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H_Therapist · December 3rd, 2005, 12:27 PM

Hi all,

I would like some advice. I am writing a relaxation course to-do with my practice. I want the course to be available from the website, the client signs up by putting their email address into the site and the system sends it to them over a 14 day period for free.

I am told that to set this up, it is going to cost £300 - this seems a little high to me. Does anyone have any ideas?

Rob · December 3rd, 2005, 01:39 PM

Hi,

There are plenty of free mailing list / newsletter management scripts out there.

Have look on HotScripts.com

H_Therapist · December 3rd, 2005, 01:46 PM

That is assuming that I know how to install it and how to set it up.

I must say, that is what I love about people who work in computers, they assume that people like me know how and what to do with the script, once you have it! Or they charge an absolute bomb to tell you how to do it!

Pheonix · December 3rd, 2005, 06:00 PM

The better free products will often have very detailed instructions, some even have a script that install themselves, if you run into a specific problem, post in the aproprate forum, or contact the writer of the script.

Tim356 · December 3rd, 2005, 09:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by H_Therapist

That is assuming that I know how to install it and how to set it up.

I must say, that is what I love about people who work in computers, they assume that people like me know how and what to do with the script, once you have it! Or they charge an absolute bomb to tell you how to do it!

I guess that's why they charge an absolute bomb. If you don't know how to do it, then you'll need to either learn how, or accept that you'll have to pay someone.

grahame · December 4th, 2005, 05:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by H_Therapist

I am told that to set this up, it is going to cost £300 - this seems a little high to me. Does anyone have any ideas?

Personal time and attention DOES cost. Have you ever taken your car in for service and been shocked at the labour charge when compared to the parts? Along the same lines, there's a lot of good free software out there, and it comes with excellent instructions 'in the box', but if you prefer or can't follow them yourself and get paid help it WILL cost.

Chris - I was going to do a price comparison for you looking at your own business v the IT business but I couldn't find prices on your web site. So I've done my best and found a site from the home counties where a qualified hypnotherapist is charging 30 or 40 pounds an hour - so that's not too far off 300 pounds for a day of consultancy, right?

I don't know how much time your IT consultant said he was going to take to do the job for you, but I suspect it would be a "one off job" so he would have to recover all his admin and sales costs with his work, whereas in your business I think people make multiple appointments, don't they? So that you can spread the recovery of such costs over many appointments? I'm also suspecting that there isn't a big amount of individual preparation and tailoring of what you're doing for each of your customers whereas a system such as you require with trickle-emailing over a fourteen day period isn't exactly what most IT consultants are setting up every day. The devil may be in the detail - what happens if someone changes there email address during the fortnight? What if they need a resend because their spam filters block you out ... and the detail has to be considered and handled by the consultant.

This may not be entirely fair - I've made a lot of assumptions. Chris - please do point me to your prices if they're published so that I can review them accordingly, and do tell us how long the IT consultant was estimating for the job and whether he/she included any support after the initial setup in his/her price and whether the sorts of details I've mentioned were included. Then we could guestimate whether you're being ripped off, offered a bargain, or the price is even too good to be true.

H_Therapist · December 4th, 2005, 11:09 AM

I do completely understand what your saying, however there is a huge difference between what I do and what people who work in IT do - I understand that you have to pay for such a service, but why the prices have to be so high is what shocks me. I am just starting out in business and the right system will boost my credability and so gain more clients and so gaining more money to pay for such products. - Still never mind!

There are prices on my website:www.uk-hypnosis.co.uk/service1.htm if you look under the catagory of "UK-Hypnosis’s: One Session Smoking Cessation Program" section. Ordinarily I wouldn't have a problem with such a figure but because I'm not getting the clients and am only just setting up in business I can't afford it. However this particular tool will boost my credability and so give me more clients and increasing my money to pay for things like thiat.

What Admin costs? he is putting together a system for me so that potential clients can receive a free course on relaxation. i do understand that he has a lot of preparation to do but I don't think that you can realistically compare what I do to what he does, I work with people and he (as do you) works with machines, there is a huge difference. There is a huge amount of preparation in what i do, each and every program in tailored around the client so they get the best possible experience and chance of success.

He said that it would take him a good few days to put together, so that is not one days work, that is spread over 2 / 3 days which actually doesn't come to anything like the figure you gave me.

Rob · December 5th, 2005, 04:25 PM

Chris.... I personally charge £40 - £50 per hour for my services..... I dont think I could come anywhere near to even matching the low price you've been quoted.

It seems to me that you place a higher value and worth on the services you offer, than you do on the service being offered to you.

Oh, btw... my charges are very very reasonable compared to some.

When Grahame mentions 'admin costs' he refers to the time it takes to document changes made to your application (obviously, at £300 it aint a bespoke application.... it must be a tailored free one).... then there is the time it takes to prepare invoices / receipts..... then there is other admin such as the particular transaction's contribution to record keeping, etc.

Then, there may be time taken up with phone calls (to you), research, problem solving and also testing.

You've been offered a fair price.... something I know I would charge more for..... I would snap the guy's hand off..... but just make 100% sure you are getting exactly what YOU want.... and not what the guy 'thinks' you need.

grahame · December 5th, 2005, 06:51 PM

Rob's post is, I think, spot on.

Just one extra thing to pick up and add a couple of extra comments on.

Quote:

I work with people and he (as do you) works with machines, there is a huge difference.

Firstly, I'm a bit of an oddball in that I work with both - in fact, I spend much more of my time working with people rather than programming, on a typical day coding for an hour or two and teaching for 7 or 8 hours. It give me an unusual perspective with a foot in both camps. Different skills, but people are much more mallable - say something wot aint quite right and they'll get the meaning, whereas that would be a straight SYNTAX ERROR from a computer program and an application that failed completely. In other words, people are rather easier and much more forgiving

Secondly, I'm going to contend that a good Systems Analyst / Programmer DOES very much work with people - but often one level removed. It's so important that any web application is designed with the human interface very much in mind. Get this wrong on a web site and you'll simply see no traffic as people give up. In real life, directly in front of human beings it's much easier if you're perceptive - a slightly glazed look, an answer to a question which indicates they made need more help in a certain area, and you can gently steer / tailor your approach to suit them on the fly. I love it!

I'm not going to attempt a value comparison. I'm just going to say that I find it a little ironic that you're unhappy at a professional charging - it seems - around 15 pound an hour for his services when you're charging over 4 times that (100 pounds for 90 minutes) in your own business. Ah - I think that echos Rob's second paragraph. Spot on again, Rob!

benbramz · December 5th, 2005, 10:28 PM

£300 is actually very responable, and as graham has said, getting quality work is key.

Quote:

I work with people and he (as do you) works with machines, there is a huge difference.

meaning? just as your work is differnt does not demeen it cost wise..

Quote:

but why the prices have to be so high is what shocks me

I think you have your head in the clouds a little...think what business you can earn from such an application

Quote:

He said that it would take him a good few days to put together, so that is not one days work, that is spread over 2 / 3 days which actually doesn't come to anything like the figure you gave me.

so in relation to robs posts, his hourly charge is even less..

at the end of the day, you muct value your potencial business and not look at what you have already, as with any business. or youll fail...
as sombody said beofre, snap that guys hand off...

H_Therapist · December 6th, 2005, 03:45 PM

Thank you for all your posts - your efforts are appreciated.

I do feel that this has got rather personal - I do agree that our professions (however different) are irrelevant from this discussion. My fees are certainly non-comparable to this disucssion.

You are right on one point - it will bring in extra revenue to my business. The quality is definately the key to this and I have spent a significant amount of time reading all your comments and thinking about this offer.

Rob · December 6th, 2005, 05:16 PM

I certainly didnt really want to focus on the comparison of industies.... merley that if I wanted your service I would expect that figure..... I guess this boils down to the fact of what is and what isn't acceptable coupled with an industry knowledge.

Maybe you should in fact shop around first to see if the guys offer holds weight, and remember that the cheapest is often not the best (As I'm sure holds true in your profession)

JamieH · December 7th, 2005, 07:59 PM

I might be missing somthing here, how my clients do you foresee signing up? you said its a new buisness, so I would imagine not a whole bunch yet.

I send using a simple mail merge from word to access via Outlook, you could start this way, they apply online, you get a request via your e-mail and volia.

Then when you can afford it get a pucker system in place.

Jamie

Rob · December 8th, 2005, 08:47 AM

Actually.... very good advice.