Before the internet, for expert advice, we asked friends and family for referrals; used the ‘Yellow Pages’ (remember those clunky phone books?); or turned to ‘How-To’ guide books’. We generally looked for advisors within driving distance, appointment dates were set around their schedule, consulted at their location and paid the exorbitant professional fees without question. The guide books were helpful but the lack of interaction still led us to seek live advisors.
Today, over the internet, you can get expert advice on just about every subject, when you need it, accessible 24/7. Gone are ‘normal business hours’ and the proximity of the advisor could be 30 miles or 3,000 miles, it doesn’t matter. With the latest technologies, more experts are readily available online and customers can get advice on-demand. The Web provides advisors access to opportunities they wouldn’t normally have, at the same time facing a disproportionate number of new competitors. This environment puts customers at the helm, confident to set the maximum amount they’re willing to pay and enjoy reviewing proposals priced at a fraction of what they used to be.
Top Advisor Sites
JustAnswer – Website where people can get Experts from various disciplines, answer questions personally and quickly, 24/7. Simply ask a question, name your price and get matched to an expert.
LivePerson – Provides real-time access to the world’s experts and their knowledge. Everyday people can chat live with experts in a broad range of topics; Post your requirement and price you’re willing to pay. Experts can create a profile, fee structure and proactively respond to posted requests by submitting a proposal.
iSellim – An online service that connects people who have questions for experts. iSellim experts are ready to answer them anytime via instant messaging. As a registered expert, you will be listed according to your professional expertise and set your own rate. Experts receive all the tools necessary to communicate with clients searching for immediate help – free!
Specialized Advisors – Tax
H&R Block’s ‘Ask for Tax Advice’ – Get dependable and clear tax advice from a real H&R Block tax pro, whenever you want (Fee based).
Tax Mama – Tax information and advice with a mother’s touch by Eva Rosenberg, MBA, EA (Enrolled Agent, licensed by the U.S. Treasury Dept. to represent taxpayers before the IRS).
Ask a Tax Expert – A community service program of small business tax experts providing free tax help and tax expert advice.
Specialized Advisors – Accounting and Finance
WiserAdvisor – A better way to find the best financial advisor. Their sophisticated Matching Service is designed to objectively help individuals quickly and easily find the ideal advisor to meet each customer’s unique needs.
Intuit Pro-Advisors – A network of local QuickBooks Experts, known as Certified Pro-Advisors. These experts provide advice, invaluable insights and a wide range of services related to QuickBooks, including setup, training, and troubleshooting.
Intuit Accountants Community – For accounting professionals and advisors, provides specialty forums to communicate with peers by asking and answering questions, sharing experiences and ideas, and offering advice.
By Patricia Megowan
May 11, 2009
© Daype Inc.
One Response to “Expert Advisors Online, Real-Time, 24/7”
Wow! Great article. I didn’t know these existed.