The expectation of getting ‘something extra’ with everything in our lives comes quite naturally to human beings. Researches, studies of years of advertising have proven this as a fact that the prospect of getting something ‘free’ with a product or getting a product at a discounted price is what that attracts the customers the most.
When working as a freelancer you will come across many instances when the client would have asked you for a discount or frees sample. You would have also heard of freelancers offering various deals to clients. For the clients to expect something ‘extra’ in return of the work is not entirely unjust.
In our last post on discounts, deals, and free samples, we had discussed about the pro and cons of each. In this post, we will throw some light on how much of ‘deals, discounts, and free samples’ are enough. There are no hard and fast rules about this but here are some things to keep in mind.
Pre-Planned Deals, Discounts, and Free Samples
As a freelancer it is not easy to get the pricing right. There are many factors, which come in the way of pricing. Since most freelancers offer deals in terms of pricing it is important that you get your timing right. It should not appear that you are giving a deal or discount out because you are desperate for work. Package the deal as if you are doing it for the clients.
For example, you can offer deals and discounts around the holiday seasons. There is one main advantage of it, during the holiday season, most freelancers go on leave, and if your deal is visible to the client, it increases your changes of hiring.
Set up a time limit
Set up a time limit of the period of discounts. For example, the deal is valid from xyz date to xyz date. This will make the clients take the advantage of the deal when you need them. Make sure that you make things clear to the client who is availing the discount.
Set up work limits
You can offer a free sample of a code but not the whole code, similarly you can designed a website but if you give away the design as a free sample then the client would not need you. Asking for a small free sample by the client is ok but asking for more than that is not fair. Set work limits on your discounts. Let the client know exactly how much work you are going to do. For example if you are doing website designing then you can specify the two or three templates from which the client has to choose.
On spot deals, discounts, and Free samples
Many a times it will happen to you that the client might ask for any deals or discounts on your existing price. This is a very delicate situation for a freelancer because it means that you cannot refuse and you cannot wholly accept the fact that you have to work for less. In such conditions, you can try the following:
Limit the amount of work
If the client is asking for deals or discounts then you can limit the amount of work that you will do. For example if the job includes writing and posting on social media accounts and the client is asking for 10% discount then rather than giving up the whole job tell them you can write but not post. This way both will be happy.
Whatever might be the case, one thing you should not forget is to make sure that you have a written contract with the client about the work to safeguard your income. There is no limit to the amount of discount you can give, provided you get some benefits out of it in terms of money, more work, or references.
