A service provider recently told me that she was sick of working with clients, who didn’t value her time. Her primary complaint, was that client don’t pay her enough for the services she offers.
She believes she is worth more. And she is wrong. At least for now.
The problem with average
I asked her what she charged and she told me. I then took a quick look at the services she offers and her fee is about right. She charges an average fee, for what looks like a typical, average range of services.
If she wants to increase her fees and have a client list of great people who value her time, she needs to stop complaining and do the following 3 things:
- Increase the value of her services, so they are actually worth more.
- Increase her fees, so they are in line with the newly increased value of her services.
- Market her services correctly, to the right people.
The marketplace is not stupid. It demands value, just like you and I do. If you provide that value, they will happily pay for it.
However, if someone takes an average service to the marketplace, he or she will always struggle; both with the quality and quantity of business they attract.
I strongly suggest you take every opportunity possible, to find ways to increase the value of your services. Then, adjust your fees and marketing accordingly.
What do you think? Do you have any examples, either from your own business or another, of successfully increasing fees / prices? I’d love to know what you think, so please share your feedback.