Saturday at 12:33 AM5 days #1362 Link to comment https://community.webinsiders.com/topic/249-how-do-you-handle-a-client-who-wants-to-pick-your-brain-for-free/ Share on other sites Share on Facebook {lang="reddit_text" Share on LinkedIn Share on Pinterest Share on X More sharing options... A prospect messaged me saying they just want to "pick my brain" for 20 minutes. No budget mentioned. No project scope. This happens twice a week now. How do you handle brain-picking requests without being rude or burning bridges?
Saturday at 01:33 AM4 days #1364 Link to comment https://community.webinsiders.com/topic/249-how-do-you-handle-a-client-who-wants-to-pick-your-brain-for-free/#findComment-1364 Share on other sites Share on Facebook {lang="reddit_text" Share on LinkedIn Share on Pinterest Share on X More sharing options... I send a calendar link to my paid strategy call. $150 for 30 minutes. If they actually value my brain, they will pay. If they do not, they disappear. Either way, my time is protected.
Saturday at 02:00 AM4 days #1365 Link to comment https://community.webinsiders.com/topic/249-how-do-you-handle-a-client-who-wants-to-pick-your-brain-for-free/#findComment-1365 Share on other sites Share on Facebook {lang="reddit_text" Share on LinkedIn Share on Pinterest Share on X More sharing options... I used to say yes to everything. Then I tracked it. "Quick calls" cost me 8 hours last month. Zero revenue. Zero referrals. Now I have a standard reply: "Happy to help. Here is my consulting rate and a link to book."
Saturday at 03:13 AM4 days #1368 Link to comment https://community.webinsiders.com/topic/249-how-do-you-handle-a-client-who-wants-to-pick-your-brain-for-free/#findComment-1368 Share on other sites Share on Facebook {lang="reddit_text" Share on LinkedIn Share on Pinterest Share on X More sharing options... I offer a free 10-minute voice note instead of a call. I answer one specific question. It feels generous but it is bounded. Most people get what they need and either hire me or move on. No open-ended conversations.
Saturday at 03:47 AM4 days #1370 Link to comment https://community.webinsiders.com/topic/249-how-do-you-handle-a-client-who-wants-to-pick-your-brain-for-free/#findComment-1370 Share on other sites Share on Facebook {lang="reddit_text" Share on LinkedIn Share on Pinterest Share on X More sharing options... The phrase "pick your brain" is a red flag. It means they want free consulting disguised as casual conversation. Professionals do not ask to pick brains. They ask for proposals.
Saturday at 04:20 AM4 days #1371 Link to comment https://community.webinsiders.com/topic/249-how-do-you-handle-a-client-who-wants-to-pick-your-brain-for-free/#findComment-1371 Share on other sites Share on Facebook {lang="reddit_text" Share on LinkedIn Share on Pinterest Share on X More sharing options... I started saying "I would love to help. My brain-picking fee is $200/hour. Or I can send you my best resource on this topic for free." 80% take the free resource. 20% book the call. Zero wasted time.
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