The differences between selling $100 and $100,000
I’ve sold services for $100, $1,000, $10,000, and $100,000. Here’s what it takes to sell each one.
Stop giving secret discounts
If you’re giving someone a discount, you have to let them know you’re giving them a discount. Otherwise it’s worthless.
Value is a feeling
Even when people are making “business decisions” that are “best for the company,” they’re still doing so with their own personal interests in mind.
My producing story
In this interview, we dive deep into how I got started as a producer, my process for finding new clients, why I create content, behind the scenes of my book, and much more.
The benefit of experience
You won’t believe that your work isn’t for everyone until you work with clients who don’t respect your process.
This deal gets worse every day
Tomorrow, this discount will be a little worse. Let me explain.
Who has the power in a negotiation?
Taylor Swift’s desirability to her fans is a 10 out of 10. Meanwhile, her desire to win their business might be a 1.2 out of 10. It’s not that she doesn’t want their business, but she certainly doesn’t need it.
These clients are ready to hire you (and those ones aren’t)
Tire-kickers get on calls, ask for quotes, try to have “brainstorm sessions,” or ask to grab a bite. But they don’t book us. On the other hand, when we encounter clients who have an immediate need, they’re all business.
I launched a free course
Here’s the tagline: “Learn to turn potential clients into paying clients with discovery calls.”
Nothing sells like “aha!”
If you’re on a sales call with a potential client about your services, and if you can share information about your process that helps an idea finally click for them, you’ll probably make that sale.
A ritual of outreach
When try to automate outreach and client conversations, we end up with less impact.
Free stuff
If you’re a reader of the blog, but haven’t gotten involved with the free stuff I offer, here are some links for you.
Half your effort is wasted
“Half the money I spend on advertising is wasted; the trouble is I don't know which half."
Your wants vs your client’s needs
As creative people, we see our client’s content and we imagine all the ways it could be better or more innovative. So we pitch these big ideas, full of possibility and risk, then wonder why these clients don’t hire us.
The six elements of a sale
Sales don’t just happen. They are an alchemy of need, trust, value, clarity, visibility, and a call-to-action.
Are productized services legit?
A “productized service” is a bit of a buzzword these days, in large part due to a viral YouTube video about a graphic designer with a business called DesignJoy. But are they legit?
How I increase cold DM response rates
When you show openness, and put something on the table, people are more likely to respond in-kind.
You can be right and still feel nervous
Being nervous isn’t a sign that you’re wrong. It might just be a sign that you don’t have much experience yet.
Never Split the Difference - book review
I don’t just use these concepts in business negotiations, to make more money. I use them with friends and family.