I’d like to share something that most of us may have gone through as creatives.
When clients inquire – “How much do you charge for your services?“, most of us would oblige to that question and immediately reveal the price.
I do understand that clients want to quickly know if our pricing fits their budget.
But do you know, that by immediately revealing the price, you’ve lost all control of the conversation?
There is no room for you to even find out exactly what they are looking for, when they first got in touch with you.
As you wait for a response, you may hear things like – “That’s too expensive” or not hear from them at all. This waiting period may put you into a worry or doubtful mode.
But before you start being pushy in hopes of closing a project deal, here’s what you can do to leave a more confident impression on your client.
Featured image by Canva
A Better Solution
Don’t be hasty…and don’t reveal your price yet!
Take your time to re-direct the conversation by going back to their needs.
You could say –“It really depends on what you need. So why don’t you tell me a little bit about what you’re looking for?”
If they insist to know the price – “Anywhere from 3 to 5 thousand dollars, depending on what you need.” or “It’s around $5K. Is that within your budget?”
Do note that this isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution.
Depending on who, where and when the conversation is taking place, feel free to tailor the message to handle the conversation gracefully and professionally.
Focus on Value, Not Just Cost
By asking a question, you not only regained control of the conversation, you are showing up as someone who is eager to listen. You have pretty much convinced your clients that you are capable of providing the best solution for them.
This strategy provides you room and opportunity to explain how your creative expertise can solve their problems or help them achieve their goals.
They will thank you and your chances of ending the conversation with a closed sale will be much higher.
I Went from Being Shy, to …
That’s what I did, when I was working as a freelancer for almost a decade. I got on-going projects, and get to build lasting client relationships built on trust.
When they knew I could solve their problems with finesse, some of them even questioned – “Why don’t you charge…higherrrr?”
This is how you turn inquiries into opportunities. It sets the tone for a successful partnership.
So break the money barrier, go out, and be the best version of you to your clients.
When you’ve done that, come back and share your experience with our community in the comments below. We’d like to hear what you think of this strategy.
Thanks for reading!
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