In the competitive world of creative entrepreneurship, understanding how to price your services, find the right clients, and confidently sell your offerings is essential for success. In this blog post, we'll delve into some key insights shared by Brad Hussey and Michael Janda during their engaging discussion on the topic.
Unraveling the Mystery of Pricing Your Creative Work
Pricing your creative services can be daunting, but it’s important to move away from arbitrary numbers. Instead, consider a systematic approach:
Cost Analysis: Determine your production costs. How much will it cost you to deliver the work?
Market Research: Explore what others in your field charge for similar services.
Understand Client Budget: Get a sense of what your client can reasonably allocate for your services.
Once you have this tri-fold analysis, use your intuition. Blend these insights to set a price that ensures profitability while aligning with market and budget expectations. As Michael Janda emphasizes, price is relative to the client’s urgency and needs. If the task especially solves a significant pain point, don’t hesitate to charge a premium.
Brad Hussey suggests an empowering approach—once you have a ballpark figure, try doubling it. Then, focus on justifying this premium through the value you offer. A significant proportion of business issues can be resolved by strategically pricing your services.
Finding Clients: They’re Everywhere
One might think that finding clients is the hard part, but as Brad and Michael discuss, clients are often right around the corner:
Network Locally and Digitally: Michael stresses that people do business with those they know, like, and trust. Engage in networking, both in-person and online, to build connections.
Focus on Remarkable Offers: It’s not just about finding any client; it's about making your services compelling to them. Identify the problems you solve and communicate the value you bring.
Brad uses his own experience to highlight this point. Through conversations with acquaintances, he identified their pain points, suggested solutions, and led them to engage his services—demonstrating that clients are present wherever you choose to connect.
Selling your Creative Services: Seal the Deal with Confidence
Finally, the most crucial step is selling your services actively and confidently. Here’s what the duo suggests:
Ask for the Sale: Don’t shy away when it's time to close the deal. If you’ve identified a problem you can genuinely solve, articulate it clearly to your potential client.
Be Bold About Your Value Proposition: Michael points out that it’s natural to feel hesitant. But it’s key to confidently state how you can help and how your services will benefit the client.
As creatives, it can be easy to focus solely on perfecting your craft, but building a thriving business requires mastering the art of sales.
About Two Pixels Off
Hosted by Brad Hussey and Michael Janda, Two Pixels Off is a podcast dedicated to helping creative entrepreneurs run successful businesses. The show covers everything from marketing and pricing to project execution and profitability, all aimed at empowering creative professionals.
If you’re interested in actionable advice for headline writing and other content strategies, tune into Two Pixels Off on your favorite podcast platform, or visit TwoPixelsOff.com for more episodes.
