A Lesson on Pricing from Picasso Pricing your services is often much more difficult than just charging, “what the market will bear” don’t you think? After all, what is your talent and knowledge worth? Why are some in your profession able to charge so much? Others so little? Will you seem more attractive to potential customers if you’re perceived to be more affordable? As you ponder the answers to these questions consider this short story about the painter, Pablo Picasso. It’s a story I first read in Harry Beckwith’s best-selling book,
Can you relate? thefrogman: The Nature of Ambition by Grant Snider [website | tumblr | twitter]
Tell me. Who gets to the end of a commercial and asks, “How can I learn more?” Answer: NO ONE! Exactly! Yet, isn’t it amazing that companies spend millions of dollars creating marketing that assumes this is the way we think? Why would they do this? Because, they aren’t really thinking about us, they’re thinking about them. They’re thinking about their product or service. Despite, what they may know intellectually about people and their behavior, these companies and the bright minds making their marketing decisions still often fall prey to
“New and Improved” ≠ Exceptional. Differentiating yourself, or your product from the competition is marketing 101, right? Pick me. I’m better. I said so. Or, buy my product, it’s “new and improved!” See, it’s right here on the packaging! Using these kind of tactics to persuade others may sound ridiculous and obvious but I’m willing to bet you see examples of this type of promotion all around you whether it’s a product sold at the grocery store or the self-promoting co-worker in the next cubicle. The trouble with this thinking
News Flash: It’s NOT About Balance. So much is made of striking a balance in our lives, whether it’s eating a balanced diet, striving for spiritual balance, or the constant struggle for work/life balance. And yet despite our every effort, are our lives ever really balanced? And is that the end game? The older I get the more I question this need to be “balanced”. Maybe it’s just a rationalization but I can’t help but feel that instead of worrying about balance in our lives we’d be better off focusing
“Don’t Take it Personally.” That is always easier said than done, don’t you think? Whenever someone ignores us, criticizes our work, or leaves us for a competitor, it sucks. And it feels personal. Even when we know intellectually that, “its just business.” The truth is though; you shouldn’t take it personally, because it’s not about you. It’s about them. It’s about what they (think they) want. It’s about what’s going on in their lives. it’s about their issues, motives or agenda. Do your best work. Give your customers the best
Sometimes, Even When It’s Not Broke, You Ought To Consider Fixing It. I know everything seems to be working fine. This isn’t a good time. There are a million other things your business needs to deal with first and besides, no one is complaining about the existing product or service. So why would you need to think about making a change? Given today’s uber competitive marketplace, you always need to be mindful that your customers are just one click away from the things they want when they want them. It’s
I Don’t “Do” Marketing. Ever heard someone say that? Have you ever said it? Or, maybe it’s just that you thought marketing was something you needed specific skills or experience to do? I’ll let you in on a little secret. The truth is, we’re all marketers, regardless of our actual job title. If you’re a business owner you’re surely in the business of marketing your product or service to your customers, investors, potential employees, and suppliers. Or maybe you work for a small business. Most people do. (After all, 90%