13:00:22	 From  Leslie Blaize : Hi, Susan. A golden retriever.
13:00:28	 From  Leslie Blaize : I can hear you.
13:00:31	 From  Peter : Here. All good.
13:01:20	 From  Leslie Blaize : Nice...
13:01:44	 From  Peter : Our family always had a dog. I had goldfish but they only lasted a week.
13:02:13	 From  Lori's iPhone : cats and dog!
13:03:27	 From  christinebutler : Our record at one time was 3 goldfish, 2 turtles, a bird, a cat and a dog…and no we did not have a partridge in a pear tree!
13:04:01	 From  Leslie Blaize : W: my first website project for an engineering firm is going well.
13:04:17	 From  Lori's iPhone : W: I got new projects from two dormant clients. yay!
13:04:19	 From  Eva Hatzenbihler : W: Hi! I have already met my income goal for the month and am talking to a few prospects to grow that through out
13:04:39	 From  Eva Hatzenbihler : @Leslie—Woohoo!
13:04:49	 From  Leslie Blaize : @Eva, back at ya
13:04:52	 From  christinebutler : I signed up for the Accelerator Coaching.
13:05:13	 From  Lori's iPhone : it was yes! I used the “Are you still...” message
13:05:39	 From  Peter : W: Value statements almost done.
13:06:19	 From  Eva Hatzenbihler : Good Job everyone! Way to take action!
13:06:28	 From  Peter : Took more time than I thought.
13:07:28	 From  Lori's iPhone : W: i had a compound win because I revived dormant leads and raised my rates simultaneously so that was pretty cool!
13:07:42	 From  Eva Hatzenbihler : AWESOME!
13:07:54	 From  Peter : Fantastic!
13:08:08	 From  Lori's iPhone : Thanks, everyone! it felt great.
13:10:36	 From  Eva Hatzenbihler : I: testing a 9 word email approach. I haven’t started yet, I’m in the middle of putting my marketing plan together because there are conversational emails to write as follow ups but it will be something I track and share with the group.
13:11:17	 From  Leslie Blaize : I: I'm taking another look at member firms who belong to the American Council of Engineering Companies. I'm a member and want to maximize my membership.
13:11:55	 From  Eva Hatzenbihler : Yes a response of any kind would be nice, then I can move forward OR get a new client. Either way is good for me.
13:12:18	 From  Leslie Blaize : I'll keep you posted on ACEC drive.
13:12:50	 From  Emmy  : I updated the format of my proposals and I’m getting really good
13:13:48	 From  Eva Hatzenbihler : Working on it :)
13:15:27	 From  Emmy  : q: I need help figuring out how to go about pricing a proposal for a new client. I’m thinking about an initial quote for a small piece of the project to prevent sticker shock.
13:15:43	 From  christinebutler : I’ve been writing articles for the same magazine for about 4 years and want to raise my rates. They were one of my first clients and have been good to me…but the pay is low. How do I approach them for a raise?
13:16:31	 From  Leslie Blaize : Q: I never discussed referrals with the engineering firm where I'm working on the website. I should have all copy done next week and figure that might be a good time. I also could ask for a recommendation for LinkedIn and my website. I would say that I would really appreciate a recommendation and also wondered if they have ideas for associates I could assist. Other ideas?
13:17:16	 From  Eva Hatzenbihler : Q:I’ve been working with a new client now for about 3 weeks. I’ve been contracted for 9 articles and they were at a lower rate than my usual. In my defense it is a PropTech company and I am using it as a door opener as the upside is huge with this type of industry. They came back with me today with 3 web pages they want written. I told them that web pages are a different fee and I quoted my usual (which according to others in the group is still low—but I’m ok with) and I haven’t heard back from them. So I’m kind of worried that now I’ve scared them away and they won’t want me to write the pages and possible not hire me for new articles again—I’ve just met my income goal because of them—so to me this would be very sad.
13:17:41	 From  Eva Hatzenbihler : My question is how do I follow up? Do I write to them tomorrow again or do I just give this time?
13:19:57	 From  Eva Hatzenbihler : @Emmy—why customize? Do are they all sent to the same email list? If so why not just change the location with a small feature article from each gym?
13:27:11	 From  Eva Hatzenbihler : (Please read the emmy statement out loud, forgot she was on the car phone)
13:29:59	 From  Leslie Blaize : Thanks so much for info.
13:30:21	 From  Eva Hatzenbihler : Q: I had started a referral program with clients from the beginning. Does anyone else offer a referral program? It has brought in extra work both with new clients and the referring client. My program is that once a client refers 3 paying clients, I give them a 10% credit based on those clients in free work. The work is after all my new paid work but usually worth $100-$300. Has anyone done something similar
13:30:46	 From  Lori's iPhone : Q: I’ve been working with a client for a year and they are my most consistent client, they pay whatever I ask. however, I think they are so swamped they don’t have time to upload all the blog posts I write. i hate to rock the boat but in my planning thoughts for next year, I’m thinking about offering to put it on the website and provide images and just do more content management for them. Do you think this is a good approach? just worried about them deciding they just don’t need this much content.
13:32:11	 From  Eva Hatzenbihler : I will follow up- no there was no timeline for the webpages
13:32:36	 From  Eva Hatzenbihler : Yes, I like that. What were your thoughts statement.
13:37:57	 From  Eva Hatzenbihler : @Lori—I would totally offer to do the posting for them. Otherwise why have the content at all. View it as “you know I could help get that posted for you so you can use it.”
13:38:22	 From  christinebutler : Sorry I have to drop off. Thanks for your help?
13:39:27	 From  Leslie Blaize : Q - what would be a fair price for posting? I may offer the same for website updates.
13:42:13	 From  Lori's iPhone : @Eva - my thoughts too! i’m letting fear hold me back from approaching. Don’t want to do that going fwd!
13:43:32	 From  Lori's iPhone : I currently charge hourly but maybe putting on the site too is an opportunity to switch to a fixed price model of retainer set up...
13:43:53	 From  Lori's iPhone : *or retainer set up
13:45:30	 From  Eva Hatzenbihler : @Leslie—When I do write and post for a blog, I write the blog for $250 and post for them. I have other packages for social media because those posts are shorter and I do find the images and post and manage. I will put those packages in the group. My packages are $250 per article if they just want that. $500 for 3 posts a week plus article, posting and management, $2000 for 26 posts, no articles, yes posting and management. There are other levels depending on volume of posts.
13:46:14	 From  Leslie Blaize : @Eva, thanks
13:46:32	 From  Eva Hatzenbihler : @Lori—you could come up with a writing, posting, management package (internal hourly + 20%) and charge that on a retainer
13:47:14	 From  Lori's iPhone : @Eva- thank you, that’s a good idea
13:48:23	 From  Eva Hatzenbihler : Yes I know, its my plan
13:50:27	 From  Lori's iPhone : V: how to approach conversations with existing clients while preserving the relationship
13:50:58	 From  Leslie Blaize : V: I'm going to propose that I update website info instead of the web designer. Also, I will explain the value of referrals to me.
13:51:10	 From  Eva Hatzenbihler : V: thoughts about pricing reminds me I need to start pushing my fees at least a 20% buffer until I get comfortable at the higher level.
13:51:16	 From  Melissa  : V: how to approach raising prices (while keeping a good client relationship)
13:51:33	 From  Peter : V: Trial run for prospects. I'd been trying that already, but nice to have confirmation it's a good approach.
13:51:53	 From  Alison : V: Eva’s idea about pricing to Leslie and advice to Emmy about segmenting our a portion of the job as a trial run.
13:56:15	 From  Peter : Q: Should I continue prospecting (on LinkedIn) before value statements and website are ready?
13:56:40	 From  Emmy  : A: send off my proposal!
13:56:47	 From  Alison : A: draft one of my web copy,  writing a proposal for a trial run.
13:56:48	 From  Lucia Stern : Do most copywriters ask for money up front? I would hesitate not to—I’ve had so many bad experiences as an independent freelancer not being paid on time, or at all.
13:57:15	 From  Leslie Blaize : A - WEP to ACEC members and marketing directors/managers on LinkedIn.
13:57:30	 From  Eva Hatzenbihler : A: Working on a new overall marketing plan, including my new 9-word email.
13:59:33	 From  Eva Hatzenbihler : @Peter—my suggestion would be to always be prospecting….in some way. LinkedIn or local networking whatever you are currently doing. Don’t stop. Susan’s suggestion to test statements, that’s a great idea. People love to give their opinion (as you can see here LOL)
14:00:39	 From  Peter : @Eva thanks.
14:00:54	 From  Eva Hatzenbihler : @Lucia—if it’s a new client, I usually ask for half and then send an invoice for the remainder when the work has been finalized. If it’s a recurring client, I usually wait and invoice
14:00:59	 From  Eva Hatzenbihler : @Peter, welcome
14:01:05	 From  Lucia Stern : Agonizingly completing my website, getting it up this week.
14:03:38	 From  Peter : It's great to have this positive feedback here.
14:04:14	 From  Lucia Stern : Yes, I will do that!
14:04:56	 From  Leslie Blaize : Thanks, @Susan.
14:05:09	 From  Eva Hatzenbihler : Thank you
14:05:14	 From  Peter : Thanks so much Susan and everyone else!