Let’s imagine that you have spent years building up your expertise in a certain niche – say, puppy training. You have written articles, created courses, published e-books (or real books), filmed training videos and hosted web seminars. Suddenly, your name is out there. Your promotional activities have born fruit, and you are now the ‘go-to guy’ on puppy training.
For a while, it’s great. Your products sell like hot cakes, and your e-courses are always full. Grateful clients send you emails telling you how fantastic your information is – and of course, you use their words in testimonials. That generates even more sales.
Then one day you sit down at the computer to start on your email – and you realize that it’s out of control. Increasingly, you are getting mail from puppy-owners assuming you will be happy to dispense free advice. (After all, you are the guru.) People who have done your courses tend to stay in contact, too. Sometimes they just to report success, sometimes they ask for further advice. (“I know you’re a busy person, but I wonder if I can just ask a quick question?”)
At times,...