Do you have the right perspective? Want to know what keeps a lot of service providers and coaches from charging what they’re really worth?
It’s that all-too-common belief that “I am not a salesperson.” Combine that with a healthy dose of “It’s rude to discuss money,” and you can see why it’s just easier to keep your rates low.
It’s time to think of your services from a different perspective!
Not only will you see things in a clearer light, but selling suddenly won’t feel so…salesy.
Here’s how traditional pricing discussions go which is soooo boring!
You talk to a potential client, and you explain what you can offer, how your coaching or service works, what he or she can expect (how many calls/emails, phases of work, length of contract), etc. And then you say, “My rate is $XXX.00.” OMG – simple right?
Your client either says yes, no or (the kiss of death) maybe. LOL…
So now…Let’s turn that around and rather than focus on what he or she will get from YOU, take a look at what she will achieve when she hires you.
For a business coach, this is easy. Talk money!
How much more profit will your client make when she hires you?
Example
If your coaching fee is $1,000 per month, but you can show her how to increase her sales by $3,000 per month, then your price is inconsequential. She’ll earn it back three times over, not only while you’re actively coaching her, but for the rest of her business life.
Now, who wouldn’t jump on that with both feet? I know I would if I was looking for a coach!
What you’re doing here is not talking about the cost of your coaching, but rather the cost of not hiring you. Because if she doesn’t work with you, she’s losing $3,000 per month. See how that works?
What about other kinds of coaches or service providers though?
The same applies, you just have to find a way to show your clients the cost of their inaction.
If you’re a life coach, inaction (to your potential client) might mean years of feeling unhappy and unfulfilled
Imagine what it might be worth to your client to lift that depressing burden forever?
The same goes for health and wellness coaches.
Can you add 10 years to the life of an unhealthy, overweight man? That’s priceless.
What about dating coaches?
For someone who’s been unlucky in love, in and out of one bad relationship after another, the promise of a man (or woman) who will love and cherish them is worth nearly any price.
You just have to paint the picture…ahaa…I know, right? You didn’t realize painting was in your future, did you?
What will life/business/love look like without your coaching services, and what can it look like with you? Same goes for Virtual Assistants and any type of Virtual Service Provider.
Once they see the difference, pricing becomes nearly irrelevant.
So, you see…it’s all about perspective! How do you feel about this? Let me know in the comments below.
And, if you’re looking for someone to help you with your perspective, I can help you with that too. Contact me and let’s set-up a call to chat.
Pricing strategies are something you need to learn in your business. This might just be the most stressful decision(s) you ever have to make: what to charge?
You’ve got the competition to consider…yikes!
Your own skill set, and what you perceive to be your skills (yes, this is different from the former for most of us)
What your market will pay, your location, and a host of other variables.
Working it out can feel like a hurdle you can’t quite get past.
Of course, there are some strategies you can employ. One popular method is to use a plain ol’ calculator (if you still use one of those). Here’s an interesting article on rates used in 2017. Please understand…this is only a guide, so don’t think you need to use this information explicitly or your business will go down the tubes!
Having a general guideline will quickly tell you what you need to be charging to reach your income goals, and it’s a great place to start.
But what about all those other questions? Creating a solid pricing structure requires you to do a little more digging. Clams anyone? Yeah, in all seriousness with your starting number in line, take a look at the following:
Your Competition:
This might take a little detective work since a lot of coaches and service providers don’t publish rates. But if you pay attention to their websites and social media, ask a few discreet questions, and get on their mailing list, you can figure it out. I show my rates as “Starting At” prices because every job is usually different.
Be realistic about who exactly your competition is though. Don’t undervalue or over-sell yourself. In other words, make sure you’re comparing yourself to another provider who shares the same skills, market, and tracking record, rather than simply looking at who you strive to become. Kinda important…you can’t charge say $100.00 an hour if you’re just starting out…duh!!
Your Skills:
In some fields, this is easy. There are certifications and educational programs that allow you—by virtue of having achieved them—to charge a certain rate. If you’ve followed this path, then pricing will be easy for you. If not, take a solid look at what you can legitimately claim as a skill. Just remember, this is your business so don’t think that you have to settle for charging less than your worth.
Look, too, at your track record. Have you proven yourself by helping former clients (and do you have the testimonials and case studies to show for it)? Have your former clients moved on to bigger and better Service Providers after working with you? These are all reasons to consider a higher price range than you might have first thought about.
Definition
rate1 rāt/Submit noun plural noun: rates 1. a measure, quantity, or frequency, typically one measured against some other quantity or measure. “the crime rate rose by 26 percent” 2. a fixed price paid or charged for something, especially goods or services. “the basic rate of pay” synonyms: charge, price, cost, tariff, fare, levy, toll; fee, remuneration, payment, wage, allowance “an hourly rate of $30” verb 3rd person present: rates 1. assign a standard or value to (something) according to a particular scale. “they were asked to rate their ability at different driving maneuvers” synonyms: assess, evaluate, appraise, judge, estimate, calculate, gauge, measure, adjudge; grade, rank, classify, categorize “they rated his driving ability” 2. consider to be of a certain quality, standard, or rank. “he rates the company’s stock a “buy.”” synonyms: consider, judge, reckon, think, hold, deem, find; regard as, look on as, count as “the scheme was rated effective”
Your Market:
In the game of setting rates, it’s your market that has the final say. As any first-year economy student can tell you, the price of anything lies where what the buyer is willing to pay meets what the seller is willing to accept. This is an interesting fact, just ask any other Service Provider on the market today.
If your goal is to give newbies a helping hand and lead them down the path to success, that unfortunately means you can look forward to low paying gigs. That’s not a bad thing—everyone has to begin somewhere—but it does need to be acknowledged.
If, on the other hand, you’re target market is more established and economically stable, then a higher fee isn’t just warranted—it’s a must. They will expect a higher price, and will not find value in the lowest-cost provider of anything, whether it’s coffee beans or business coaching. LOL!
Finally, don’t forget that pricing is never set in stone. It’s flexible. If you find you’re attracting the wrong market (or no market at all) you can always change your rates. Working too hard for not enough return? Raise your rates.
It’s your business. You get to call the shots. If you are allowing your clients or other Service Providers to decide what your rates are going to be, you are only doing yourself a disservice. This is such a HOT TOPIC right now. Do your research, but DO charge what you’re worth!
If you ARE looking for a Service Provider please contact me HERE. I would love to help you with your business.
Please comment your thought below. I would love to hear what you think!
The interactive world we live in allows for plenty of distractions. Oh really you say? Let me count the number of ways for you.
There are distractions by our:
Coworkers
Spouses
Kids
Cell phones
TV, especially commercials!
And on and on!
Then, there are our own vices like browsing at the latest sports scores or seeing which band is going to be playing at our favorite music venue. Right?
Some of these distractions are welcome and should be of course.
But all too often, they can become a nuisance that interferes with our productivity.
You hear me all you distractions? Lol
Use the following tips to stay focused. These are really good so pay attention!
1 – Determine Your Most Productive Work Times
We all have ebbs and flows in productivity. For instance, if you are a writer, you may find that writing in the morning is your most optimal time.
If that is the case, concentrate your writing schedule to mornings only and use the afternoon for other tasks.
You may need to track what you are doing for several days or weeks to see when these optimum times are occurring and their frequency. Or, you might already know.
And, there are software packages that can help do the tracking for you.
One to try is Pomodoro. It allows you to work in chunks of time so you at least “feel” like you’re productive.
2 – Plan on What Success Means To You
Just throwing together a bunch of tasks is as useful as having no tasks defined. In other words, neither are very useful. Use a To-do list tracker like you can find here.
Work with your coach to determine what kinds of tasks or goals will be needed for you to increase your productivity.
Your coach will have your objectives in mind which can be used to determine how you can contribute to those.
The great thing about doing this consistently is that you can make adjustments for the tasks that are not working out or where you need extra help.
This is actually a great time-saver because you might just be spinning your wheels at doing nothing. You think you are, but you’re just staying busy…it’s called “busy work”!
Your coach will praise you for trying to become more productive and for being proactive. (Praise!!)
3 – Give Yourself a Break
Having a well-defined plan is a great way to increase your productivity.
But don’t beat yourself up if you happen to have a few days that are not as productive as others.
Sometimes, the tasks are going to slip up and you are going to be more distracted than others.
And guess what? It’s normal and you should account for some downtime to recharge yourself. Take a nap, a bubble bath or take a walk to re-energize yourself.
No one is expecting you to be a productivity robot. (Usually, it’s you that thinks this way!)
4 – Be Consistent
Time management is a skill and needs to be learned and applied. Yes really! I heard your mind working on you, saying that you don’t have that “skill”. You have to learn it!
It takes some adjusting in the beginning but it’s really just a matter of changing how you structure it and the tasks to complete your work. Yup, you heard that right my friend.
Adjusting takes time, it’s not something you can do in just an hour a day.
This requires a consistent commitment to yourself and to making it work.
What is commitment? Something you need to seriously consider.
Here’s the definition:
com·mit·ment
kəˈmitmənt/
noun
the state or quality of being dedicated to a cause, activity, etc. “the company’s commitment to quality”
an engagement or obligation that restricts freedom of action.
“business commitments”
synonyms:
responsibility, obligation, duty, tie, liability;
task;
engagement, arrangement
“the pressure of his commitments”
So, tell me, what type of changes are you going to make to increase your “Time Management”?
Let me know in the comments below…I’d be interested in knowing what you do in your business.
If you are looking for someone to help you with your time management, connect with me. I would love to chat with you to see how I can help you create “Time Management” in your business.
What…A DISCOUNT? Are you kidding ME? How can I stay in business if I’m giving a discount? I can hear you now grumbling, sighing, telling yourself that well maybe if I did that, I’d make some more money, I would have more clients…and so on.
Definition
dis·count ˈdiskount/Submit noun 1. a deduction from the usual cost of something, typically given for prompt or advance payment or to a special category of buyers. “many stores will offer a discount on bulk purchases” synonyms: reduction, deduction, markdown, price cut, cut, rebate “students get a 10 percent discount” verb ˌdisˈkount/Submit 1. deduct an amount from (the usual price of something). “current users qualify for a discounted price” synonyms: deduct, take off, rebate;
How to Never Lower Your Rates Again
It’s happened to every service provider and coach at one time or another—probably more than once.
You offer a proposal or contract, only to have your potential client respond with, “That sounds great, but I can’t afford it.” Wawawa…
So what do you do?
For a lot of coaches and service providers, their first response is to lower their rate. After all, they reason, she really does need my help. Plus its good karma, and she’ll talk about me with her friends, and refer business to me later. Unhuh…
Maybe, but more likely than not. What you do end up with is a client who takes far too much of your time. For less money than you deserve. You wind up resentful, and wondering why you aren’t earning the living you know you’re capable of.
Sound familiar?
I want you to make a promise to yourself right now that you will never again lower your rates to appeal to a client. Doing so devalues your services, makes the client less likely to follow through, and worse, makes you feel terrible later. You are listening to me, right?
Now, I’m not saying you can never offer special deals
But I do want you to change how those offers are made. Here’s how it works.
If your coaching package includes:
1 45-minute call per month
1 email per day
1 in-person meeting per quarter
and 1 mastermind retreat per year
And your potential client claims to not be able to afford your asking price of $1,000 per month, rather than offering to reduce the price, you offer to reduce the price and the package. Right?
So the offer you make to her now includes everything BUT the mastermind retreat. Or everything BUT the in-person meeting every quarter. Doesn’t that make sense?
You have not lowered your rates so far that you feel used, but at the same time, you’ve worked with her to create a plan she can afford. It’s a true win-win for both of you.
The same technique can be used for any type of coach or service provider unless you’re charging strictly by the hour. If that’s the case, take a look at how you can reduce the number of hours you need to invest while still providing value. Yes, sounds simple no?
For example, rather than offering four one-hour calls, change your plan to just two calls, with email follow-ups. She’ll still get plenty of value, and you’ll free up some time by inviting email questions rather than blocks of time on the phone. This is so simple…right?
So, the next time you’re asked to reduce your rates for anything, take a close look at how you can also reduce the work you’ll be doing. That way you’ll never feel as if you’ve been taken advantage of, and your clients will still get great service.
Speaking of providing service…I can do that for you. Contact me here. I would love to help you provide quality service to your clients. It’s so easy, just fill out the form and once I receive it, we can set up a 15-minute call at no cost to you. You know, if you’re over-worked I can find some solutions that will help you find the time to enjoy your life as well as get you out of overwhelming tasks that keep you burning the candle at both ends.
BTW – Do you have a website for your business? You might want to take a look at purchasing my Content Marketing Guide. It will help you put your content in all the right places. Yup…it will! And…at only $7 Bucks…it’s a real steal. So go ahead and get it…and get your content out there.
Please leave a comment below and let me know if these suggestions are helpful to you and your business.
In every entrepreneur’s life, there comes a time when you simply have to raise your rates. Yes…it’s true! I know..it’s hard to discuss your rates.
Maybe you’ve been in business for years without a pay increase. Or, maybe your skills have recently improved through a new training course or certification.
Or you just want to attract a higher caliber of client. Yup…I just confessed to this the other day. (Hanging my head…but unashamed!)
Rates Definition
rate [rāt] NOUN rates (plural noun) a measure, quantity, or frequency, typically one measured against some other quantity or measure: “the crime rate rose by 26 percent” a fixed price paid or charged for something, especially goods or services: “the basic rate of pay” · [more] synonyms: charge · price · cost · tariff · fare · levy · toll · fee · remuneration · payment · wage
Whatever the reason, it pays to have a plan in place before you make your big announcement. So, here’s the plan…you do have a plan right? If not…
Here’s where to start.
First:
Take a look at your current clients. Will you raise their rates as well? ummm… If the answer is no, then you have to consider if keeping them will be worth your time. Or, if you’ll feel resentful at the amount of (lower paid) time you are spending with them.
Resentment can build up, so be wary of this. It’s better to raise their rates than providing substandard services due to hidden anger. YES, you can actually get angry over this situation.
If the answer is yes, then you have to prepare yourself for potential fallout. And this is a reality you need to face, right? Simply put, there are some clients (you likely know who they are) who will balk at a price hike. What??? How dare they right? I’m just sayin’ it could happen!
They’ll threaten to leave. They may actually leave. OMGoodness! Are you prepared for the hit your wallet will take should that happen? Now…what do you have to say about that?
Next:
Consider when your rate increase will go into effect. Today…tomorrow…next week? This might be different for each client, depending on when/how they’re paying you.
A client who is on a package plan might not see an increase for 3 months or more, while a monthly client might be shocked to find his or her rate is going up in a week. Please don’t do this to them, or the word might get out and you will lose all your clients. Especially if they’re from referrals! OH NO!!!
Please – give your clients at least a 30-day notice of the increase. They will need to budget for a higher expense and just might shop around for a new virtual assistant if they choose to. Remember…they can do this…so don’t be surprised if they do.
Finally:
If you’re a little flexible and want to gain a few new clients, you might think about creating a last-minute offer. What a great idea huh?
Announce that your rates are going up on [whatever date], then offer to let X number of new clients lock in your current rate if they sign a contract right now.
Sure, you’ll still be working at your old rate, but with a few new clients on the roster, your cash flow will definitely improve. This is SMART thinking if I do say myself.
The most important thing to remember about rate increases is this:
You have to feel good about the prices you charge. If you think your rates are too low, chances are good that they are.
Raising them will not only make you feel better, but it might just let your current and prospective clients know the value of your services as well.
So…what do you really think about raising your rates? Let me know in the comments below won’t you?
Hope you enjoyed reading…
Let me ask you this…do you need a Virtual Assistant? If so…you can contact me here. I’d be more than happy to chat about what type of services I provide. Just need to fill out a little ol’ form. Thanks…I appreciate that!
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