If you deliver the talk properly, there's always a group of people at the end of your talk who rush up to the podium to chat with you. Some will tell you how much they enjoyed the talk, some will be e-zine readers who've wanted to meet you for years, some will want free advice or to "pick your brain." But, there's one question you'll almost always get and it comes in two parts. The first part's the good part; "I'm interested in working with you." The second one is the tricky part; "What do you charge?"
There's ONE fundamental problem with answering the second part of that question. If you answer it right there on the spot, you'll most always lose that client on the spot. Here's why.
When making a purchasing decision, if they're only focused on price, there isn't any room for VALUE or RESULTS. And I believe people buy in three ways: by emotion, by results, and by value (what they're paying for what they're getting). If you don't get the value part right, you might as well not even bother. They'll always go into sticker shock.
The solution? Don't give them your rates on the spot. Instead, invite them for a conversation to be held at a later date where you can fully describe the value they'll be getting from working with you. I call mine the "get-acquainted session," you may call yours a free-consultation, whatever. The important thing is that's where the magic happens. That's where you can find out more about them, get to the root of their problems, describe solutions, and they sell themselves into your services, based on value.
Now, by the way, this situation doesn't just happen at the end of a speaking gig. If you've got a kick-butt elevator speech that makes them say, "Wow, that's exactly what I need, I want to work with you," then you'll also get the question at networking events, at the cocktail hour of your friend's wedding, or simply when someone contacts you by email or phone. The answer is always the same though. Invite them for a get-acquainted session.
Your Assignment:
Never give your rates cold. You'll almost always lose the sale right there on the spot. Instead, invite them for a conversation. Here's what I recommend that my clients say to their own prospects:
"I actually offer several different programs, depending on how quickly you want to get results, and of course, on your budget level. What I usually recommend is that we set up a get-acquainted session. Not only do you want to find out more about me, my programs, etc., but I want to find out more about you and your situation to see if you're going to be the right fit for my programs as well. Shall we set that up?"
Done. The prospect almost always lets out a sigh of relief (it's almost as though they didn't REALLY want your rates after all) and then you're all set. Now, you're ready to close the sale. Easy.
Now, if closing the sale 97-98% of the time is not a reality for you yet, then we've got to change that ASAP. My own formula, step-by-step process AND closing the sale script is all laid out and available to you, in a turnkey, easy to implement one-foot-in-front-of-the-other process. The Client Attraction Home Study System™ includes everything you need to know to fill your practice quickly and close the sale consistently; no matter how long you've been in business. All the tools, scripts, templates, and examples are handed to you on a silver platter. So, you do step one of the system, and when you're done with that, you move on to step two, and so on. So easy. That's why my customers have gotten such great results from it. You can get yours at www.TheClientAttractionSystem.com.
© 2008 Client Attraction LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Fabienne Fredrickson, The Client Attraction Mentor, is founder of the Client Attraction System™ and www.ClientAttraction.com, the proven step-by-step program to attract more clients, make more m’oney being self-employed, while having more time off to enjoy it all. To receive your F.R.E.E. Audio CD by mail and get weekly how-to articles on attracting more clients, visit www.ClientAttraction.com.
