Comments on: What A 200-Year Old Mill Owner Can Teach You About Pricing

By: Iain Gray

Iain Gray — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 22:30:27 +0000

@Clesha – the key is always to focus on the other person, and what they want. In your case, they’re not buying aromatherapy, they are buying nicer skin, or stress relief, or a magical hour alone in the bath whilst the kids are at Grandma’s.

@Kathleen – you’re welcome! Unfortunately selling what you do rather than an outcome invites people to shop around for other prices. That’s because it doesn’t communicate the true value that you offer, so they “may as well go cheap”.

By: Kathleen K. O'Connor

Kathleen K. O'Connor — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 19:20:48 +0000

I’ve never heard this story before. Thank you for sharing. It has a very powerful message. As a web writer, it really resonates with me. Writers in my field who only sell their words are paid a pittance, but writers who are selling their expertise are paid very well. Off to do my homework

By: What a wicked thing to do

What a wicked thing to do — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 08:20:46 +0000

[...] also undervalue my own skills and can never be good enough, but this neat article on pricing your own skills made me feel a little better about just giving people what they need from me instead of what I [...]

By: Clesha Staten

Clesha Staten — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 15:10:24 +0000

Iain this is something I have struggled with for quite awhile. Perceived value in the eyes of others. With all that I know, I found it hard to actually charge people for my knowledge and know-how. It’s a major mind-shift, but I’m learning that what I have to offer is valuable to those who are willing to learn more about it.

The funny part is we’re always willing to pay someone else for a service, product, etc. that we perceive to have value, yet can’t bring ourselves to do the same.

Great story. It does put things in perspective.

By: Iain Gray

Iain Gray — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 03:40:41 +0000

That’s often a pleasant side-effect. I find charging up front is really helpful in that respect, too.

By: Sherice Jacob

Sherice Jacob — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 23:37:00 +0000

I always love hearing this story! It reminds me that times change and prices need to as well! I just upped my prices on one of my site services and it had the remarkable effect of clearing out the type of people that simply drain your time and energy.

By: Iain Gray

Iain Gray — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 23:54:17 +0000

@stacey – Thanks. I can imagine it’s a real problem for artists, because what they do is so often removed from real, measurable monetary value. But it still brings great joy to people’s lives. Glad you enjoyed the story too, I love tales like this. I’ll have to find an excuse to use a Just So story in a blog post at some point.

@vona – thanks. Good luck with getting going!!

@maureen – that’s what I love about running your own business. It’s what you do that matters, not how long you spend doing it. Although that can work against me sometimes too!

By: Maureen Carruthers

Maureen Carruthers — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 11:17:08 +0000

What a great story–it’s so easy to assume we should be paid based on the hours put in (or the distastefulness of the job) Thanks for the reminder that while we might judge the value of our work by how “busy” we are others judge us by the value we create!

By: vona

vona — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 10:32:18 +0000

This really speaks to me. I have checked out websites of all my competitors and its scary but no mre excuses. They all started somewhere, so will I.

I am worth every penny cos what i lack in experience I make up for in knowledge, commitment and desire to succeed.

By: Stacey Cornelius

Stacey Cornelius — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 15:00:26 +0000

I work with artists and other creatives. Many of them are terrified to charge what they’re worth because of the view society takes toward artists – at least the ones who aren’t wildly well-known.

Communicating value is critical. To your clients as well as reminding yourself that you’re worth every penny.

Love that old story, Iain, thanks for reminding us of its lessons.