I noticed a Google ad on a webpage the other day referring to a free IT review of small business networks. In principle, a free consultation is a good way for a service provider to get their foot in the door for customers. Sadly in the IT industry this is rarely the case.
The main reason is most prospective customers don't value the service. You can present them with a beautifully bound and presented report and it will, at best, be filed. It's highly unlikely the report will ever be read, let alone acted upon.
In the rare occasion it does get acted on, most companies will put the job out to competitive tender. Your free audit and the recommendations become the specifications and because other IT companies don't have the overhead of giving out free audits they'll be cheaper.
Word of mouth is the best marketing tool in the IT industry. The best way to grow your business is to provide quality service to the customers who value those services. Giving away your services, like system audits, for free is only attracting the customers who don't value what you can do for them.
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