Freelance Smackdown: Expanding Services (I’m Doing It, You Should Too)
For those just joining us, I called out Christine O’Kelly to put her Freelancing eBook to the test for 30 days and build a $1000-$2000 part time revenue stream. These are the continuing adventures …
If You Scan Blog Headers, This Is For You
Today’s post is going to cover:
- The last 24 hours of Freelance Smackdown Activity
- How I’m Expanding My Services
- How You Can Easily Do It, Too
The Last 24 Hours of Freelance Smackdown Activity
Monday wasn’t too productive a day for me as I was feeling a resurgence of bronchitis (walking through freezing rain in DC last week didn’t help). Tried to sleep in as much as possible so I could go all out in the evening. Last night I was successful in booking some extra freelance writing work but didn’t actually do anything billable (head was pretty fuzzy so I didn’t want to write), so I worked on my game plan for the next seven days. (Tonight I do the tasty, billable writing stuff).
She Gets Up How Early?
So Christine makes good and is on the phone at 5 am this morning (well done!). I’d like to claim my Early Riser program got her to do it, but she’s already an early riser. She bought the program anyway because she’s pushing her day’s start to 4 am. Now that’s a sign of a hard-core entrepreneur. We have a great 90-minute coaching call that focuses around what she needs to do to take on new projects while decreasing her overall workload at the same time. (In other words, how to do more, but how to take less time to get it all done).
Like a lot of coaching calls, I can sum it up as “This person is smart enough to know what they need to do, but just needs a kick in the ass to make this one thing a priority out of all the other things they know they need to do.” James Chartrand kicked my ass like that a few days ago. (Thanks, James). We are all so immersed in our too-busy lives that sometimes we just need that external kick to move us forward. I have no doubt that Christine will see results she likes this week, because she’s an action-taker.
She also cracks me up, because I overheard this on her blog today:
I have never been so pumped up at 6:30am as I was today after my phone call with Dave. I’m almost tempted to get shirts made up on Cafe Press that say “I heart Dave Navarro.”
(Christine, let me know when those are available so I can order one for my wife, just to see her roll her eyes at me. 
)
Another Idea For Expanding Services
As I hang up the phone, it hits me that I just accomplished what I talked about yesterday – getting someone to figure out the best “next step” and the easiest way to make it happen. Kind of a commando/swat team “quick in-quick out” results extraction mission. I really love doing calls like that because it’s a quick way to help someone get immediate traction on improving their strategy.
So I’ve decided to offer an additional service – the “Time Management Urgent Care Package.” Basically, two 30-minute phone calls where I help you
- Figure out what your biggest time management issue is
- Set you up with the easiest way to make immediate progress on nuking it and
- Follow up to help you steer past any obstacles you hit
Two 30-minute, highly targeted phone calls that will help you plan a surgical strike at the heart of your biggest time management problem. I’ll even have both calls recorded for you to download and keep.
I’m targeting this service towards very small businesses* that don’t have a great deal of cashflow, so the investment for the two calls will be a price any small operation* can appreciate. I know how hard it is to spend money when you’re a small business* – especially one person – so the price will be $50.
* Damn, Naomi, you don’t know how many times I wanted to write “IttyBiz,” instead of “small business. You’re a friggin’ noun, now.
$50 is a lot less than my regular coaching rate ($125/hr), but that’s because I’m aiming at the “ittybiz” who just needs an extra edge and doesn’t have a whole lot of money to spend. Also, there are three conditions to the deal:
- When we’re done, I would like a short note from you about how the calls helped you out, to add to my “success stories” file.
- If you’re outside of the continental US, you must either initiate the call or meet me on a conference line.
- The cost is non-refundable (unless you request a refund before we schedule the calls, of course). I’m investing my time, which I can’t get a refund on. I’m certain as an entrepreneur you’ll understand.
If you’re interested, keep in mind that this is a “one per customer” deal. I’ll be open to taking on five to ten small business owners each month, with no repeats (since these are much lower rates than a typical coaching contract).
If you’re interested, this is where you can sign up (first come, first served). It’s a straight PayPal link, so if you pick up the package you’ll get an email from me or my assistant within a few hours. I’ll automate the page later
How You Can Easily Expand Your Freelancing Services, Too
If you want to pull in some extra cash in your freelancing business, then I strongly recommend creating a small, affordable consultation package where you take advantage of your specialized knowledge to train others. No matter what you do for your freelancing biz, you know the ropes. You’ve “been there” and learned something that a beginner hasn’t. You also know specialized processes that others need to use – but don’t want to spend huge money getting trained on.
Consider what you’re good at, and put together a small consultation package to make it accessible. Follow my lead and make part of the terms of the package a “testimonial” clause so you can use that to draw in new customers. And most of all (as page 3 of Christine’s eBook) will tell you, clearly define your outcome. My outcome for the Time Management Urgent Care Package is a roadmap of the next steps that a client needs to take, and a list of ways to make the process easy.
Brainstorm Below, And Don’t Forget To Include Your Link
Come up with your package and tell us about it in the comments below. Even include a link to your page about your expanded services (it should go without saying that anything even remotely spammy will be deleted, but I’m saying it anyway). And if you’re new here, subscribe to this blog if you’ve liked what you’ve read so far and want to see how the Freelance Smackdown progresses.
You know what to do,
Dave
Anyone who thinks for a millisecond there there is not some way they can better their business is fooling themselves!
In my opinion, one of the biggest challenges of the “Itty Biz” is not having access to objective advisors and consultants. If you can bring this type of consulting for 50 bucks.. TAKE IT! I mean… what’s $50? One dinner at the freakin’ Olive Garden? When you get home, you’ll still have the same problems.
You can read all of the time management/business advice books on the shelf at Barnes and Noble, but after 1 phone call with Dave, I’m SOLD that there is 1000 times more value in consulting with someone about your exact, specific problems (oh… sorry Dave – I mean “habits.”)
Let me warn you though… don’t expect your first day to be productive… It is now 2:15pm – nearly 8 hours since I hung up the phone with Dave and I am almost sick to my stomach with excitement. I’ve got so many new ideas for how to change things around in my business that I have barely gotten any actual work done today.
I have however, come up with an exciting new way to free up some of my time in my freelancing business while providing more value to my clients.
This is stuff I already had in mind before… but I wasn’t doing it because I was so hung up on micromanaging a few other details that I realized I didn’t need to do anymore after talking with Dave.
Even if you think you KNOW what you should be doing – but you aren’t doing it… you need to call Dave. Some of the changes I’m making are things I knew I had to do… but I needed the push – I needed an objective consultant to show me what I was missing out on if I continued to do the same unproductive things.
Dave is a “coach” in the truest sense of the word. He’s not going to tell you what you WANT to hear like you’re friends. He’s going to push you to become better.
Now Dave, I’ve got some ideas for you to help you grow your freelancing business – next time we talk, I’m going to be giving you as much advice and as many ideas as you can handle as they specifically relate to your talents. Give me a time and let the showdown rage on!
Check it out:
http://www.selfmadechick.com/images/i-heart-dave-navarro.jpg
I’m really enjoying this =)
I just finished your 30 hour e-book Dave, and I like it. A lot of the concepts I figured out in the past few months, while hitting my head against the wall on a number of goals. But to see it all come together in your e-book certainly is going to give me a boost.
I picked my challenge (plan the day), and I’m going to get that done (as in a habit). I should also stop over committing, but I’ll get to that after this challenge =)
Dave’s products rock. We’ve seen them, and we don’t give out praise easily.
Smart move on the consult, Dave. I’m tempted to call you up just to rag at you, but since I kicked your butt so well and got you into gear, I’ll settle for watching you in action.
@Christine -
I cannot BELIEVE you actually made one of those shirts. That’s awesome. I need to go on your blog and tell Ebele that she doesn’t need to get multiple testimonials … ONE from you is plenty
I’ll send you an email & we’ll get on that next call … I’d appreciate any leads/guidance you have.
@Lode -
Glad you’re *using* what you read – keep us posted on your progress. Overcommitting is usually just underplanning … plan it right and you can get more done than you think you can. Most people overestimate what they can get done in a day, but underestimate what they can do in a year.
@James -
Thanks, bro – glad you and Harry dig. Soon I’ll have converted every Canadian out there … does CafePress ship to Canada? I hear there are these shirts …. ROFL
I’m jumping the gun a bit, because I’m just not helping someone else figure out their offering before I even begin to narrow down my own, but I dig what you’re doing here Dave and I’ll be keeping tabs. Couple sides notes though…
“Damn, Naomi, you don’t know how many times I wanted to write “IttyBiz,” instead of “small business. You’re a friggin’ noun, now.”
It’s so funny you said this because I was just thinking the same thing. Chris Anderson has The LongTail. Seth has Permission Marketing and Naomi has Ittybiz.
also, is James Chartrand omnipresent? I can’t seem to go anywhere that he doesn’t exist.
@ Dave – That would be lovely branding. Say the word “omnipresent” and people think of… oh yes. That would be very nice indeed
You will not, however, find me on peace and love zenlike sites or inspirational and breathy you-can-do-it sites. I feel no urge to go hang out there and take in the reek of incense. That’s gotta be bad for the lungs.
You will not find me on techy sites, either. Endgadget, Lifehacker… I’m sorry. But it’s just not me.
So perhaps that should be selective omnipresence…
Multipresence with the possibility of omnipresence then.
I’m striving for omnipotent.
I just recently expanded my services to fill I need I saw that picks up right after my blog consulting packages normally end: blog maintenance and traffic reporting. For a reasonable monthly fee, you don’t have to worry about all those pesky blog & plugin upgrades. Plus traffic analysis reports and suggestions. Point is, expanding your services can easily be based on the really obvious stuff.
@Michael -
Damn, plugin maintenance. Great idea. I’ve just expanded my services (see this post) and these are really great services to add.
YOU ROCK!
Dave
@ Michael – Not only is a good strategy to see where your own services end and pick up from there, but it’s also a good strategy to see where other businesses begin and end and pick up from there. Your blog consultation, for example, means that you might suggest someone have quality content. I have the opportunity to step into that niche with my own services and pick up where you left off. Then we design a kick-ass site, and you step back in with maintenance and traffic. Win-win all around, client included.
EXACTLY James! This is HUGE in my opinion and something I talk about in the ebook. Find people who offer related services and build relationships with them rather than going out an trying to find the end customer.
People who offer related services already have a warm client base that already trusts them. With something like blog consulting – the end client may not even realize they NEEDED it until someone like you or I recommended it.
I had the same issue with content writing. The client didn’t realize how important the content was – but the SEO did. So when their SEO recommended content – they were all over it. Instead of wasting time selling them on the need, I could focus on what I do best and just get it DONE.
@ James – I would be more than pleased to support your clients with maintainence services and refer my own clients to you for writing services (although I know many great writers, now, that if one of you is too busy I can refer to someone else).
@ Christine – Watch your principles in action:
@ Michael – That sounds excellent, and that’s definitely something we’d be interested in. (Without taking work away from other writers you may already partner up with)
That’s why they pay me the big bucks. I make new nouns. Naomi Dunford, noun-maker.
I was just thinking about it, but this being pretty much my first few visits to your site, Dave, I don’t think I could have come at any better time. Your 30 day challenge is more relative to my situation than just about anything else right now.
It’s a Dave thing! The rest of you wouldn’t understand.
Hi Dave,
I’ve seen your call-out on Freelance folder and since then I haven’t just gotten to know who you are but also all your merry-go-round mates Christine (I read your book), Naomi (been to your coffee shop) James (don’t tell me about Mr. omnipresent, gee this guy is everywhere) and Michael (thanks to you I’m using my real name now
)
All of you have given me pieces of the puzzle I need to get better at selling my services but yet I’m kind of struggling on which way to go.
I’m definitely struggling with micro managing and will get your consulting package Dave to help me start in the right direction.
All of you have given me a place (or several) to come and hang out and hopefully build some great relationships in the process. As some of you might now, I just made it to full time freelancer last month and am psyched about it but also know that having industry contacts will help big time for the future.
Thanks to all of you and I look forward to talking with you at 5 AM Dave.
I’m awake at 5… can I listen in?
It’s good to meet you too, Monika, and I’m glad you’re using your real name now (thank you, Michael), because you’ve become a real person I can connect with. If you were commenting before under an alias or keyword, I probably ignored you.
So Michael’s theory works – real people like real people.
Of course, branding works too
I hear I’m an official Google search term now.
@James -
Here’s an official stat from my Google Analytics account showing what people who came to my blog with specific search terms did:
“dave navarro” – Pageviews: 1.77 – Time on site: 3:55
“james chartrand” – Pageviews: 2.27 – Time on site: 8:30
So … more people come to my blog to read about JAMES than ME!
*sniff*
Oh, and the real zinger:
“dave navarro” – Bounce Rate: 76% – Return visitors: 14%
“james chartrand” – Bounce Rate: 40% – Return visitors: 80%%
The keep coming back for you (and stick around) more than for me, too?!?!?
What the hell is in the water in Canada,anyway? (Send me some!)
*blink blink*…
Oh my god, that’s just *too* funny! Check out that bounce rate, dude!
Yeah …. I’d be *really* depressed if it wasn’t for the fact that I know so many people coming to my site looking for the guitarist …
It makes the stats for my root domain page meaningless
But still … it stings! :-p
It’s good to be a search term. I get a big number of searches for the term “remarkablogger” now. Just noticed it in last couple months. Better yet, though, is that I’m on the first page of Google SERPs — with a double entry — for “blog consulting.” How’s that for SEO? I swear a couple weeks ago I was at the bottom of the first page, and a few weeks before that I wasn’t even on the first page. I realize I’m off-topic a bit, but I’m so excited I wanted to share.
@Monika – As much as you see these folks together, you’d expect them to be a team. It’s crazy. They’re like the 4…err… 5 horsemen of business blogging.
@ Dave C: yeah I’ve noticed, I kind of feel like watching a sitcom (a very funny one) unfold in from on my eyes.
A truly “timely, snarky, remarkable, self made team with lots of pens”
Men with Pens… Superheros of the Written Word…
*Join Men with Pens and become an official Google Search term! Only $99.99 for a one-year fandoration membership! Buy now!
**Get the Ultra Men with Pens package and become a team player! You – yes, you! – can be a part of the RemarkaNavaTrand team today! Our lovely assistants are waiting right now to take your call!
@ James: thank you, ditto and yes, Michael woke me up there with his post which was great.
As for listening in that’ll be $ 25 for half the call line, but I know this guy who does it for $50 and you can have the whole line for you.
Why do I hear the theme song from “The A-Team” playing in my head?
@ Michael: now you’re giving your age away
The A- team so who is Face Man?
@Michael and Monika – Real names huh? Okay, I can do that =) It’s just a bit long to put a suffix behind it, so I’ll keep it like this for a while. My abbreviation was confusing anyway, considering the “Lode” abbreviation I get all over the web (which is a perfectly fine abbreviation by the way).
@Dave – Your $100? Hmm, it was you coaching me, by absence. Not Ferriss’ MBA, but Navarro’s CBA
Ah, I’m probably going to buy your program anyway, so it’ll get your way…
@All of you – I love the way you all interact. It’s very inspiring and I’m learning a lot. I have yet to start my own business (as soon as I finish my renovation project) and I’m picking up on all kinds of ideas already. LOVIN’ IT!
I heart you all.
@Dave: Oops…that $100 comment was meant for your remark in the other comment thread over at Mens with Pens.
Pretty silly =) I’m talking in the wrong pub at this pub crawl.
@ Lode – The very cool thing (and maybe the very sad thing) is that almost everyone here knows exactly which $100 you’re talking about and why.
Welcome to the club.
[...] (Freelance Folder / Million Dollar Leverage), when he decided to start a 30 trial by putting the lessons of Christine’s e-book into practice. Christine in return shouted out to Dave to “Show her the money“, taking up a similar [...]
[...] freelance smackdown index | next article in series [...]
[...] One thing that is so attractive to me about freelance writing is the schedule. I don’t have to interact with people at set times, which is great since my freelancing time is limited to early, early morning and late evening. Not having to depend on real-time communication is of prime importance to me since I’m essentially unavailable during business hours (read = day job). So it got me to thinking about the “A-Team” conversation in the comments of the other day’s post. [...]
Nicely done, love the sticker up top too. Another tip of the hat.
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