SEO Consultant

I’m sure you’ve been asked that question before in your day-to-day job, especially if you’re in retail. I’ve certainly been asked that many times in my last 12 months as a freelance consultant, regardless of whether the client is a freelancer like myself or a big, public-listed company. Everybody wants cheaper!

What’s interesting is that some are asking not because they can’t afford to pay, but because it boosts their ego if they can squeeze a discount out of me. Some do it so they can show their bosses that they’re great negotiators.

And then there are clients who add this and that to the original scope of work but forgot to add more to your pay. ‘Just a small addition, easy job’, they say.

Of course, I could always inflate my price and then give a discount to everyone. But that’s not how I work because I happen to be an honest guy. Yup, I know …not a very good trait for a businessman. Heck, I’ve even told clients “…although I’d like to earn your money, your niche is too competitve and you’ll be wasting good money if you engaged me”.

Never mind. My conscience is clear and I sleep better at night. At the end of the day, I’m a consumer too and I hate having made bad purchases.

My style is to charge the lowest fee I’m willing to accept and then it’s up to them to decide - willing buyer, willing seller. Unlike other consultants, I don’t even have terms in my contract and am willing to be flexible with their demands. I mean why continue because of ‘contractual obligations’ if both parties are unhappy right?

That’s the end of my rant. I hope my clients (past, present and future) read this and never ask for discounts again.

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