Posts Tagged ‘discounting’

Did you know how much money you make and how much you charge for your services is a reflections of your self worth?

It’s true.

I know for some of you that statement conjures up all sorts of feelings.  And you know what, I understand how hard it must be to realize that the small amount of money you’re making is in direct correlation to your self esteem.

That’s a hard pill to swallow.

But it doesn’t have to be that way forever.  You can do something about that money reflection that’s staring back at you in the mirror.  You can change it!

But first I want you to consider a few things:

1.  Do often offer discounts?  Do you even offer them BEFORE your even asked?  This type of behavior is often reflected in a person who has poor money boundaries.

You make an assumption that your perspective client can’t afford your services so you jump to discounting without having all the necessary information.  Sound like you?

The reality is that if your services are seen as valuable to the client they will buy from you.  But that’s another article.

Do you barter or trade?  That’s another indication of poor money boundaries.  Money needs to flow.  When you barter you block the natural energy of money from flowing to you and back out again.

Please don’t barter, ok?

2.  When was the last time you raised your fee?  If it’s been two ore more years or if you raised your fees but only by some minuscule amount of money then you lack money courage.

You’re typically  the person who likes your fees somewhere in the middle.  You don’t want to be the cheapest out there, but you definitely don’t want to be the most expensive.

The bottom line…your afraid to raise your fees and because your afraid, you don’t.

Fear is your primary motivator behind every excuse you make for why your fees are they way they are.

Check back later this week as I reveal two additional money reflections and some tips for helping to conquer your money self-saboteur.

If you enjoy what your learning here come to the Diva Toolbox Conference for Women where I will be revealing even more information and exercises you can do to put your money self-saboteur away once and for all.

I have been writing a lot about money over the last several weeks and I want to continue along those lines with a couple of  quick money tips.   The focus today is on Money Boundaries.

Money Boundaries are vital to your overall money health. When you don’t have clear and solid money boundaries you create money leaks.  Money boundaries are vital in creating the energetic alignment so that you can have all that money flowing into your business that you desire.  So what are good money boundaries?  Here are two tips to help you create great money boundaries.

Tip # 1:  Don’t Discount Your Services

Often times as women business owners we have that nagging need to discount.  It creeps up, sometimes out of nowhere and hits us between the eyes.  Why do we do it?  Sometimes it is as simple as assuming that our clients can’t afford what we are offering.

It is NOT your job to assume anything about your clients ability to pay  for your products or services.  It IS your job to offer what you have to them and allow them to decide for themselves if the price is right for them or not.

Remember,  discounting is more about your fear about charging what you are charging and less about what people can or cannot afford. Start working on the issues that hold you back from charging what you are worth and in the end it will help you bust through your current income and move into greater and greater abundance.

Tip #2:  Offer Your Clients Full Pay Options

For all you coaches, consultants and other professionals offer full pay options for your service and include a great incentive to paying in full. Why?  Because when you have a client pay in full you are opening up yourself to the ability to receive a large amount of cash all at once.  Failure to offer full pay options and you rob yourself of greater cash flow.  Which would you rather have a large amount all at once or money coming in dribs and drabs?

Follow these simple tips and create solid money boundaries to ensure the money flows to you!

Oops, you did it again didn’t you?  You discounted your products and services.  I bet you feel like crap right now and are really angry with yourself because you are not getting paid the amount of money you want, need or deserve.  Am I right… am I?

I can even imagine how this happened.  You were having a conversation with a perspective client and they began hemming and hawing about the price and so you immediately jumped into discounting mode and then oops, you did it again.

You know what discounting represents?  It represents that big pink elephant in the room called DOUBT! And you know what else?  It tells me that instead of being focused on the results of your product or service you are focused on features and that is the wrong thing to be focused on my friends.

Your fee is a representation of your inner worth. When you doubt your fees you doubt yourself and your value.  You are negotiating with yourself.  Your internal conversation probably sounds something like this:  “If I don’t discount my services I won’t get this client” or possibly you say “I am afraid they will think I am charging too much for my service” or “I don’t think they will be able to see the value of what I offer if my price is so high.”  The list is endless.

Behind the self talk is the reality that we doubt ourselves and do not truly value ourselves enough to charge what we are worth.  Somehow the money becomes more important.

A good friend told me of a recent conversation with a client.  At each point in the sales transaction this person had repeatedly and repeatedly demanded a discount.  It was becoming and endless cycle of my friend providing outstanding service, client showing up, demanding a discount and getting one, and another and another.  She even reported to me that she had taken a loss on some of the transactions.

Does this sound familiar?

Here is what needs to happen for you to STOP discounting and start valuing yourself!

When you are able to see the value of what you offer and the results that you create as being more important than the money that you charge you will never discount again.  And it will get easier and easier for you to charge more money for your services because you are confident in the result your clients will get from working with you.

Is there ever a time where discounting is a good idea?  I don’t think so.  Instead create packages that are filled with valuable incentives and extras that your clients will really love.  Just make sure that these extras don’t mean more of your time.

Not sure how to package, price and promote your services so that they are focused on the right stuff? Contact me to find out how we can work together and in as little as 4 hours have packages developed that will have your clients gladly paying for your services.  Give me a call at 978-794-4991 or  drop me an email at Maureen@daretobephenomenal.com and I will gladly send you an information packet.