I'm always sceptical about these things.  Has anyone gotten a call?  Is it some kind of cute internet scam?  I do tech support all day at work, I would love to quit and do it at home.  How cool would that be.  Argh. 

This site is getting good buzz and funding. Its not a scam.

Good question!
Anyone out there gotten a call yet?

nope - haven't gotten a call yet...not too many people looking for fiddling advice anyway :)  

There are a few Sellers out there who have received calls – and a few more who have received many calls. Keep in mind that Ether is currently a bring-your-own model. Ether provides the tools; you supply the traffic of customers. Therefore, we find that those Ether sellers who have their own traffic receive many calls and those who don't have their own traffic don't get any calls. 

 

It's completely up to you, the Seller.

 

By creating an Ether listing, you shouldn't expect that calls will simply come in. Though you should expect a great set of tools to sell what you say...

You could try posting it in the unofficial Ether directory. See the post here:
http://www.ether.com/CommunityServer/forums/thread/53779.aspx

or direct link: http://etherdirectory.kasrak.com

Hope you get some calls!

css---   when I first was reading the other web sties, I was thinking how perfect this concept would be.  Then wha la here it is -- found out from one operator of the other sites as she was invited to view the details when this was in the planning stage.  This is perfect, I am lining up my other advertising and cant wait to see the calls come in hopefully.

I was under the impression that there is no directory that goes out "there--anywhere" for callers to read, with that we must create our own paths for our ether numbers.  Your directory is great--thanks!!  I am going to join right now-- thanks again

If you market this correctly you could do rather well....  I have on 3 occassions paid 90.00 to the best buy geeks, paid for a guy I got from somewhere.........   the snag seems to be here on ehter no way to post or make it convienent for you customers to see when your available........   but if you had a call back, I know 3 people right now that would love to have you help them, you must be better than average in your skill..........

 

there is a partial guarantee with the callers, I will seek money back if someone is not more technical savy than me.........  wont pay for that..  ha ha

Erin, I hope it continues to be a "bring-your-own" model as that's truly a USP and fits right in with the vision of ether.  :-)  If I knew more about telephony and programming, I would be doing this on my own site but I don't so this is the BEST option for me at this point.

I just set up everything on my site the last couple of days and expect great call volume (great is relative of course).

Hi

im new to this as well ...does this bring in the money? I mean do you really get calls because from what i am seeing you only get calls in the us

R

yea I just started too. Seems like fun.

im just started too... is this good for living?

secrets-tell-me:

css---   when I first was reading the other web sties, I was thinking how perfect this concept would be.  Then wha la here it is -- found out from one operator of the other sites as she was invited to view the details when this was in the planning stage.  This is perfect, I am lining up my other advertising and cant wait to see the calls come in hopefully.

I was under the impression that there is no directory that goes out "there--anywhere" for callers to read, with that we must create our own paths for our ether numbers.  Your directory is great--thanks!!  I am going to join right now-- thanks again

Yes...I have received some calls on this site, but most have been because I have the Ether number and my extension on my business card. Also, you can add this link to your e-mails or add a call button on your own web site. The volume will not happen if you don't advertise but I'm hoping that the Ether Directory will help some.

Oh yes and by the way CSS...the expression is Voila!...with a V ...it's French meaning There it is! : )

Mary Ann

I guess I am not sure why I would use Ether to contact or support clients I already have. They know where I am, how to contact me, my rates. They don't need Ether for this.

Ether needs to think about the real compelling needs of the individual consultants and contractors to be of value to them. And this is first and foremost utilizing their time in the best way. This means providing opportunities to quickly engage with new clients and customers; this means becoming the hub of knowledge where those in need of advice come to Ether first.

Otherwise, this will be another "me too" website trying to figure out "chicken or the egg" problem.

Why not join the Etther directory I set up at 
http://etherexperts.ning.com/
Helping yourselfs is the only way to get calls - I am and I do.

Without bringing eyeballs to the service, ether.com has much less to offer, but still something. The mechanics of billing someone, getting set up with a credit card and whatnot are worth the commission to avoid.

But marketing is king and that's in part why eBay is so large. People know that's the place to go for auctions. Ether doesn't seem to be creating that same public consciousness for its offer.

I've been with Ether for a year. Never once got a call. Not for lack of advertising. I guess people just don't want to pay for relationship advice, when they can just call up their best friend.

I been here last April 2008, I havent recieve any calls nor any inquiry...

Needed help, do anyone here can help me to improve my ether..

Exactly! I especially agree with "becoming the hub of knowledge" and "providing opportunities to quickly engage with the new clients".  Anyone who owns a halfway successful website knows this is key.

Startup Advice:

I guess I am not sure why I would use Ether to contact or support clients I already have. They know where I am, how to contact me, my rates. They don't need Ether for this.

Ether needs to think about the real compelling needs of the individual consultants and contractors to be of value to them. And this is first and foremost utilizing their time in the best way. This means providing opportunities to quickly engage with new clients and customers; this means becoming the hub of knowledge where those in need of advice come to Ether first.

Otherwise, this will be another "me too" website trying to figure out "chicken or the egg" problem.

Exactly! I especially agree with "becoming the hub of knowledge" and "providing opportunities to quickly engage with the new clients".  Anyone who owns a halfway successful website knows this is key.

I have gotten 8 calls. Seven of them I missed and the one that I did get was a deviate, but then I guess that a deviate is better than no-one. I didn't advertise anywhere else so it seems to me that the site does get some exposure.

Hm. I got two calls in my first two days, but none since then. I'm still working on my marketing, though. :)

You can get calls; but do not quit your day job.  I have not experience a lot of revenue for online contact.  I would love to make more money but people may not be as trusting of the internet.  I have tried putting my service on other online site and I do like Ether better.

do i really have to put my credit card info in here? because i dont have one anymore. I canceled them all.

css:

    I'm always sceptical about these things.  Has anyone gotten a call?  Is it some kind of cute internet scam?  I do tech support all day at work, I would love to quit and do it at home.  How cool would that be.  Argh. 

NOPE, NOT AT ALL HU HU HU...

I AM GOT TIRED HERE IN ETHER BECAUSE IT DOESNT HELP ME AT ALL. I BEEN HERE LONG LONG LONG TIME,,,, NO CALLS RECIEVED. I TRIED TO MARKETING IT ANYWHERE BUT STILL PEOPLE AREN'T CALL.. ITS BAD!!!!

Why not give me a call?

Why is there an icon by my name?

UTalk2Me:

Why not give me a call?

Yes but it's all about marketing. But don't quit your day job just yet!

It has definitely been easier getting calls/clients via Keen/Ingenio, but I've definitely been pushing the Ether model on my site now and it has been paying off.

So how do we get paid from Ether?

They deposit directly into your bank account on a monthly basis.

Regards,
Eddie
HelpExcel.com

no sweaty

Simply, you'll need a turnkey solution so that you can concentrate on providing services rather than getting traffic.  I have been working on the net for years and have many venues for promoting your services.  I have a program that will get you an external website, free banner advertising throughout the network, massive links to your directory listings or call page, SEO search engine optimized article promoting your call page / website, and just so much more included services at no extra charge than $50/month. 

This service was tested and overnight produced 27 clients for a popular venue just two days ago. another resulted in 2,000 clients overnight (this was for membership site not service type interaction).

As a fellow etherian, I tell you that I would not think of offering any service on line without the resources I just described to you - well worth the monthly investment, I think.

You can contact me at: webmaster@mycbh.com

2,000!

Yes we have received and continue to receive numerous calls.  Feel free to contact us and we would be happy to give you a few pointers and evaluate your current technique.

I have, but mostly perverts. 

So what services do you provide?

hmmmm. this doesn't look too promising then

I have got no calls yet...I hope i do. Not just for the money either. I really do like giving advise

that's lame. Some people don't have a best friend though. That's what I'm doing here, relationship and life advise

This site isn't made to generate clients. It basically allows you another option for servicing your clientele. The same way you do the marketing for you person to person business, you should market for your tel business. 

It's done well for me . . . This site does as promised. It is meant as a "billing solution", no complaints here.

I was rather skeptical myself until I started receiveing a few myself... Are you marketing your number or are they coming to you? I market everywhere... A little effort in that dept will pay off tremendously in due season with little to no effort... If you build it... they wil come...lml... Stay Positive... I applaud the ambition...

One reason your phone won't start ringing wildly--although a minor reason--is because Ether isn't promoted by its owners (AT&T), who just happened to acquire it with a much bigger company they had bought, and they've never really been very interested in this tiny part of their acquisition. Still, it's a terrific (and unique) service!

As other people have said, the way to MAKE your phone ring is to do your own self-promotion, through other methods, and simply consider Ether.com to be a convenient way for you to serve people via the phone and collect a fee for it. In other words, think of it as being like PayPal--you wouldn't enroll with PayPal and expect to start selling stuff automatically, it's just a way to get paid when you DO sell something.

When I say "other methods," I mean any (or all) of the following:

1. Advertising your services on craigslist.com.
2. Promoting yourself on a Website of your own.
3. Visiting relevant on-line "communities" and posting helpful information (NOT self-promotional SPAM, which could get your post deleted and/or get yourself banned from the site), accompanied by a signature-line containing your Website's URL, your Ether phone number, or the Ether "call button."
4. Putting your Ether number on your business cards, and visiting group events where you can talk to people and give them your card.
5. Sending out mailings or, in some cases, email-blasts (which many email systems automatically send to the trash as SPAM) promoting your services. You can find many mailing-list services on the Web, although the names/addresses they sell are almost exclusively businesses, not individuals.
6. Running ads in such media as local newspapers, radio, or TV.
7. Obtaining interviews by the media, in which your Website's URL can be montioned (you will, of course, have the Ether "call-button" on your Website).
8. Writing interesting/helpful articles about your field of expertise, and distributing those articles to your local media, or distributing them nationally through any of the various article-distribution services available on the Web.

Etc., etc.

The fact is, I myself haven't begun using my Ether account yet, because my clients tend to be corporations, not individuals, and they've usually stayed with me for many years. However, now that the recession has forced them to slash their budgets--including their budgets for outside consultants--I'm planning to give my Ether account a little workout.

Now here's MY self-promotion: In addition to having created a couple of the fastest-growing companies in America--in totally diverse industries--I've also been a Marketing, Sales, and Management adviser to more than 3,000 small businesses and startups. Furthermore, I helped the Chicago AT&T Security Systems dealership to boost its sales by 400% in a single month, and I've served as Vice President of a few Chicago-area banks. In case it matters, I'm also an ordained minister (non-denominational), and a grandfather.

So if you own (or are planning to start) a business, you might be able to grow it faster--or avoid the tragic failures suffered by some 90% of startups--by giving me a call on my Ether number, which is 1-888-MY-ETHER, ext. 04262579. It's currently set to allow you to talk to me for FREE at first, until we both decide it's worth talking further. And then it costs you only $25 for each half-hour.

Meanwhile, I wish you the best of luck in all your endeavors!

Yes! Since I have been on this site, I have received at least 1 sometimes 2 a month but that is with me not putting it out there. I had a call tonight and have talked to some really nice people. I love this site. Could get more if I just put my name out there and let people know!

someone just call me on my land line for free so we can talk about this site, im the real deal, simething is wrong about this.
Jesse
1-740-392-04-30 call asap...

call me im the reall or deal something is not right about this site, bad karma...
call my kand kind asap 740-392-0430

call me on my home line cause its not right here something is wrong with this site inless we do something.
Im Jesse call me asap
my home line is 740-392-0430

why was this never told to any one before then?, everone should get a refund cause of all of the contract said notihng of that, trust me I printed it all, I do have many Ph.D's

No its called frud sweeties