Twitter Follower – …could you help me get more fans? or give me some tips?
Me – have you read all the articles I have published. They will tell you alot about getting more fans.
Twitter Follower – No not now… where can i find them?
Me – Have you looked on my website?
That is not how to approach someone asking for free advice. Here is some free advice on how to ask for a tip.
1. Research the person you are asking. – This means you should first know they have a website and what that website is about and what that website provides. Take a couple minutes to see if you can learn anything about the person. What do they like, what do they talk about.
2. Read the available advice. – Read everything that they already provided for free. You might just get all the help and advice you need without even talking to them.
3. Engage – First thing out of your mouth should not be, can you give me some tips. Talk with them, get to know them. Show you are interested in what they do, who they are. You will only be able to do this after you do step 1. Kiss up to them!
Then…
4. Ask questions about already available advice. – Now you can ask additional questions about some already available advice. Show them you have been reading what they have to say. Show them you are interested in a topic.
5. Finally, say Thank You!
I can speak for myself, and probably many others, and say that if you just come out and ask for tips or advice, it isn’t going to happen. If you haven’t taken any time to read what I already provide, why should I take any time to stop working with a paying client to give you free advice? You have not even taken the time to learn that I have a website filled with all sorts of free tips. Read website and the free tips and start talking to me about something in particular that I wrote and I am more likely to discuss it with you.
Thanks for all your articles, and especially your podcast. Most musicians I know do not want to wade through all the career-building info on the internet, they want a simple prescription for their situation without having to arrive at it through their own research.
Coaches often have free stuff, a $27 ebook, a $97 video course, a $297 live workshop, and a $4997 week long camp. Most of the info is in the free articles.
Not everyone is good at switching right and left brain activities, one minute writing songs and the next minute prospecting for gigs and sending contracts.
Thank you Chuck, I really appreciate the support. There is no Easy Button in real life is there?
The real secret to getting rich… figuring out how to take free information and package it so people will pay you $19.95 for it.