I am thinking of building a not-for-profit business of which I offer Website Design and Internet Marketing and Social Media Services 100% for FREE to those who don't really have the resources to otherwise have one. I want to help out those people who wish they could be entrepreneurs but don't know where to start. I have been given so much in my life and I just want to pay it back, so I have been offering this to friends and family and the feeling of giving them that presence is amazing and something I want to do professionally. Do you think this idea is a sustainable one? I discussed this with my wife yesterday. Her reaction was a bit ... violent.
In theory it sounds very good. In practice ... those who need it the most, don't want to it. Why? Have you ever had a friend/relative/stranger who is complaining about something, and you know the solution is so easy to fix and you tell them...but they just don't take your advice? [if not, you are lucky then]. People don't value free, they don't value your time, or look after you. Give it a go, if you are passionate about it! What I think is - you should do an education services of what you mentioned for free. Why? The age old saying ... give a man a fish, you feed him for a day. Teach him how to fish, you feed him for life. If you are serious, what you do is teach people those skill set, and pay for all those expenses - but do NOT do it for them. Teach them to do it themselves, but help them out with all the expenses of hosting costs, domain costs etc. How to monetize? I'm not sure if you want to monetize, but if you want to, when one of your Students are making money, you know how its done and you too can follow the same concept. You can tell your wife this way, and I'm sure she will be a bit more supportive of your giving back ways. I wish you the best!
I'll have to agree with seoheroo and make 1 sidenote... If you've earned all you need to and have settled, then by all means do it! Giving feels great and just pick and choose your clients. Only help those with proper ideas that lack 1 specific skill in which you can help them out. Like an accountant that needs a website or a programmer that needs some proper designs. If you need to make money with it, or still need to earn money on the side it's probably not a good idea as it will inevitably lead to disappointment by one of the parties involved. Wether it's you not able to deliver on time because your work is a bigger priority, or them by not liking what you did for free. Good luck!
Thank you all for your insight and support. I figured there will be some sort of screening process to qualify those (and filter out the crazies) that really need help. I just want to help and give back, I just haven't figured out how I could successfully do that. I have a very well paid job, I am a very skilled marketer (in fact, I am on cloud nine right now because I just found out I came in at #6 Top Tweet in 2015 for my industry). But, I would honestly give this up to start a community Non-Profit to give back.
It's true, especially if it's offered, people don't value free and when you say 100%, any input on their side will be seen as an inconvenience. If they do understand at some point how useful your services are, they may bypass you and hire someone else, paying them money, just because they think that who charges does a better job! It's different if you know someone in the org that you are going to work for. Based on my personal experience...
Good for people like me.. I need this help from u. But, First maintain your wife.. Bcoz, Wife is Life
Great idea, a way you can start is by posting some stuff here on BHW, definitely would be useful to me.
Great idea ! and its feels good to give something free to someone. You should do it , also if I could help in enything that I can do add me in skype or send me a message. I could like to get involved because I need too learn this things
