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Proof that doing a free service once in a while can pay off big time.

by Alex Blades
19 replies
I'm sure most of you guys and gals know about the worse tattoo in the world. After 6 years and millions of laughs some tattoo artist capitalized on it, and offered to fix it for free. Now the tattoo artist and his business are on the home page of Yahoo, Huffington Post and countless news outlets by morning, getting millions of hits.

The guy will never have to worry about clients again, it pays to do a free service every once in a while. Building a free website for a school, church, townhall, fire/police station, local park, chamber of commerce or a good cause could easily bring in free publicity and much needed clients to your IM business, especially at a local level



#big #free #pay #proof #service #time
  • Profile picture of the author sabatek
    I remember seeing that pic a while back I never knew it was fixed. Wow what a difference. But yes your right offering free service makes a difference in business...
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    • Profile picture of the author Newbieee
      Yup, sure is smart.

      It works the same way as giving a free report for an email ad, giving out for free, gaining exposure then selling them something in future. [similar method]

      But i always admire people who give free services to Non-profit organizations like church or charity.
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  • Profile picture of the author erwin78
    Hi everyone,

    yes doing a free thing will pay off later.

    You must help others first and the money will come sooner or later.

    All the best

    Erwin
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    • Profile picture of the author Denden
      From scary old woman to beautiful young woman. Glad this person got it fixed. I've never seen it before. Good for the Tattoo Artist
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  • Profile picture of the author Alex Blades
    It works the same way as giving a free report for an email ad, giving out for free, gaining exposure then selling them something in future. [similar method]
    Not exactly, giving out a free report is in hopes for a lead.

    Giving out a free service for a good cause is for free advertisement which is the best advertisement you can buy. If that free advertising can reach millions then it's priceless
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    • Profile picture of the author Newbieee
      Originally Posted by Alex Blades View Post

      Not exactly, giving out a free report is in hopes for a lead.

      Giving out a free service for a good cause is for free advertisement which is the best advertisement you can buy. If that free advertising can reach millions then it's priceless
      Thats why i said it was similar, not exactly the same.
      Because it does open future opportunities for you.
      Whether its directly or indirectly.

      As a lead, they are direct, they may buy something in future. but they may not buy and may recommend to others too.
      As a free service, they will recommend but they may directly engage you also in other departments or businesses that they might have.

      Like i know of pastors who run churches and have their own business.
      You do a free service for the church since its using charity funds and if he likes it he may use ur services for his personal business with his personal business funds.

      I agree its different but similar in some ways.
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  • Profile picture of the author wlasikiewicz
    Thats some time to get that fixed, looks very impressive now tho.
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    • Profile picture of the author Alex Blades
      Originally Posted by wlasikiewicz View Post

      Thats some time to get that fixed, looks very impressive now tho.
      I am just surprised it took 6 years for someone to capitalize on that free press. Took the artist 3 hours to do it, and in returned he received tens of millions of eyes on him and his business. Maybe that should be a goal of every IM marketer, to try and get that free press
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  • Profile picture of the author mstrmindmktg
    There's a difference in giving something for "free" or giving it as an "incentive." Giving something for free means you don't expect something in return. You truly want to "give" something - be it giving of yourself or a tangible object.

    An incentive is to give something when you are truly expecting something in return. Don't get me wrong, there is absolutely nothing wrong with this, as in building a list. But people need to realize the difference.

    Hopefully this tattoo artist truly was doing something he didn't expect a return on. I like to think the best of people...
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    • Profile picture of the author Newbieee
      Originally Posted by mstrmindmktg View Post

      There's a difference in giving something for "free" or giving it as an "incentive." Giving something for free means you don't expect something in return. You truly want to "give" something - be it giving of yourself or a tangible object.
      Agreed.

      But since we cant justify an individual's intention, we cant say for sure.

      Like big companies like to participate in charities.
      But not all of them do it out of Philanthropy, some do it out of economic sense because it is tax deductable.

      So i was coming from a perspective of how the process works, not so much on intentions.

      Both creates future opportunities and prospects. Direct or indirect.

      And also, i know its different in their own ways, but i said similar. haha.
      Not exactly the same. Just saying.
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      • Profile picture of the author Newbieee
        My apologies i re read my post, i did say "same".

        But i did put the "[similar]"

        My bad.

        But at laest u guys know where im coming from.

        Of cos i like to think the best of people too, but im just stating how things work out.

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  • Profile picture of the author wakey7
    I often find that the money comes secondary. It's always worth keeping the money aspect in your mind but if you can provide a quality free service...well, there's nothing like word of mouth as a testimonial.
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  • Profile picture of the author ashloren
    I am a firm believer in things like this. Showing kindness to someone in need by offering your talent at no cost builds good karma and sets you apart from any of your competition. For that reason alone, it pays off immensely. It should not really be about what you get in return, even if only attention or free publicity. The more important thing is that you made a very real difference in someone's life, and for that they will never forget you. No strings attached.
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  • Profile picture of the author Danny Cutts
    I do a fair bit of charity work now as not only does it help the charities but it raises the profile of my business and also gets me in the press :-)

    Its a win win situation :-)

    Danny
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  • Profile picture of the author James Hessler
    I too am a believer in giving away content for free. Even giving an incentive to join my free membershiP site. My beautiful wife doesnt get it fully, although I do try and explain.
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  • Profile picture of the author MartinPlatt
    It's funny, that would be seen as 'creative', whereas in internet marketing giving away a free report is run of the mill.

    In IM I don't think it's necessarily about giving something away for free, but more giving something of huge value...
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    • Profile picture of the author Newbieee
      Originally Posted by MartinPlatt View Post

      It's funny, that would be seen as 'creative', whereas in internet marketing giving away a free report is run of the mill.

      In IM I don't think it's necessarily about giving something away for free, but more giving something of huge value...
      Yup, in IM its a common practice although its not necessary.
      Just like doing free services to chairty, its not necessary.

      But i think the difference as to why 1 is so commonly followed and why 1 is not is because giving a free report doesnt require u to put in extra amount of work, whereas doing a free service requires extra additional work without getting any monetary incentive back instantly.

      That is why mostly only those who really want to do it out of their heart will do it, then the advantage is the free advertisement. [but its a by product, not the main result]

      For marketers who follow a game plan and sales funnel etc, this is not so common although it can work out too. But it may not be fruitful in terms of marketing terms, thus its too "risky" for a marketing plan.
      And thus it is uncommon.

      Just my opinion.
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      • Profile picture of the author yesacpow
        You are absolutely right - and we should do so without expecting anything in return as well.

        That's why we should focus on offering free valuable content if we want to have a long term profitable business
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