This is a question that is raised by almost every small business website owner out there. It is a challenge that is faced by Meka marketing team with almost every vendor we add onto the platform.
My answer and response to this question is and will always be “Why not?”
Well, here is the list of the top responses I always get;
- My competitors will know what I charge
- I don’t want to scare people off with my prices
- I don’t have the same prices for some items. Sometimes I charge depending on how the client approaches me.
Just like Karen Skidmore of Can Do Can Be, my response is or I would like it to be
“Rubbish rubbish rubbish” *unfortunately for me I can’t get to tell my prospects that – they say it is being RUDE
Before we get into the reasons why, here is something interesting from
Marcus Sheridan of Social Media Examiners
I recently spoke at a conference of about 100 business owners where I asked a very simple question:
“How many of you here today talk extensively about product cost and pricing on your company website?”
Can you guess how many raised their hands? If you guessed “1,” you’re right. Only 1 person in 100 had actually discussed pricing on his/her company website.But here is the other shocking statistic—when I asked these same business owners what percentage of their customers ask about pricing and cost within the first few minutes of an initial contact/conversation, every person in the room raised his/her hand.
Surprising? Of course not. People like to know how much stuff costs.
That’s just the way we’re all wired.
If that is not good enough for you, here are more reasons why you should include prices/rates on your website
- Trust – Many customers (myself included), will not do business with a company that is not upfront with their prices and fees. Why waste time clicking twice or writing an email or even calling you up only to find that your services are too expensive for me or too cheap (too cheap mean probably poor!)
- Too expensive – this follows up from trust. By default whenever a customer check out a service and there is no prices indicated, we tend to think the service is too expensive. I know you know it and have thought so on more than one occasion.
- Wasting time – this is not only on the customer’s side but the seller as well. You waste time answering questions from this potential client only for him to hear about the price and go “Oh, I am sorry I am not able to afford that!”
Plus on the client side, why waste my valuable time contacting you for something that you can easily put right there?! - Assured sale – When you have all the important information on your website, the clients that contact you already have made up their minds. The conversion rate of your website is much higher. It saves time by getting in assured sales.
- I decided to put this last – Screw the competition! Yes, screw them. I mean why waste time worrying about them getting your packages and prices instead of you doing what you are good at? Your business.
If the competition wanted to get your prices, it is VERY easy. He/she could call and pretend to be a prospect or even email. How hard can it be?
Do not waste time getting into petty price wars, be bold, brave and clearly state your prices so your potential clients know exactly what they are in for, so that when they make contact, they are ready to make the decision to buy.
Oh I should add, there are two companies – ones that recognize the value they give to customers and are proud of their pricing, and ones that are afraid their products don’t carry enough value to get what they’re asking for.
Make the right decision.
