Comments on: The 2 Inviolate Rules of Asking Strangers for Help http://bly.com/blog/writing/the-2-inviolate-rules-of-asking-strangers-for-help/ bly.com direct marketing blog Wed, 08 Feb 2012 14:52:06 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Customized Fat Loss http://bly.com/blog/writing/the-2-inviolate-rules-of-asking-strangers-for-help/#comment-681214 Customized Fat Loss Tue, 19 Jul 2011 20:48:00 +0000 http://bly.com/blog/writing/the-2-inviolate-rules-of-asking-strangers-for-help/#comment-681214 Yeah, this has happened to me before too. If a friend asked me for help, I'd gladly do it for free. But a stranger? This is my job. And I have a fee. Yeah, this has happened to me before too. If a friend asked me for help, I’d gladly do it for free. But a stranger? This is my job. And I have a fee.

]]> By: Justin http://bly.com/blog/writing/the-2-inviolate-rules-of-asking-strangers-for-help/#comment-680813 Justin Tue, 15 Feb 2011 18:22:08 +0000 http://bly.com/blog/writing/the-2-inviolate-rules-of-asking-strangers-for-help/#comment-680813 Bob, I see this all the time in graphic desgin. Some one will show me thier logo, ask me to critique it, then ask for recommendations on how to improve it. I usually tell them I'd be happy too, but were are getting into a consultation, which I charge for. Wirters and designers don't ahve a tangible product like shoes or hammersmthat we can mark up and sell at a profit. The only thign we can charge for is our time and expertise. Bob,

I see this all the time in graphic desgin. Some one will show me thier logo, ask me to critique it, then ask for recommendations on how to improve it. I usually tell them I’d be happy too, but were are getting into a consultation, which I charge for. Wirters and designers don’t ahve a tangible product like shoes or hammersmthat we can mark up and sell at a profit. The only thign we can charge for is our time and expertise.

]]> By: Paul McVeigh http://bly.com/blog/writing/the-2-inviolate-rules-of-asking-strangers-for-help/#comment-678796 Paul McVeigh Sun, 17 Jan 2010 23:35:39 +0000 http://bly.com/blog/writing/the-2-inviolate-rules-of-asking-strangers-for-help/#comment-678796 Lentil as any thing opened a great resturaunt in Barkly street Footscray recently. Payment is not demanded, only that respect is paid by paying what you feel the meal is worth. It is an interesting concept and is a great success in these parts! Lentil as any thing opened a great resturaunt in Barkly street Footscray recently.
Payment is not demanded, only that respect is paid by paying what you feel the meal is worth.
It is an interesting concept and is a great success in these parts!

]]> By: Wintress Odom http://bly.com/blog/writing/the-2-inviolate-rules-of-asking-strangers-for-help/#comment-677632 Wintress Odom Sat, 05 Sep 2009 22:39:34 +0000 http://bly.com/blog/writing/the-2-inviolate-rules-of-asking-strangers-for-help/#comment-677632 Well, here's my story to add to the bunch: I always try to help out fledgling writers. Really, I do. If someone calls, I spend 15, 30, sometimes 60 minutes on the phone with them, actually trying to help them out. It makes me feel good; I figure it's good karma; and I believe in paying it forward. So, get this: A few months ago a girl emails me and says that she wants "my advice on how to break into the ghostwriting world" etc. etc. (Of course people who want advice always email you with these broad questions that you can't possibly ever answer without writing a book.) Anyway, I send her my standard "Call me direct at XXX-XXX-XXX, and I'll be happy to help you in whatever way I can." She actually writes back and tells me that I "obviously make more than she does," so I should call her because she doesn't want to pay for the long distance! Well, here’s my story to add to the bunch:

I always try to help out fledgling writers. Really, I do. If someone calls, I spend 15, 30, sometimes 60 minutes on the phone with them, actually trying to help them out. It makes me feel good; I figure it’s good karma; and I believe in paying it forward.

So, get this: A few months ago a girl emails me and says that she wants “my advice on how to break into the ghostwriting world” etc. etc. (Of course people who want advice always email you with these broad questions that you can’t possibly ever answer without writing a book.)

Anyway, I send her my standard “Call me direct at XXX-XXX-XXX, and I’ll be happy to help you in whatever way I can.”

She actually writes back and tells me that I “obviously make more than she does,” so I should call her because she doesn’t want to pay for the long distance!

]]> By: Riya Aarini http://bly.com/blog/writing/the-2-inviolate-rules-of-asking-strangers-for-help/#comment-677292 Riya Aarini Mon, 17 Aug 2009 00:22:12 +0000 http://bly.com/blog/writing/the-2-inviolate-rules-of-asking-strangers-for-help/#comment-677292 A lawyer approached a doctor during a party and asked him what he does with the problem of having people ask him for free advice. The doctor gave a sufficient reply, saying he sends them a bill. The next day, the lawyer opened his mailbox and found a bill from the doctor. A lawyer approached a doctor during a party and asked him what he does with the problem of having people ask him for free advice. The doctor gave a sufficient reply, saying he sends them a bill.

The next day, the lawyer opened his mailbox and found a bill from the doctor.

]]> By: Bob Bly http://bly.com/blog/writing/the-2-inviolate-rules-of-asking-strangers-for-help/#comment-677171 Bob Bly Thu, 06 Aug 2009 20:25:25 +0000 http://bly.com/blog/writing/the-2-inviolate-rules-of-asking-strangers-for-help/#comment-677171 Mele: that's actually a great story and a great idea! Mele: that’s actually a great story and a great idea!

]]> By: Mele http://bly.com/blog/writing/the-2-inviolate-rules-of-asking-strangers-for-help/#comment-677138 Mele Tue, 04 Aug 2009 21:25:32 +0000 http://bly.com/blog/writing/the-2-inviolate-rules-of-asking-strangers-for-help/#comment-677138 In my former life, I practiced law. A mentor gave me some valuable advice: NEVER offer free consultations. He said, "even if they just pay you in hotdogs, get SOMETHING". Here is where this pay-by-hot-dogs thing came from: A "potential client" walked in off the street claiming not to have the funds to pay for an hour consultation. My mentor said,"let's walk down the street while we talk. You can buy me a hot dog." The consult was as long as the time it took for them to walk to the street vendor, pay for the dog and walk back to the lawyer's office. Rule of Thumb: If he (the lawyer) isn't able to answer the guy's questions in that time, he would let him know the "real" cost of a follow up session. I thought that was genius. In my former life, I practiced law. A mentor gave me some valuable advice: NEVER offer free consultations.

He said, “even if they just pay you in hotdogs, get SOMETHING”. Here is where this pay-by-hot-dogs thing came from:

A “potential client” walked in off the street claiming not to have the funds to pay for an hour consultation. My mentor said,”let’s walk down the street while we talk. You can buy me a hot dog.” The consult was as long as the time it took for them to walk to the street vendor, pay for the dog and walk back to the lawyer’s office.

Rule of Thumb: If he (the lawyer) isn’t able to answer the guy’s questions in that time, he would let him know the “real” cost of a follow up session. I thought that was genius.

]]> By: Suggested Reads for Today « Copy Confetti http://bly.com/blog/writing/the-2-inviolate-rules-of-asking-strangers-for-help/#comment-677127 Suggested Reads for Today « Copy Confetti Mon, 03 Aug 2009 17:39:23 +0000 http://bly.com/blog/writing/the-2-inviolate-rules-of-asking-strangers-for-help/#comment-677127 [...] Bob Bly’s latest post shows just how every copywriter needs to think about how to handle the unwanted phone calls. Not the sales calls. The ones where people ask you for help you’re not there to give, and those who would use up the time you could be actually getting paid for. Also is an accurate take on how the writer’s profession is looked at differently than other professions. You can read it here…http://bly.com/blog/writing/the-2-inviolate-rules-of-asking-strangers-for-help/ [...] [...] Bob Bly’s latest post shows just how every copywriter needs to think about how to handle the unwanted phone calls. Not the sales calls. The ones where people ask you for help you’re not there to give, and those who would use up the time you could be actually getting paid for. Also is an accurate take on how the writer’s profession is looked at differently than other professions. You can read it here…http://bly.com/blog/writing/the-2-inviolate-rules-of-asking-strangers-for-help/ [...]

]]> By: Angel http://bly.com/blog/writing/the-2-inviolate-rules-of-asking-strangers-for-help/#comment-677119 Angel Mon, 03 Aug 2009 04:36:44 +0000 http://bly.com/blog/writing/the-2-inviolate-rules-of-asking-strangers-for-help/#comment-677119 I believe there's always a limit when you help other people, most especially if you're a busy person. You can't spend all of your time helping other people without getting any benefit from it. In some cases I've encountered, some people are asking for my help in exchange of an unreasonable amount of money. You know what their common reason is? They have a tight budget as of the moment. Imagine, they are asking for time and effort, but you need to adjust with their price. I don't know, it's quite an insult on my part coz I'm not giving away crap services. I believe there’s always a limit when you help other people, most especially if you’re a busy person. You can’t spend all of your time helping other people without getting any benefit from it. In some cases I’ve encountered, some people are asking for my help in exchange of an unreasonable amount of money. You know what their common reason is? They have a tight budget as of the moment. Imagine, they are asking for time and effort, but you need to adjust with their price. I don’t know, it’s quite an insult on my part coz I’m not giving away crap services.

]]> By: Bob Bly http://bly.com/blog/writing/the-2-inviolate-rules-of-asking-strangers-for-help/#comment-677118 Bob Bly Mon, 03 Aug 2009 03:59:14 +0000 http://bly.com/blog/writing/the-2-inviolate-rules-of-asking-strangers-for-help/#comment-677118 Jennifer: I wrote most of my books, reports, and articles for that reason: to answer questions I am commonly asked. So when the answer to their question is in one of my publications, I email them a link where they can either read the article or order the book or report. Jennifer: I wrote most of my books, reports, and articles for that reason: to answer questions I am commonly asked. So when the answer to their question is in one of my publications, I email them a link where they can either read the article or order the book or report.

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