expected outcomes

We all would like to have friends do business with us.  They are the easiest (or are they really?) to garner as clients because they already know and trust us.  But the question begs to be asked:  How do you charge a friend?  Do you charge the going rate, a discounted rate, or do it for free? 

My first answer is “Never do it for free! “  Invoice even your sister/brother/mother/father for your services rendered.  You may choose to give them a discount for the project, but let your invoice show your real rates and real time it took to complete the project.  Then show the discount and present them with a net invoice.  This is important because when they refer you (and let’s hope they liked your product or service enough to refer your), they need to be able to say what their experience was worth.

An old adage is to never do business with family.  There are instances where I might have to agree with that, but let’s face it, getting started in business is not always magic.  Sometimes you need that first sale and it has to come from a family member.  Just remember to charge them.  You both deserve it!

This could be considered an odd question for a blog like expected outcomes  but it is really apropo. 

So, in your mind, if your business is something your friends and acquaintances can use, whether it be a service or a product, would you expect them to buy from you? Or do you expect them to find it cheaper, or for free, or maybe even pay more than you may be charging, but buy it elsewhere? Will they tell you about their search and results even as they are doing i t?

Here is a poll – you can choose mutiple answers – and see the results.  Then, in a few days, check back because there is going to be more to this story…..

I did a search on Amazon.com, my favorite bookstore since I purchased a Kindle a few months ago — sadly, just before they dropped the price on the 2nd generation Kindle

I wanted to see if there were books I could recommend to my clients on Social Media Marketing.  I did all my homework – checking the “Look inside” and reading as much as I could tolerate of every book that had a title that sounded like my clients could take advantage of.  I would love to be the consummate pro, the complete answer to my clients’ needs, but the truth of the matter is, no one can be that for anyone.  People have to do some research on their own or pay an employee to do that.  Then they have to use that knowledge to advance their business marketing strategy. 

I am going to be reviewing, recommending and saying what I think of these books over the coming weeks and months.  Here are some social media marketing books I have checked into.  I have already done my preliminary analyzing. I will be offering reviews in the future. (I might add that I have added some business books and business-person products in a carousel in the sidebar that might be of interest as well)