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I gave away a free service at an Edmonton networking event and it backfired
At a mixer downtown last month, I had the idea to offer a free 30-minute business website review to the first five people who signed up. I figured it was a great way to show my skills and maybe get some paying clients. Instead of getting thank-yous, three of the people came back with huge lists of extra changes they wanted for free, acting like I'd promised a full rebuild. One person even emailed me twice a week for a month asking for more 'quick fixes'. I learned that being too generous can actually set the wrong expectations and make people think your work has no value. Now I'm stuck between wanting to be helpful and needing to protect my time. Has anyone else in the Edmonton network found a better way to give a taste of your service without opening the door to being taken advantage of?
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jordan_webb2h ago
Totally agree with making it a specific PDF. You could even take that checklist idea and put it behind a simple email signup on a tablet at your booth. That way, you're still giving value, but it's a fixed thing they download. It turns your time into a product they get once, not a service they can keep asking for. The key is having a clear end point that you control, not them. A live review feels like a conversation, but a PDF is a finished item. It sets a firm boundary while still showing what you know.
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jesse_williams627d ago
Ugh, that's the worst. Been there. Next time, make the free thing super specific, like a one page PDF checklist. It's a concrete deliverable that ends. A live review just feels like an open door.
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My buddy's free coffee cart at a festival got him endless refill demands.
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