Today’s question comes from Neil and he posted this open question on my Facebook group and he was asking what do you usually offer for free when you market your services locally.
There’s an incredible tool that you probably aren’t using right now. And it should be part of your service business marketing.
Free work
I think free work is one of the most underestimated and undervalued marketing tools of all time if you’re trying to bootstrap a service business. Free work can get you incredibly far in business.
But everyone is scared to offer free work because there’s no instant gratification and payoff involved.
But that’s a stupid, stupid, stupid mistake.
Let’s assume you have a great service that actually gets results for your prospects (if not, you should quit business immediately).
What better way is there to build trust than through free work?
Don’t offer a free consultation, or a free audit, or anything that’s not really valuable. If you want to bootstrap a service business you have to offer your work for free. See, if your trying to build a business and you’re at the very beginning, you have no costumers, no leverage, no nothing, then working for free is your best shot.
It’s an irresistible offer for your prospects because they have nothing to lose, and it’s a great opportunity for you because you’ve got their full attention and can do something that blows their minds.
They don’t risk anything by letting you help them. Plus you’ll gain experience and that will increase the likelihood of you getting other types of work.
Do a great job. Make your prospect happy and they will either:
- Pay you for additional services and work, or
- Refer you friends.
Either way it’s win-win for both of you.
I hope this helps. 😉
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