As freelancers, you encounter a variety of clients on a daily basis. Some of them you get along with from the beginning, others not so much. One of many issues can be meeting potential clients who aren’t willing to pay as much for your services. In that case, you have several ways of dealing with them.
First of all, you can try and explain why are you a total bad-ass in your job. Elaborate on how cheaper alternatives won’t achieve the same quality, and exactly what makes the difference in your pricing – which tools do you use, what kind of output do you provide. When you compare your work to other designers, insist on the best value your client is paying for.
Acknowledging the costs of your services is good, especially if you are confident in your qualifications, and you can back it with the results you have achieved.
If this option seems too risky, and you want that client, you can reply with giving another offer. They are willing to pay something, so tell them what can they get for a smaller price. Later on, they can upgrade your service and have a pretty and shiny product you can deliver.
Showing your character and confidence in your quality is convincing in communication with your client. When negotiating, you are not backing off from your pricing, but are offering another solution, which lets the client know you care about your professional relationships.
Some clients are just not able to afford your pricing. Perhaps they are a start-up and have fewer funds than already established companies. If so, they might be able to work with you in the future. This is why it could be good to ask them what their budget is and make a deal from there. The tone of your response should leave those doors open so that they can come back to you in the future.
While dealing with these types of clients, bear in mind that some of them are just cheap. There are people who will always choose to save some money over achieving greatness in quality. The only reason why they are asking for less is that we let them – the market is full of people who are underpaid in underdeveloped countries. However, if you are driven by your passion for your work, you have the right to produce amazing content and charge what it is worth. You will always find clients who recognize, respect and are willing to pay that.
Author: Nina Petrov
