Pick My Brain About Affiliate Marketing

by Shawn Collins on July 6, 2011

I frequently get requests to jump on the phone for just five or ten minutes, so people can pick my brain on affiliate marketing.

I used to always take these calls, but they were never just five or ten minutes, and they amounted to spending big chunks of my time giving free consulting.

So, I got a kick out of the post from Jason Falls on How To Respond To The “Pick My Brain” Question.

Like Jason, I don’t really get the view from some folks that skills and knowledge I’ve worked on building since 1997 should be available on call for free. Or for a cup of coffee or lunch.

So anyway, for anybody who is bemused and/or disgusted that I charge for consulting, there are free options out there.

Back in 2004, I started up Ask Shawn Collins, where people could ask me any affiliate marketing question, and I’d answer it on my affiliate marketing blog. Currently, I’ve answered nearly 400 of those questions.

Some of those people have asked me to notify them when I posted the answer, because they don’t read my blog. Fair enough, but take a hike.

Others gripe that they need the answer now, and they can’t wait until I get around to answering it. For those who demand the express lane, there is paid affiliate marketing consulting by phone.

They usually find they can suddenly be a little patient.

Also, there is the Affiliate Summit affiliate marketing forum.

This is a free forum to discuss affiliate marketing issues and ask questions that are answered by myself and countless others in the industry.

You want to pick my brain? I’m happy to help, but the answer is going to be public on my blog or the Affiliate Summit forum, so it can benefit others. And it will be on my schedule.

That’s the price you pay for getting experienced, free advice.

Thank you and have a nice day.

{ 14 comments }

Kyle July 19, 2011 at 11:53 pm: Knowledge is power and time is money.
Shawn Collins July 15, 2011 at 10:03 am: Thanks Janet -

Sadly, it’s rare that the people who ask the questions ever follow back to report the progress… or even acknowledge the answer.

But I figure it’s worthwhile, since it’s helping others.

I liked Jason’s post – I had no idea how common this “pick your brain” phenomenon was.
Janet Thaeler July 15, 2011 at 9:30 am: Shawn,
This is a smart way to handle it. You don’t say no and it benefits everyone.

I’m wondering do the people you have given advice to, do you ever hear from them again? Usually not. People don’t usually take free seriously.

My friend Jason wrote about this too:
http://www.jibberjobber.com/blog/2011/01/26/should-you-have-to-pay-to-have-lunch-with-me

Blog On
Janet
Shawn Collins July 13, 2011 at 11:36 am: Only if you buy me a cup of coffee!
Tricia Meyer July 13, 2011 at 11:29 am: Hey, Shawn. Will you be my “mentor”?
Shawn Collins July 8, 2011 at 6:11 pm: Thanks, but my dad was Mr. Collins. I’m just Shawn.
Bernadette July 8, 2011 at 6:00 pm: You tell them Mr. Collins!!
Angelina July 8, 2011 at 3:03 pm: The people that want free advice probably also want overnight success with internet marketing. I absolutely don’t blame you for charging for your advice.
Shawn Collins July 7, 2011 at 9:56 am: You’re very welcome – thanks for listening and reading!
Penny July 7, 2011 at 9:51 am: I want to thank you for the resources that you offer. The podcasts, blogs and forums are an invaluable insight into affiliate marketing.
Shawn Collins July 7, 2011 at 7:17 am: My phone number is on my contact page at http://blog.affiliatetip.com/contact/, but it simply instructs people to contact me by email for the quickest response.

Essentially, my phone was rendered useless, due to calls asking to pick my brain, so I rarely pick it up for numbers I do not recognize.
Thomas July 7, 2011 at 7:00 am: I absolutely agree with you on charging for consulting. I do the same for wordpress and teach it for a fee all the time. I also get previous students who feel that the initial fee for the wordpress course should cover them for a free life of consultation. I probably should start a blog like you about wordpress issues. At any rate the one question I’ll ask in case I do have an affiliate issue is what is the phone number to contact you? I use skype for any of my students who want to stay in contact and or consult.
Shawn Collins July 6, 2011 at 8:40 pm: They may not be serious about affiliate marketing, but they sure are serious about free.
Charles July 6, 2011 at 8:23 pm: People who want everything FREE are seldom Serious about Affiliate Marketing anyway!
I think all Consultants go through this process…
* hoping for leads?
* a part of growth?
* maybe just a “Right of Passage”?
Not really sure… But I Hear Ya’ Brother!