UPDATE – SPRING 2023
So I posted this blog back in October 2021, feeling excited about the new contract with MyAdvice.
The ‘tldr’ version of this update is “DO NOT DO BUSINESS with this company!”
While Robbie was rushing me to sign on, little did I know that they snuck an Autorenewal Clause into the terms which means that unless I notify them of cancelation within so many months before the end of the year, then I’m automatically signed on with them for another year and I cannot cancel until after that next term.
After 13 months of receiving their ‘service’ (because I wanted to give them a chance), I had decided to part ways to see if there was any difference in my online exposure. I was certainly willing to sign back on if their service was missed, however, they told me that I was stuck with them for another year, whether I was satisfied or not. They kept gaslighting me by saying that I don’t understand how I’m benefiting from their service (even though they couldn’t articulate what it was) and that many other companies employ this Autorenewal Clause so it’s ok for them to do it too (and legally, under Utah Contract Law, it’s pretty solid because of the minimum legalese their attorneys underwrote). So BUYER BEWARE. This ended up being a liability on my business more than a benefit. While I honestly can’t tell if the service has benefited me or not, my hunch is not optimistic if they have to trick you and force you into a 12-month term.
It saddens me that the one time I took a chance on a solicitor’s call to my business, that experience has galvanized my prejudices against sales calls. I know they’re not all bad, but it’s going to be a long, long time before I ever trust another B2B vendor again. 🙁
It’s been just over a year since I established my LLC and ten months since opening my doors for business. I’ve learned a lot of things about running a business but I still have a whole lot more to learn.
In order to get more exposure locally with online directories and search engines, Unbranded Austin has partnered up with MyAdvice (formerly Advice Media, LLC). I’m very gun-shy about partnerships and spending money, especially in my most vulnerable year of the venture, so Leah and Robbie worked really hard to earn my confidence – in fact, I feel kinda bad for making them hustle as hard as they did, but I’m glad we did it. I went to sleep last night feeling more optimistic than usual.
Leah first approached me with a cold-call last week. She was different. Closer to my age, maybe older. Not someone right out of college. I know it sounds naïve but she was one of the most genuine sales reps (let alone human beings) I’d had the pleasure of speaking with. I felt that she had my interests at heart and was empathetic about my natural trepidation on signing up for services. She’s definitely a credit to the company she works for in making that human connection. We actually talked on the phone for an hour about human experiences and stories.
Anyway, I agreed to do a Zoom meeting with her and her manager Robbie the following week and I got the layout from both of them for about hour, mostly presented by Robbie where Leah would chime in to redirect him on my goals based on what she’d learned from our rapport. I didn’t say ‘Yes’ right away. I never do. Nobody really should, no matter how promising it is. They were prepared to offer me a pretty good deal with the caveat that I agree to it by the end of the week and also that I commit to no less than 12 months. Needless to say, this made me uneasy as I have a natural skepticism that’s credited with keeping me above the poverty line my whole life.
Yesterday, on the deadline of the offer, I got a call from Leah, apologizing for the pressure that was foisted upon me because they were coming up on end-of-month quotas and whatnot. Of course, I understand this. She did the homestretch pitch with me, confident that MyAdvice would be able to significantly nudge my online exposure in the right direction. In the end, I agreed to go forward with the partnership and I think it was the right decision.
In my younger years, I’ve accepted only empirical evidence and reason as the path to truth. Too much caution, needing guarantees. Low risk. But in recent years, I’m prepared to take a few things on faith. Learning to trust the universe, to trust people. In the end, that’s how we do it.
