gaining an understanding of the project to see if there’s a match—but you’re not giving them ideas at this point. You might share a creative suggestion or two, but you’re absolutely not starting to work on the project in any way. You’re figuring out what the problem is—not starting to fix the problem. You want a clear understanding of what they need. That’s it. We don’t start working until we get a deposit! Got it?

If you’re tempted to start solving the problem—it’s not a bad thing. It means the project could be a potential fit. But don’t put the cart before the horse. Use the free consultation to gather all the information you can about the viability of this project so YOU and YOUR CLIENT can have a good experience from start to finish. 

In my latest blog post, Make your free chat valuable, I talk about:

·         Why I think a consult should be free-of-charge

·         What info I gather in advance

·         What to talk about on the call

Read it here.

And if you’ve been thinking about it and now’s the time, sign up for Ilise’s free chat here.

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Hi, I’m Jill, a web designer/developer who partners with talented designers, copywriters, and agencies on their websites, and their client’s sites. I’m passionate about crafting beautiful and innovative WordPress websites focused on clear positioning and positive user experiences. See my work & get my free report, Get Your Website Done: 12 Actionable Steps for Designers.