Microconsulting Q & A
Crystal posted this on May 30, 2008
The Answer Machine by Kronick
Post update 8/1/2008: Sorry I’ve had to discontinue this experiment, but it was fun while it lasted! Thanks to everyone who offered up ideas, encouragement, and their hard-earned cash 
Since I introduced the Twitter-inspired idea of microconsulting last week, there have been plenty of thoughtful questions and helpful feedback.
The idea of providing 140 character answers to business questions was labeled “genius” and “clever”, as well as “stupid” and “ridiculous”.
Big thanks to everyone—from the cheerleaders to the skeptics—for their part in sussing out how this microconsulting thing is gonna work.
From their input, here are questions about 140 Character Consulting that are answered in… …wait for it… …140 characters:
What It Is
Q: What’s microconsulting?
A: Microconsulting is targeted, personalized advice and ideas, just for businesses of 1 to 5 people with questions about doing business online.
Q: How much does this cost and what do I get?
A: For $9.95 I will answer your question with advice, ideas and/or options by email, text message or Twitter. I’ll also email supporting links.
Q: Are you going to do weird crap to the answer to stretch or squoosh it into 140 characters?
A: C’mon! What kind of cynical question is that? I may take liberties with punctuation, but I won’t abbr. or wax loquaciously to meet my quota.
Asking Questions
Q: You talk about posting stuff on Twitter and you have sample questions with answers on your site. What about confidentiality?
A: Your question and my answer are just between us by default. Sharing the Q/A is optional with express permission, identity is always private.
Q: Does my question have to be less than or exactly 140 characters?
A: Goodness no! Feel free to make your question as long as you like. If you send me a descriptive question, I can return a more focused answer.
Receiving Answers
Q: How long will I have to wait for your answer to my question?
A: A short wait if I have a ready answer, longer if your answer requires research. Also, there may be a queue. I try for the next business day.
Q: What’s this about using Twitter to deliver my answer? I don’t use Twitter, so how would I get my answer?
A: Twitter is just one option. Email and text messages are two more. Heck, I’ll read the answer to your voicemail. Whatever works best for you.
Q: The way Twitter works, to use all 140 characters on my answer you’d have to email me a link to the tweet. Why not just email me the answer?
A: I email every answer because many have supporting links. Adding them to the Twitterverse is just for fun and I won’t if you prefer I didn’t.
For The Skeptics
Q: What makes you think people would pay good money for a sound bite answer to their serious business questions? It’s ridiculous.
A: Serious business questions require serious answers but not necessarily long ones. Think of this as an executive summary’s executive summary.
Q: Why should I pay you for a short answer when ChaCha gives short answers for free?
A: If you need driving directions or shopping tips, use ChaCha—I do. But I’m focused on small biz and they only accept 160 character questions.
Q: What if your answer sucks?
A: If I thought my answer sucked, I’d say so and return your $9.95. If you truly feel my answers/links suck, say so and I’ll refund your money.
Hey…wait!
Q: Did you really give 140 character answers to all these questions?
A: Yep, I sure did. It’s a perfect way to demonstrate the power of the 140. I don’t always need 1000 words to guide, evaluate, help, and share.
Q: C’mon…was that answer 140 characters too? Seriously?
A: Seriously!
Et tu? Your questions, doubts, and encouragement are welcome…lemme know down below.
Tagged with: consulting · microconsulting
Comments
18 Responses to “Microconsulting Q & A”
Leave a Reply
Full feed updates
Short is hard. It requires lots of work. Churchill once said “I am going to give a long speech as I have not had time to write a short one.”
Recent blog post from James Hipkin: 5 Questions for Personal Branding - What’s next Indeed
This is going to be really cool. I think you have a unique idea that will fly.
James is right, but I know you’ll be up to the task!
-Brett
Recent blog post from Brett Legree: viking fridays - words of praise.
@James–Thank you : ) Keeping it short is hard, but always worth the effort.
@Brett–Howdy and good morning and thanks and James is never wrong and I can/will and where’s that e-coffee?
Really sharp idea, good luck!
Very clever and a great proof.
If anyone doubts the power of 140, check out the winners of the twitter fiction contest at copyblogger
@Tee—Welcome, and many thanks!
@GirlPie—Howdy and thank you! Did you know the contest inspired the microconsulting idea? After writing a couple of contest entries, and seeing others, I realized how much meaning could be packed into 140 characters.
I can’t imagine how they chose a handful of winners from all those fab submissions—dubbed TwitLit!
Scroll past the detailed instructions for slideshows of all the valid entries: Twitter Contest Entires Slideshow
@crystal Did you notice that my comments was 140 characters?
Recent blog post from James Hipkin: Things I Learned Working in Rock & Roll
@James—*smacks forehead* DOH! I didn’t recognize your mastery of the medium. It was well cloaked with the quotation. Wow. LoL
Sometimes people give answers that are long and never quite get to the point. A short, straight forward answer, when possible, is more helpful. So, yeah, I think its a great idea! Saves time too.
Recent blog post from Trisha: Friday Favorites
I’ve been doing something similar for years (though not with Twitter). I have a base of $10 but sometimes it’s more - though when it is more, the buyer always has the option to pay less or even nothing if they disagree with my charges.
Twitter wouldn’t work for me, though - I’m doing techy stuff, not high level concepts.
Recent blog post from Anthony Lawrence: Page Views Per Visitor - more isn’t always better by Anthony Lawrence
This kind of reminds me of ‘Made to Stick’ - the book about making ideas ’sticky’ The core of it is really making the communication simple and to the point, sort of like a proverb.
Just the fact that you’ll provide such short answers will actually help people in realizing their goals that much faster.
Cool beans.
Hi Crystal,
How is the micro-business coming along so far? It sounds like a really great idea.
I am hoping my physician doesn’t hear about it! LOL!
Recent blog post from Wendi Kelly: Focusing on First Things First
@Anthony—Hi there! It’s great to hear that the Short Answers, Small Fee concept works
I thought it would be fun to try (which it is), but it’s very nice to hear that it may have a long future.
I’m not getting too many high-level concepts, though? More searches for resources than anything else.
@Shawn—Howdy! That’s my hope, that it will help folks get jumpstarted on a project or direction, or get them unstuck. Just a li’l love, you know?
And I will definitely check out that book. It’s on my list, but I’ve gotta get through my current stack first
@Wendi—Welcome back! (Can you tell I missed seeing you around here?) There haven’t been a flood of requests, but I’m very happy with what’s come my way. The questions are tough, but I’m uncovering all kinds of neat stuff…an unexpected indirect benefit.
Physician?! NO! I don’t want to go in for 12 minute surgery. For some things, there is no short form. A physician/surgeon can take alllll the time they need
Given that many small businesses fail for the very same reason this type of consulting hopefully help reduce this number. The information given could prove valuable for these small companies. Getting a consultant is probably out of the price range of many small firms however this may make it more affordable.
Hi Alan and welcome!
I agree completely and that’s why this is worth a shot. You’ve got some great ideas of the potential, and I hope I can make that much of a difference.
Thanks lots for your comment.
Recent blog post from Crystal: Dear Santa: A New Design Wishlist for Big Bright Bulb
This is a fabulous idea. I’m going to consider doing this for my coaching practice.
Hi Duff, welcome and thanks for your comment!
Glad you like it, and tickled that you like it enough to work it into your own business model. Come back and let us know how it goes, eh?
[...] she found a way to incorporate Twitter into her business model by offering a new service called business micro-consulting via Twitter. Users ask a business related question and she responds with miniature consulting [...]