The moment you start negotiating with your clients is the same moment they stop respecting you. You’re willing to lower your price, which must mean that you are either 1) desperate for business or 2) you like sending a message that even you don’t value your services enough to stand by the price point.
Don’t ever negotiate your pricing. It reflects poorly upon you. You can run specials, but negotiating is something different. It says “yard sale” when people think of your service. Let’s say you go to the grocery store to buy a pound of shrimp. You can’t say to the fish monger or grocer that even though the price says $14.99 a pound, you’re only willing to pay $7.99 a pound. It doesn't work that way. The store might have a sale and lower the price either because of a miscalculated order or because it is a slow season- but the store will never directly negotiate pricing. You shouldn't either.
If a current client starts to complain about your price- stand your ground. Show your value to him or her. If they have to leave you for a while to discover just how valuable your time and attention is- then let it be. You don’t have to devalue yourself because someone else is broke. And you certainly don’t want to open up Pandora’s box to working around their budget situation. Hey, we all have bills!
Stick to your guns and honor your pricing. If others don’t, find new clients.
Velma Trayham, ThinkZILLA
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