I’m sure that many of you have had the experience of a potential client eagerly wanting to engage your personal history services but unable to afford the cost. It’s disappointing. But here’s a word of advice. Don’t immediately slash your rates to try to get the job. No self respecting professional would do that. There’s a better way.
As a professional we want to be helpful and we want to be remembered. This client may not be able to afford you but if her experience with you is a positive one and exceeds her expectations, then she’ll talk to her friends about you. And one of those friends may phone you up one day and hire you to do his personal history!
Here are four suggestions that will help you retain a client who can’t afford you.
- Meet their budget with an appropriate product. If your client can only afford $500 not $5,000, then provide a list of things you could do for that fee. You’ll have to plan ahead to have a list of lower priced products. Some suggestions: an unedited video or audio recounting of a special event such as a wedding, major travel adventure, or life altering experience.
- Provide some limited services. You could offer several coaching sessions to get your client started on writing a life story. Alternatively, you might provide some help starting the person on a DIY family story software program like Personal Historian.
- Offer to find another personal historian. There are personal historians who are starting out and who need to have samples of work for their portfolio. Some of these individuals might be prepared to offer their services at a modest fee. There are other personal historians for whom the work is largely a hobby. They would likely consider doing the work for little or no money.
- Provide a list of personal history resources. For those clients who can’t afford anything, provide them with a list of books and web sites that could help them write their own life stories.
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10 responses so far ↓
Dhyan Atkinson // November 4, 2009 at 6:55 pm |
Dan, EXCELLENT article. The tips you offer could apply to almost any sort of helping or healing profession, not just personal historians. Thanks! dhyan
Dan Curtis // November 4, 2009 at 9:38 pm |
@Dhyan Atkinson. Thanks for your comments. Much appreciated!
Mim Eisenberg // November 4, 2009 at 10:52 pm |
I agree with what Dhyan said, Dan. Those are very helpful ideas.
Dan Curtis // November 5, 2009 at 1:34 am |
@Mim Eisenberg. Thanks, Mim. Glad to be of help!
Diane Gray // November 5, 2009 at 2:52 pm |
As always, your articles continue to educate this aspiring personal historian. Thank you for blogging.
Dan Curtis // November 5, 2009 at 4:38 pm |
@Diane Gray. Glad to be of help!
Michele Buhler // November 6, 2009 at 5:38 pm |
Thanks Dan;
I’m one of those “aspiring” personal historians. I wrote one book for my mother-in-law before I had even heard of personal historians. It was one of the most rewarding things I have ever done. (And I have been a social worker for most of my life and helped many people.) I recently joined the APH and started feeling that I perhaps I was not in their league. Your article gives me much needed hope that I can start with some smaller projects (both in scope and price) . In my work I have coached people to start small; however, taking one’s own advice does not always come easily. Sometimes we need to hear it from someone else.
Keep the Blogs coming; I’ll be reading.
Dan Curtis // November 9, 2009 at 9:13 pm |
@Michele Buhler. Thanks for your very kind comments. It’s always good to hear from my readers. Gives me a boost and encourages me to carry on.
Dan Curtis // November 9, 2009 at 9:13 pm |
@Michele Buhler. Thanks for your very kind comments. It’s always good to hear from my readers. Gives me a boost and encourages me to carry on.
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