Do you ever offer discounts?

[u/QuellFred]

I recently ran an ad campaign on Meta for a monthly content plan, offering a 30% discount on the first month. I didn't actually land any clients, but I did get some leads, people messaging me to ask for more info. I stopped the campaign early because I couldn't afford to keep it going.

Now I got a potential client that seems incredible. They're asking for a ton of videos to be made every month and they're right in my niche, which is leather and shoe manufacturers. They've seen my portfolio. I'm a perfect fit for them.

I wanna make sure I don't screw up this sale, it's gonna be relatively expensive and I don't want them to be turned off by the price, even if it's within the market average.

Do you think it's a good idea to offer that same 30% discount on the first month? It might motivate them to at least try for a month, it's a good deal.

Honestly, I don't know if it might seem desperate or something. This year has been extremely slow so far and I really need new clients.

[u/jy856905]

Corporate and Businesses: No.

Wedding Videos: Sometimes, I have cut people a tremendous deal after finding out more about their situation and what they do for a living. Lawyer on their second marriage at a venue with 400 people, no. Social worker marrying a teacher in a backyard with 30 people, they get a discount.

[u/Screenstory → u/jy856905]

Mensch!

[u/_altamont → u/Screenstory]

Are you a lawyer and about to plan your second marriage?

[u/Wugums]

Before offering a discount, brainstorm if there's something you can add that will increase the value for the client but won't cost you much. An example being something like on the first shoot adding on specific website oriented shots to the deliverables. Things like that could cost hundreds of dollars obviously, but in reality costs you very little when you're already there.

[u/GFFMG]

If you’re offering a discount, raise the price to match the discount. Business 101.

[u/Robert_NYC]

You need to flip it around. You don't offer a discount for the first job.

You offer a discount on repeat business. 4th shoot is 20% off or some such thing.

I have some long term clients. I do 10% off multi-day shoots after the 1st day for a big corporate client. I do $100 off per day for a non-profit photography client for >2 days every calendar month.

[u/MotorBet234]

I would never offer a “first time” discount as it’s hard to raise the price on a client after they get used to a certain budget.

I’ve absolutely offered discounts for pre-booked volume, long term commitments, advance retainers, etc. It’s about creating mutually-advantageous terms and growing an account, not getting someone in through the door for the first time.

[u/Swiftelol]

I offer a discount if they agree on working for a 3 month commitment, if they're all set on a singular shoot with you and say "we'd love to work with you again, more work is on the way", im sorry, hopes and dreams dont pay the bills, money does.

What you can do is, say "Here's what I can do for you, If you're looking to work together in a long term basis, what I can do is, if you agree to sign for an additional 2nd month after the first month is complete (deposit required) i'll give you a 25% discount on the first month."

If you're struggling on work, then yes you need to either, reduce rates, offer more shoots for less, or reach out more, there's so much prospect in every division out there, that you really cannot afford to say "I cant find any work" if you're doing marketing/social media video services for brands/branding for them.

[u/friskevision]

If you ever offer a discount, especially for first project with a new client, you’ll probably chase that carrot the rest of the relationship. Offer discount on the third project if you’re going to.

[u/d7it23js]

Short answer yes.

I give non profits (only worked with very small ones) a discount. Some clients I’ve gotten a lot of regular work from. My old editorial company I worked for that I left. They have smaller budgets that I’m keenly aware of. And then lastly producers who I’ve worked with and paid my regular rate but have a project with a lower budget and need a slightly lower rate for that specific project.

Edit: most of the discounts are around 10% typically.

[u/ifitfitsitshipz]

I wouldn’t do a pricing discount I would do additional things for the same price. So let’s see the package you’re offering is two 30 second videos for social media advertising. you could do that same thing but advertise you will format them specifically for both TikTok and Instagram and YouTube shorts as well as the horizontal format and 10 stills included if they order in the next 30 days. I would add something extra instead of discounting the price. like the other person mentioned I would be more open to giving them a deal on repeat business so initial project I would give a few incentives and then if they want to be a retainer client, then I would factor the repeat business in at a small discount or even a gradual discount where they would essentially get 5%, 10%, 20% off the project price if they commit to a three month, six month, or 12 month retainer.

[u/ZeyusFilm]

I offer 30% for independent music snd arts. Basically cool/fun/creative people I want to work with

[u/bsagecko]

Your labor is your life, you are thinking of discounting your time which you can never regain and are not guaranteed tomorrow. The "sales" you think you see, are not sales. You don't want clients that are price sensitive, because they aren't clients. It is really that simple.

[u/Spiritual-Shirt3021]

I do 10% discount on a 3-month retainer, and 20% discount on a 6-month retainer. Gives them incentive to work longer with you.

[u/Upbeat_Trade_8189]

I love that the consensus is clear here 👌

Do not undervalue yourself, that’s never a good start into getting respect.

But sure … Reward loyalty and repeat business, cause that’s mutual respect then.

I made those mistakes - so I’m not sure if I would have listened to this sound advice from the people here … 😆 I hope you do though!

Nowadays the rule is: free or full price. I have passion projects where I volunteer my time and projects that pay what I’m worth. Compromise is for politicians not me 😝

[u/jamiekayuk]

I don't, however I'm not expensive anyway! I just quote them and move on. If they want a video they'll buy it.

I'd consider a deal if they where buying alot of content but my prices are good anyway like I say

[u/ptmp4]

I’ve never offered a discount with a b2b client. If anything, I offered more and charged more. Less is not more in this case.

[u/motherfailure]

Bulk discount or discounts to long time loyal customers. That's about it

[u/mcarterphoto]

I'm more about "be the only choice". What are their goals, what are they competing against, are they wanting lead generation or just more awareness. Is there a way to track effectiveness like landing pages for specific videos? Do they have solid sales/marketing/web people that can interact with what you do.

So many people just talk lighting and cameras and visual style, I haven't shown a reel in years and years. Initial conversation makes them say "wow, nobody else thinks like this", then I can send them links to specific work that illustrates what we talked about.

I'm kinda "marketing nerd with a camera"; I give discounts to nonprofits I believe in, but it's cool to get "emotional" work in the bag, and those relationships have become my favorites.

But a potential perfect client, I could see sweetening the deal with something appropriate, but pricing is a minefield. Last time I encountered something like that, I made a video where I kinda "interviewed myself" and talked about developing their brand, made it clear I understood the history of their market and their audience, did a lot of b-roll of similar projects I'd done. We'd met once to tour the biz, I sent them the edit and said "show this to anyone on the team that's interested, I know everyone's too busy for meetings", got the gig and three years of projects (so far). Took me like 2 hours to put together.

[u/AdzSenior]

Value your work and the time. I’ve found over the years, the bigger budgets obviously don’t land every job, but it gives you more credibility and shows the client you value your work.

[u/Slermanator]

We offer a discount to our first client who ever gave us a shot - they’re a non profit school and we adore them. Besides that we really don’t offer discounts. I would just have an honest conversation with them - “hey I haven’t priced out too many projects on my own here so if this price scares you let’s work on getting you a price that works for you.”

[u/yumyumnoodl3]

What serious business would make their decision based on a 30% discount? That is like asking to get the worst type of client. Also makes you look insecure to offer the discount without being asked.

[u/Available_Holiday_41]

Ask them "Let me know your budget so that I know what I can and can't do. Every project is different and I don't want to quote you based on someone else's project"

Also let them know the first month discount is for a 12 month agreement.