Hi all,

I'm just organising my website at the moment and I'm pretty sure I want to list my rate guide on the website - but before I do that I just wanted to see if anyone had any negatives to this. I have a whole list of positives which are obvious, mainly I want my clients to see that I am open and transparent.

So if anyone has any ideas or comments to convince me not to do it please go ahead

Thanks
Hayley

Hayley,

I list my rates on my site and there are pluses and minuses. First off it weeds out those who do not want to pay my rate which is fine as it saves me time in the long run. Overall it has been beneficial to me as I do not go through a complete consultation to be stopped by a rate issue.

I do know that many look at my rates because they usually know which package they want and will talk about the differences and the specifics.

I may be loosing potential clients who decide to look elsewhere for less expensive VA's but that is the chance I am willing to take.

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Lee Drozak
My Office Assistant

I did a thorough review of over 40 VA websites and the majority of them did not advertise their rates. Those that did seemed to be the more successful VA's. So I was wondering if I should wait to advertise until I have a good client list, or do it right away?

I decided to go ahead and advertise for one reason - trust, meaning I am upfront about my rates and that should translate into how I do business. That doesn't mean I won't negotiate or anything and really, its just my own experiment. Time will tell if it was a good decision.

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Marimac Administrative Solutions
www.marimacadmin.com

Thanks, I think I'm going to go ahead and put my rates on there!! I think there are a few negatives, but the positives outweight them.

I've done both at various points in my business and honestly can't pinpoint any difference in my success or income relative to that particular change. I also don't think you can tell how successful a VA is by their website.

The only real 'negative' I can think of to having your rates listed is that rates can be off-putting for some potential clients, but you don't necessarily want to work with a client who is price-shopping anyway (not a great foundation for a VA/client relationship).

I also know plenty of VAs who charge $50 - $75+ an hour who are doing VERY well and tey DO list their rates on their sites. Go figure

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I have my rates listed on my site. Like previously mentioned, I think it helps in weeding out the penny pinchers and I would prefer to be up front about it. No secrets.

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Paulette R.
Rhythm Virtual Solutions | Alpha & Beta Translations

I did an experiment once. I listed my rates for 6 months and then I took them down for 6 months. I noticed no difference in the increase of client interest or work during either period of time.

What did garner more clients is when I posted a blog, wrote an article, created a discussion, participated in a webinar and consistently used social media. I was able to find clients through those avenues who then FIRST recognized my value and then saw my rates. If they shied away from me because of my rates, then they were not worth my time anyway because they will be penny-pinching the whole time they are contracted with me.

I worked with a client on a small project who then asked me for long-term work. When I quoted her my rates the first thing out of her mouth was that it "...was too expensive". But then she decided to sign the contract and I accepted the work. Thing were fine until about 4 months into the relationship, she was late with payments. And while I had a deposit, I continued to work for 48 hours before stopping as was my usual policy. Then she paid and the month would continue. Well, in the end, (long story short), she ended up being 2 - 3 weeks late with the payment. She bought a new car and couldn't make the payment for me. NEVER again would I ever work with someone who said in the beginning of the relationship that I am 'too expensive'. Surely a RED FLAG that there will be problems down the road. My comment to her was this...what is the difference between making your car payment and paying me? End of contract.

While my story has nothing to do whether you post rates or not, my point is that you don't want to work with anyone who can't afford your rates and who says so before the contract is signed. So it could also be beneficial to post the rates and weed out those bad eggs first.

If you post packaged rates, I believe that to be a better way for folks to determine whether they can or cannot budget for your services.

Janine

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When posting prices on your websites....did you guys post it on the site or typed it up on a proposal as monthly rates for hours or weekly rates for hours? example: Admin Services $250 a week for 1-10 or $1000 a mnth for 1-10? Is one more appealing than the other? I do know that alot of advertisers do the 29.99 because it "looks" and "reads" better. But in my mind i automatically read that as 30.00 plus tax lol. But with my website hosting its eactly XX.99.

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Alisa A. Beatty ~Assistance You Can Count On~ www.virtual-jane.com

Great advice on the rates! I like the idea of finding clients by first establishing value - that is extremely helpful!

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Marimac Administrative Solutions
www.marimacadmin.com

Originally Posted by Virtual Jane

When posting prices on your websites....did you guys post it on the site or typed it up on a proposal as monthly rates for hours or weekly rates for hours? example: Admin Services $250 a week for 1-10 or $1000 a mnth for 1-10? Is one more appealing than the other? I do know that alot of advertisers do the 29.99 because it "looks" and "reads" better. But in my mind i automatically read that as 30.00 plus tax lol. But with my website hosting its eactly XX.99.

Prices like $29.99 to me looks more like you're selling a product. Since you're providing a service a think a good round number like $30 works better, or maybe even $29 (not $29.99). I have one whole number on my site, no 29.99 stuff.

I dont have blocks of hours set up but I think what most people do is set it up like:

5-10 hours per month: 10% discount
10-15 hours: 15% discount
15-20 hours: 20% discount

You can make the discount whatever you want but that's more or less what I've seen.

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Paulette R.
Rhythm Virtual Solutions | Alpha & Beta Translations