Should Freelancers Ever Offer Deals and Discounts?

One of the hardest parts of starting a new freelance business is deciding how to charge clients. Should you charge by the hour or per project? How much should you charge? Many freelancers worry about setting their rates too high and losing potential clients. However, it’s important not to undersell yourself and to remember you’re providing a valuable service.

In addition to setting regular rates, freelancers also face the question of whether to offer deals and discounts on their services. There’s no right or wrong answer, and the decision to reduce your prices often depends on the specific client or job. Keep reading for more advice on offering deals and discounts to your clients.

The Pros of Discounting Your Work

There can be good reasons to say yes to lower rates, especially if you’re just getting started in your freelance business. For example, offering discounts can help you create a portfolio. Portfolios are necessary for freelancers to build successful businesses, and not everyone has one at the start. Offering short-term price reductions while you create an impressive portfolio can help you gain experience and establish a diverse client base.

Along with giving your portfolio a boost, offering temporary discounts at the start of your business can help you attract clients quickly. And if everything goes well, those new clients could lead to long-term, repeat business and additional clients through word-of-mouth recommendations.

The Cons of Discounting Your Work

It can be tempting to deeply discount your work at the start of your business to gain experience. While there are some benefits to this approach, there are also some drawbacks. For instance, if you offer a discount to a new client, they may push back on paying the full rate for future projects. In addition, if you offer a reduced rate, you may find yourself working too many hours for too little pay – which could leave you feeling burned out and resentful.

How to Offer a Deal

If you do decide to offer discounts and deals, here are some tips on how to implement them effectively:

• Offer seasonal discounts: Seasonal deals (like those offered during times that are typically slow for business) can help you drum up new clients. If you tie your deal to an event such as a holiday, then potential clients know that it’s temporary and won’t expect to pay that rate down the line.

• Offer limited-time deals: Limited-time deals let clients know that your discounted services are available only for a short time. A time limit drives demand by encouraging clients to take advantage of the deal while they have the chance. Just be sure you clearly state the dates of the promotion to prevent any misunderstandings.

• Discount bulk work: Slightly discounting high volumes of work from the same client can be beneficial for your business. It gives the client an incentive to use your services and could lead to long-term, regular work. Just be sure that you’re not offering too big of a discount – you want the project to still be worth your time.

While discounts and deals can help you build your business, they aren’t the only ways to attract clients. You can also offer new clients non-monetary incentives such as email or video-call support to encourage them to work with you.

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