4:20 "That's gonna take a long conversation." That convo would be 30min max. I would be convinced that 30min of your time discussing what I want is worth a couple extra grand.
I have a sad counterpoint to your profit sharing proposal. If you don't know, movie studios offer this proposal, or accept it from a client's agent, agreeing to share profit on the back end for a lower upfront contract. However, they use questionable accounting practices to hide their profits thereby never having to pay on the deal. It's why smart actors and their agents never agree to backend profit or percentages. Just a little fyi.
I usually say something like this “I cannot provide the level of service that you deserve at that price, if I take this project at that price you will not see the results that my clients typically see.” I never thought about negotiating in this manner. Thanks, I learned a lot from your video!
I actually find it offensive. The quality of your services should not vary by price, but the quantity - yes. When it comes to making a video, there is no other way, you do it or you don't, when it comes to photography, you just make less photos.
The fact that this content is out there and free is unreal. College helped hone in my design skills and prepare me for my first job, but they didn't say you would be mass producing cookie cutter designs, feel like a zombie on the 8-5 mundane grind, and be a replaceable spoke on a wheel on a fancy bike you can never drive. Starting my own business has been the most anxiety ridden challenges of ups and downs, but I wouldn't change it for anything. The wins and loses fall on me and not things out of my control. This is the content I should have been absorbing from day 1. Thank you, it has helped me a lot.
"but I wouldn't change it for anything." So spot on, man. I tell this to people all the time. It's hard. Frustrating. Infuriating even, working for yourself. It can create doubt about yourself and your abilities. But there's nothing else quite like it.
@@thefutur Can you guys PLEASE make more videos like this? I was on the verge of quitting but just watching this made me feel like I should hang in a little more and try these negotiation techniques.
This is literally not visual learning though. It’s purely auditory. That’s like saying that going to a college class and listening to the professor is a visual experience. Visual would be more like reading a guide.
That sounds amazing tbh. I love having back and forths like this, no one getting upset or letting their emotions get to them, just a good old mental chess round
This was so reaffirming to me. This goes hand in hand with “perceived value”. I used to undercharge because I was afraid of charging people money for what I do even though I literally went to Uni for it and have several years of professional experience (I’m a freelance fashion designer). When I undercharged, I was met with clients who wanted to haggle even more. Now that I understand my worth as a designer and that I make clothing brands a lot of money, I always work with my dream clients! They trust I’m going to deliver. To all my creatives, you don’t have to be a starving artist! The world needs what you have to offer ✨ may you all land the clients of your dreams!
@@viditjain9358 I know you asked the original poster, but I thought I'd chime in. No, you don't settle for less. This is a mistake that a lot of people make, especially those who actually have the talent/skill to back up their work. You may not be charging $1,000 out the gate (let's say it's just $200 right now), but focus on client transactions that are mutually beneficial. Maybe you have to offer a complimentary service to someone you know to start building your portfolio. Maybe you give a discounted service (single service, not multiple services) to a business, but let it be known that it's a discounted service/introductory price and see if you can work out something on the backend - if not monetary, at least have them advertise you to their colleagues or send word-of-mouth business. And, if you want word-of-mouth business/referrals from that particular clients, 1) make sure you deliver excellent work and 2) be positive that you want more clients like them (bad clients traveling packs, good clients traveling packs). The point is, if you constantly take on clients who undervalue you, take advantage of you, and who are fine with taking work from you at the expense of your growth, then that relationship is not beneficial... It's counterproductive and draining. Don't get yourself trapped in that. Trust me... A lot of us have been there.
A client that tries so hard to not pay your price will continue to hound you on every detail and drive you insane. At the end of this negotiation, it seems like a good deal has been made, but my experience in real life tells me that a client like that is better off finding some schmuck to do his video for a thousand bucks. What if he had agreed to the other offer and stiffed you? Then you have more expenses and time in court and you'll be lucky to ever see a dime of any judgement. When he said his budget was $1000, I would have said "You've never had a video produced professionally before, have you?" Then go through the value of it and let them guess how much it actually costs. Then I would have told him my price is $4500, but I can do it for $4000 if he's willing to wait an extra week or some other concession. In some situations I would also offer a 1/4 length video or some other service that is only $1000. 20+ years of sales experience has taught me that cheap clients are almost always a problem. It's better to miss a sale than deal with the back-end hassles of a client who can't really afford you. Great video, very thoughtfully done!
They always end up finding someone cheaper these days unless you are in a Professionial Market and have tons of prior content. Especially for weddings or Music Artist. I have lost several music video gigs because they don't won't to provide the money for the budget of the video
i challenged a client the same, negotiated a better and worse scenario for him, he said i will think about it, definitely he will come back, i have done a lot like these, some slip under the radar though
I'm just starting out with consistent paid product videos and yes, I'm still at a very low price point and I can't stand some of my repeat customers and I'm too busy so I'm raising my rates and half hoping some of them go elsewhere.
As an artist that's so true! A client that wanted to pay me 5$ for a quick sketch ended up nitpicking over the tiniest of things and then going back and forth. While another client which I charged over thousand bucks didn't even havve any complaints.
I agree Ritesh. I feel like a lot of sales managers shy away from role playing because it means getting their hands dirty, but it's hands down the best way to shake the dust from the day. My team starts with 10-15 minutes of role play every morning to build our momentum and get some good vibes out in the universe.
@@reprogrammingmind facts. There's a place for roleplaying 100%, but you don't get to Chris's level of comfort with sales in this roleplay by roleplaying. If you want to do that with an actual prospect, you need experience.
I was doing business for 14 years. This year my colleague, my mentor told me the same you are teaching here. Now I work less, earn more and have much less stress. When I look back at how low I took for some jobs, I even went below 2$ per hour so some orders. What I mean to say is: if you want to do business, any kind of business, you need to start with basics, basices like ones from this video.
Chris did something that many people miss, which is to LEAVE THE CLIENT WITH THE DECISION. You present options, and the client has to make a decision. Chris made it obvious that paying $4k is probably the best decision, but he didn't decide for him, the client has to arrive at a logical decision.
I have subscribed, signed upto the newsletter, and all because I watched the Ron Baker interview, and was as much impressed by the host questions as the guest answers (very rare), and then disappeared down the UA-cam wormhole. This is when I thank God for the internet otherwise I would not have the opportunity to learn from so many bright young people.
I had a new client ask me to update a PowerPoint presentation for him. I charged him $95. He came back multiple times for $95 a hit. Then he realized I can produce videos, design websites, and create graphic flyers, etc. That initial $95 that I accepted turned into over $5000 of work later on and a good rapport.
Same, sometimes it's good to work at net loss but attract long term clients. Issue is sometimes you attract clients that use you. It's slippery slope going with that strategy straight up gamble
Hey what do you do for work ? I have these same skills self taught but I don’t know how to use it in a career to make money I am lost in that department. So just curious what career path you are on so I can look into it myself.
Benjamin Arnoux it’s hard, especially when no one walks you through the process and you have to figure things out. I fail at these too, I think we just have to truly know what we are worth. It’s tough these ardent things taught to us in any formal capacity
Thank you so much for this video. My last client not only underpaid me she gave me free meals and toxic treatment I didn’t need. I felt so used and abused. She’s a family friend and I learnt my lesson well never to do business with anyone who has preconceived opinions about me while I do my best for them. I go the extra mile and I expect respect in return. I don’t allow people to take advantage of me anymore and even friends must sign the contract from now on. This notion that certain races must take less money for high quality work is absolutely rubbish. I refuse to entertain such people because I have children.
Same. My Fiance is an Architectual Designer and she did a massive addition on the back of a family friends house. When she came to payment, she tried to pay my Fiance a 50% split between gift cards and cash. Never again would we work within family, my fiance saved her thousands of dollars but treated her horribly
Thank you, listening to this was that perfect ice pick that hammered right into the right spot and now my mind has changed from here on out... Ask for your valued worth the first time so people take you more serious the next. It's been my biggest problem. "Too nice" and "trying to help"... always hurts... not anymore thanks to this video.
I used to think, "I hate selling!" Mostly because I didn't know how, but this video helped me to see that there's a method behind selling that can be learned. And once you learn the method, you can use it anywhere.
Excellent! As someone who has made his living selling high ticket services the majority of his adult life, I can say this video is spot on real world. So much better than other sales videos with only mindset advice and zero practical advice. I also like the fact that there were no Lambos. jets or any other status signals. Just quality content that will make an impact on people's lives.
I love the quote from the lad that said, “If they are not meeting you at your price, you don’t have to meet them at their deliverable.“ I was recently caught out on this when I did some work for a local business and ended up spending much longer to create their content. When I broke down how much time I spent shooting, editing and then the revisions, it worked out that I earn’t about $8p/h for the job. I’m not saying this to get pity but to share a lesson that I learnt. When you’re staring off as a content creator, it can be hard but keep learning, keep growing and soaking in as much as you can from the gurus of media content like these guys. So good!
Another aspect is, when you start taking away from the deliverables you may notice that some people actually don't want that reduction and rather pay a higher price to get the full program. Others may actually not need the full thing and appreciate that you can do less for less.
This is amazing, it changed my perspective towards client's budget. People actually pay more for what they value most and will contribute to their public image but never willing to invest in what generate them income to sustain their public image.
Same with budget for IT in smaller companies here in my region. Firewall? Does it cost money? Bah no, it doesn't burn. Security? I have a lock on my door. Awareness traning? No sir, I pay for an antivirus. And so on. Everything has to work, but nobody wants to spend money for it 🤦♂️
The video is clownish. Completely disregards competition. A fair price is what the market will pay, and what your competitors of similar quality will take.
So IMO, this free content is further proof of the value Chris and the Futur bring to the design industry. I've seen the recent response videos (random guy and the Beeple video, etc.) and when I see things like this being given out for free, then comments like 'Chris doesn't know what he's talking about / he's just trying to bilk money from young designers" sound as absurd as they are. Here's a super valuable objection / response to a situation we've ALL been in with a respectful and effective way to handle it and get yourself the job for more money than originally offered. All being offered for FREE like all of The Futur's YT videos. Thanks!
I really love these role play sessions! They're teaching us how to negotiate, how to think and how to find diplomatic solutions while we keep our strategy going. 💯
Negotiation only works on lower priced items. I sell items worth a minimum of 40k. I tell you the price and if you don’t like it, too bad move on and go someplace else. The price is the price.
@@jool5941 I used to sell items worth $100k to above a million. Negotiation was practically always taking place, with few exceptions. It depends on the industry, the power balance and who you are talking to. If your customers don't have another option and you have the ability to say No that's very powerful.
These videos are some of my favourite in the web. Especially having absolutely no marketing and negotiating background. You guys are incredible man. Really appreciate y’all sharing this.
Sense Chris Do is waaaay ahead of his time in our timeline when it comes to the business side of design and design itself, I am so blessed with his teachings and the audience interactions with him.
Chris I can't even explain how you guys helped me to start doing what I enjoy. I used to charge for something only 200 dollars and now I'm charging clients 1600-2000 dollars for the same work only thanks to you and the futur. Thanks and also, these Role plays are the best! :)
I've been with a rapidly growing marketing firm for the last 5 years and implementing the discussion points here are fundamental for real growth. There is a sweet spot once you have around 10 employees where efficiency over bulk growth/output starts to really become vital and that is when these conversations pay the most dividends. Thanks for the well made helpful content! Though the illegal chess move at 7:35 hurt my soul a little lol.
Enjoyed watching this role play! What Chris does so well is expose that when you eliminate the downside to the client by making it performance based (no production cost - only 50% of new customer revenue) what you reveal is the asymmetrical bets folks never want to take because they actually know your worth and are betting on the fact that you are either: 1) not aware of the value of your work; and/or 2) not able to clearly articulate that value. “I’ll pay you 1K, I know you are top notch, but only want value you at 1K” - is how the conversation goes round and round in circles. But once you try to honor the dual goals of respecting their “hard budget” along with valuing yourself and your product, and offer to rework the deal based on that, all of a sudden, they don’t want to pay you on the upside$, even though you are totally eliminating all the downside risk to the client. Not easy to do when you are new to the business, but an important lesson we all need to learn to be successful. Keep inspiring!!
This works perfectly well if you can meet the business owner. Sadly it's not always the case. I do like that Chris explains to the client that it's possible that the client does not really need to spend that money. Very insightful.
I didnt expect love on my comment so I'll say why I said "wow. just wow." Your starting price was $4K. When the client deemed that unpayable, you drew up other alternatives that they did not find suitable and ultimately ended up settling for $4K. Unbelieveable. Best example of negotiating and business ever demonstrated. As a Freshman in graphic design, I'm learning from your videos A LOT and have been since Young Guns EP 10. Thank you to everyone at The Futur 😊👏🏽
His first argument was the best: ”Does this guarantee me any revenue?” Even if you have a big problem, and you could pay a lot to gain a lot - you risk paying a lot and not gaining anything. The reply ”I’ll do the video for free and take a cut” is the perfect response to that
Dislike the "take a cut" those that negotiate on price and price alone are not particularly fair on paying. Their justify paying you less because theie highest value is keeping the most money. I say my price and it's out there. Can't afford it? I 100%understand. Call me when you get the budget. I dont haggle. Ppl get the budget. Saves me the pain of the wheelerdealers AND the opportunity cost vecayse whilst I'm scrabbling after their crappy budget I lose the opportunity it to do work for a client t that has the budget and is willing to pay. Easier to stick with the easy pays.
@@leahweinberger583 Personally I agree. This advice is mostly for those just starting out who are struggling to get any customers at all - and are willing to gamble on a loss to gain something. However with an established business I would always play it safe and go with a set fee rather than gamble and risk getting nothing.
If a man driving a high-powered luxury sports car can't afford to pay $1k, run away. He's either cheap or broke. He paid for all those things that bring no value but wants to screw the people helping him earn money. Sinking ship
This is an absolutely great video, a lot of advanced techniques shown here. Chris does a really good job of doing the "push and pull" method while being passive-aggressive. I do think one of the most underrated things in this video is his tonality. Amazing use and control of the tonality to give the prospect a calm yet professional environment.
I learned something, thank you guys. This conversation made me a little bit unconfortable at first, but I like how your confidence and a quick analyze of his business kept your speech consistent. Bravo
this role play is Gold.. I've watched all the role plays Chris has done on the futur, but this one somehow resonates even more. I guess its the pro-group ;) Great Video
05:25 - That's why you have to be in it for the long run. If your goal is to get a lot of money within the next 6-12 months, then, of course, losing a $1,000 job hurt. There is no doubt about it! For a lot of people, it's a big amount of money! But are you in it for the long run(3-4-5+ years), then you don't care about losing this customer, because there will come a new one, one who will gladly pay you the $4K, you require in order to start the job. Build a solid body of work and have patience.
All I can say, is thank you UA-cam algorithm. I’ve never heard of Chris until tonight and my mind is blown. Subbed and starting my journey of change and learning. Thank you.
This is something I'm currently struggling with in my 3D printing/3D modeling business, so thank you for the information. Everyone's solution is to take what you can get or lower my prices. It's refreshing to know I can learn how to navigate these conversations more confidently.
No never base your business on price alone. trust me it is a race to the bottom, if you don't charge enough and there is always someone more desperate than you willing to go lower.
@@Niqueman1989 you will always be learning. I never make the same mistake twice, that's true. I DO make an entirely new mistake though. Ah entrepreneurs learn each and every day. That's the fun and the ick of it. Best game ever!
Watching Chris navigate sheds light on something that I need to put serious effort into fixing... I get way too emotional during negotiations. That is a serious weakness.
I literally just “broke up” with a client yesterday because of a similar issue. I wish I saw this video days ago! Very informative and opened my eyes. Que sera, sera. Thank you for this.
As a creative that gets this type of one-off gigs and has a hard time negotating with clients, this video is one that of the best I've come across on the internet
Chris is the only guy convincing creatives everywhere that you can use the same playbook used to sell performance marketing, to sell creative services.
This is beyond amazing. I recently went through a break up and had an epiphany about the - never settle - know your worth - love that the word you used was "disproportionate" and seeing how this isn't only a romantic relationship idea - this is a universal - finances, friends, etc! LOVE THIS, I am now confident I am heading in the right direction in life in general, you just added fuel to the fire. Pure genius videos, and I never even comment on anything ever. LOL
Liking this newer roleplay with these pro members a lot more, it's alot more realistic than some past ones by the Futur. Maybe future video you show how one of the pro members generates 2-3 customers for a client with a video ?_? with a case study/ real life example? think that would be a sick followup
You know what’s hilarious about this. He doesn’t ask the price. And in real life, they usually don’t because they wanna talk service, not money. It took the whole second conversation for him to ask about your worth. So this is a great vid for controlling & steering the conversation
Great topic but not realistic. CLIENTS NEVER GIVE OUT THEIR BUDGETS. They always say “ I’m not sure” because it’s part of their bargaining chip. They usually just want to get your price and decide from there. I wish to see a video where the caller is not part of a group but an actual tough client. Something more real. Just a thought.
"You are too expensive" "Not really. It sounds like you are shopping on price, not results?" KNOW your worth, NEVER back down, NEVER never let them see you sweat!
I am dumb when it comes to money and business so I don't know how I got here lol, but this was an interesting back and forth. What it basically looked like to me was that he was very convincing, almost finished it like a mathematical proof, that he is worth 4K per video/project, and by the end of it not only did the client see it that way but also felt like he was getting a deal! Talk about salesman skills, wow.
Just found this YT channel a couple days ago and there is a LOT of valuable knowledge and wisdom to learn from this. I know it's geared towards entrepreneurs but I'm a apprentice in the trades and I hate my job. I do have one cool talent I do for a side hustle as an entertainer; I'm a Street Magician with 20 years experience. I hope to apply these lessons to my own business and stop selling myself short.
Never seen this channel nor these people. Never heard of it. First video and first impression, and I love every single bit of it so much that I'm upset I didn't come across this earlier. It feels authentic, real, relaxing, to the point, and not trying to appeal to the YT algorithm or appeal to self-help addicts. The fact that Jim Rohn is mentioned is such a cherry on top as he's my favorite speaker. I love this!
Chris is crazy good at thinking on his feet. For me though, when I find an initial call going this way, I usually end it quick. From my past experiences anytime I have to try too hard to help a client understand the value, it almost never ends well. Either a lot of time wasted trying to help the client understand value, or way to much hand holding during the development process. Sometimes it's good to check out a client's experience the same way they try to check out yours.
Nater51 I agree with you 100%. I feel like so many sales people try and come up with quick, witty responses. When we do our homework on the client we always get a better result! Well said!
As a former media professional, I follow this page because it paid off in my dealings with cheap clients. I've been trying to figure out ways to apply this in my new profession, trucking. You offer your rate, and the broker hangs up on you...or tells you "I move this load all the time at the rate that I'm offering." The problem is the same value you can provide...or problem that you can solve, anyone with the equipment can produce the same results.
Well done. Without going too deep on the technical, nitty gritty specifications to what the client expects from you to deliver as a creative, literally just narrow it down to what they expect to get from it based on your input and sync up the logics with a journey they would understand. Awesome.
Whilst the client I ever had: Bro, your price is out of our budget. Me: copying Chris Do's technique. Client: Sorry bro, unfortunately, that's our max cap. Well.. maybe not today. It's nice to see you. Me: Smiling whilst watching my money goes. Anyway, this is a great video! Learnt a lot.
Awesome tips! Chris is soo awesome The Pro members too My favorite quote - “If they are not meeting you at your price, you don’t have to meet them at their deliverable” mind blowing 🤯
In my honest opinion, there should be a Netflix series about all this kinda stuff. There will be narrators and a huge ass film production team that just captures the conversations between Chris and his clients. It will be very very famous. Like totally calling it.
These conversations are terrifying to me, and always feel like I'll either cave and meet their budget or scare them away by sticking to mine. So it's 💯 awesome to see you guys play out so many possibilities... I like the cut of net new customers idea, whether it's an actual fee structure you would aim for or not, it's a brilliant negotiation tool that helps the client understand the impact/value of the work they're asking for.
This is hilarious. I’ve had 4 companies low ball me at exactly $1000 for an ad integration on my channel after quoting them a higher price. This will give me some ammo to come back with. Thanks guys!
I need to get involved in more convos in 2020. I want to be as knowledgeable and assured as the guy on the right. This also comes from knowing your time, worth and not "needing" the job. I was surprised Chris didn'yt offer to scale down the 4k job into a 1K, of course with much much less work
My biggest issue is not valuing my own work enough to expect someone else to want it for such a high price. This was an amazing video to see though. Now all I need is more confidence in my abilities as a photographer...
Sir, you are too much.Concise educative and real-life approach to make people a total self-reliance. U are my mentor.may God keep increasing u in knowledge
Do you want to read more about this? We've broken down all of the steps in this article 👉 bit.ly/negotiating-w-clients
Thank you for breaking the steps down!! 🦋
i think its a good therapy to post this video every 6 months to remind ourselves to learn and practice the game. forever GOLD. thanks guys
4:20 "That's gonna take a long conversation." That convo would be 30min max. I would be convinced that 30min of your time discussing what I want is worth a couple extra grand.
Where can I see more full videos
I have a sad counterpoint to your profit sharing proposal. If you don't know, movie studios offer this proposal, or accept it from a client's agent, agreeing to share profit on the back end for a lower upfront contract. However, they use questionable accounting practices to hide their profits thereby never having to pay on the deal. It's why smart actors and their agents never agree to backend profit or percentages. Just a little fyi.
I usually say something like this “I cannot provide the level of service that you deserve at that price, if I take this project at that price you will not see the results that my clients typically see.”
I never thought about negotiating in this manner. Thanks, I learned a lot from your video!
Glad to hear J.
That’s also a fantastic and classy response. Would you mind if I used it when appropriate?
@@LuiEntertainment Yes, I do not mind. Sharing is caring.
@@janieart Thank you!
I actually find it offensive. The quality of your services should not vary by price, but the quantity - yes. When it comes to making a video, there is no other way, you do it or you don't, when it comes to photography, you just make less photos.
The fact that this content is out there and free is unreal. College helped hone in my design skills and prepare me for my first job, but they didn't say you would be mass producing cookie cutter designs, feel like a zombie on the 8-5 mundane grind, and be a replaceable spoke on a wheel on a fancy bike you can never drive. Starting my own business has been the most anxiety ridden challenges of ups and downs, but I wouldn't change it for anything. The wins and loses fall on me and not things out of my control. This is the content I should have been absorbing from day 1. Thank you, it has helped me a lot.
we are here for you on your journey Matthew.
So true
amen
"but I wouldn't change it for anything." So spot on, man. I tell this to people all the time. It's hard. Frustrating. Infuriating even, working for yourself. It can create doubt about yourself and your abilities. But there's nothing else quite like it.
I’m with you here.
This video was well needed for people like me who are visual learners and need to see a simple scenario play out to get a better understanding
Thanks
@@thefutur Can you guys PLEASE make more videos like this? I was on the verge of quitting but just watching this made me feel like I should hang in a little more and try these negotiation techniques.
@@whoisimaniblack hang in there man. Money is time, be patient and continue learning.
This is literally not visual learning though. It’s purely auditory. That’s like saying that going to a college class and listening to the professor is a visual experience. Visual would be more like reading a guide.
Same
This is how I want to spend my weekends. Chilling with some high level homies in a room just role playing and scheming!!! Awesome content!!!
That sounds amazing tbh. I love having back and forths like this, no one getting upset or letting their emotions get to them, just a good old mental chess round
This is what we do for our clients and friends who are all entrepreneurs. Come for coffee and chat with the "Oracle" and we all level up together 🙏🏾
@@TowaBeer Where's it at?
@@DoffDoffinson We had a spot on Spadina but had to vacate due to COVID. Looking for new space again :)
Hjk
This was so reaffirming to me.
This goes hand in hand with “perceived value”.
I used to undercharge because I was afraid of charging people money for what I do even though I literally went to Uni for it and have several years of professional experience (I’m a freelance fashion designer). When I undercharged, I was met with clients who wanted to haggle even more.
Now that I understand my worth as a designer and that I make clothing brands a lot of money, I always work with my dream clients! They trust I’m going to deliver.
To all my creatives, you don’t have to be a starving artist! The world needs what you have to offer ✨ may you all land the clients of your dreams!
@lexTalksFashion In the beginning should you settle for less?
@@viditjain9358 I know you asked the original poster, but I thought I'd chime in. No, you don't settle for less.
This is a mistake that a lot of people make, especially those who actually have the talent/skill to back up their work. You may not be charging $1,000 out the gate (let's say it's just $200 right now), but focus on client transactions that are mutually beneficial. Maybe you have to offer a complimentary service to someone you know to start building your portfolio. Maybe you give a discounted service (single service, not multiple services) to a business, but let it be known that it's a discounted service/introductory price and see if you can work out something on the backend - if not monetary, at least have them advertise you to their colleagues or send word-of-mouth business. And, if you want word-of-mouth business/referrals from that particular clients, 1) make sure you deliver excellent work and 2) be positive that you want more clients like them (bad clients traveling packs, good clients traveling packs).
The point is, if you constantly take on clients who undervalue you, take advantage of you, and who are fine with taking work from you at the expense of your growth, then that relationship is not beneficial... It's counterproductive and draining. Don't get yourself trapped in that. Trust me... A lot of us have been there.
A client that tries so hard to not pay your price will continue to hound you on every detail and drive you insane. At the end of this negotiation, it seems like a good deal has been made, but my experience in real life tells me that a client like that is better off finding some schmuck to do his video for a thousand bucks. What if he had agreed to the other offer and stiffed you? Then you have more expenses and time in court and you'll be lucky to ever see a dime of any judgement.
When he said his budget was $1000, I would have said "You've never had a video produced professionally before, have you?" Then go through the value of it and let them guess how much it actually costs. Then I would have told him my price is $4500, but I can do it for $4000 if he's willing to wait an extra week or some other concession. In some situations I would also offer a 1/4 length video or some other service that is only $1000.
20+ years of sales experience has taught me that cheap clients are almost always a problem. It's better to miss a sale than deal with the back-end hassles of a client who can't really afford you.
Great video, very thoughtfully done!
True
💯💯
They always end up finding someone cheaper these days unless you are in a Professionial Market and have tons of prior content. Especially for weddings or Music Artist. I have lost several music video gigs because they don't won't to provide the money for the budget of the video
i challenged a client the same, negotiated a better and worse scenario for him, he said i will think about it, definitely he will come back, i have done a lot like these, some slip under the radar though
@@Emjayography Do you know if those videos you lost ever got made?
It's an old saying, "The clients that pay the least, usually end up being a pain in the ass."
So true. And they micromanage the crap out of the process.
I'm just starting out with consistent paid product videos and yes, I'm still at a very low price point and I can't stand some of my repeat customers and I'm too busy so I'm raising my rates and half hoping some of them go elsewhere.
@@christinegivens9048 you get what you get and don’t have a fit
As an artist that's so true! A client that wanted to pay me 5$ for a quick sketch ended up nitpicking over the tiniest of things and then going back and forth. While another client which I charged over thousand bucks didn't even havve any complaints.
All clients are a pain, its just exacerbated because they paid you less to deal with it 😂
Role play is the best way of learning.
😀
I agree Ritesh. I feel like a lot of sales managers shy away from role playing because it means getting their hands dirty, but it's hands down the best way to shake the dust from the day. My team starts with 10-15 minutes of role play every morning to build our momentum and get some good vibes out in the universe.
@Sylver LOL alright
Upvotes from people that would rather have years of roleplay instead of years of experience.
@@reprogrammingmind facts. There's a place for roleplaying 100%, but you don't get to Chris's level of comfort with sales in this roleplay by roleplaying. If you want to do that with an actual prospect, you need experience.
FINALLY, A SALES PITCH MAKE SENSE!! not a fake, arrogant, clueness, non-sensitive demonstration.
I was doing business for 14 years. This year my colleague, my mentor told me the same you are teaching here. Now I work less, earn more and have much less stress. When I look back at how low I took for some jobs, I even went below 2$ per hour so some orders.
What I mean to say is: if you want to do business, any kind of business, you need to start with basics, basices like ones from this video.
“...or you could just pay me what I’m worth and you keep the profit.” Every artist needs to have this line in their back pocket.
yes
Which is why most modern art graduates struggle to find a job in their field right? Cause their value is so high?
@@aquaprofile No, because their demand is too low.
@@larrybudexactly.
Profit comes from under compensating for value added.
Chris did something that many people miss, which is to LEAVE THE CLIENT WITH THE DECISION. You present options, and the client has to make a decision. Chris made it obvious that paying $4k is probably the best decision, but he didn't decide for him, the client has to arrive at a logical decision.
give them options. let them decide vs saying no.
you put the ball in his field dawg
this is so true
Lead the horse to the water
Exactly, let the client come to you.
Damn. He made me want to spend more than a 1000 dollars. And I don't even want a video.
then it's working.
LOL
Same
And I don't even have a 1000 dollars
Basically if your starting up your fucked. lol
I have subscribed, signed upto the newsletter, and all because I watched the Ron Baker interview, and was as much impressed by the host questions as the guest answers (very rare), and then disappeared down the UA-cam wormhole. This is when I thank God for the internet otherwise I would not have the opportunity to learn from so many bright young people.
Welcome to the Futur
I had a new client ask me to update a PowerPoint presentation for him. I charged him $95. He came back multiple times for $95 a hit. Then he realized I can produce videos, design websites, and create graphic flyers, etc. That initial $95 that I accepted turned into over $5000 of work later on and a good rapport.
is there anything better than foot-in-the-door strategy?
Same, sometimes it's good to work at net loss but attract long term clients. Issue is sometimes you attract clients that use you. It's slippery slope going with that strategy straight up gamble
Hey what do you do for work ? I have these same skills self taught but I don’t know how to use it in a career to make money I am lost in that department. So just curious what career path you are on so I can look into it myself.
@@gabriellahuerta3214me too.
Oh, you “realized” that?
These vibes are so chill, and I'm learning a ton.
Daniel Valentine yea same, the moves in this vid were so smooth I was smiling
Wow. Just wow!! I cringed during this, because it showed me how much I fail in these scenarios. Learned a lot here. I’ll probably have this on repeat.
Thanks Ben
same here!!!!! i do video and photography, and make organic skin care formulations...i have really short changed myself
Seriously. This video is pure gold.
Never heard of this channel before but I’m subscribed now.
Same happened to me when I watched it. Great content.
Benjamin Arnoux it’s hard, especially when no one walks you through the process and you have to figure things out. I fail at these too, I think we just have to truly know what we are worth. It’s tough these ardent things taught to us in any formal capacity
“I’m just trying to measure effort vs result.”
🔥
xactly discpline is whr average guy fails/..
I just saw your comment right at the moment he said that. Crazy.
Thank you so much for this video. My last client not only underpaid me she gave me free meals and toxic treatment I didn’t need. I felt so used and abused. She’s a family friend and I learnt my lesson well never to do business with anyone who has preconceived opinions about me while I do my best for them. I go the extra mile and I expect respect in return. I don’t allow people to take advantage of me anymore and even friends must sign the contract from now on. This notion that certain races must take less money for high quality work is absolutely rubbish. I refuse to entertain such people because I have children.
Doing business with any - even remote - family members is calling for headache.
Same. My Fiance is an Architectual Designer and she did a massive addition on the back of a family friends house. When she came to payment, she tried to pay my Fiance a 50% split between gift cards and cash.
Never again would we work within family, my fiance saved her thousands of dollars but treated her horribly
@@igordasunddas3377 I don’t even do my work of photography to family members.
I consider that a “conflict of interest”.
Oh god, never do business with family. It never ends well.
I pay the service I get, no strings attached.
Thank you, listening to this was that perfect ice pick that hammered right into the right spot and now my mind has changed from here on out... Ask for your valued worth the first time so people take you more serious the next. It's been my biggest problem. "Too nice" and "trying to help"... always hurts... not anymore thanks to this video.
I used to think, "I hate selling!" Mostly because I didn't know how, but this video helped me to see that there's a method behind selling that can be learned. And once you learn the method, you can use it anywhere.
Yes
Excellent! As someone who has made his living selling high ticket services the majority of his adult life, I can say this video is spot on real world. So much better than other sales videos with only mindset advice and zero practical advice. I also like the fact that there were no Lambos. jets or any other status signals. Just quality content that will make an impact on people's lives.
Thanks mike.
I love the quote from the lad that said, “If they are not meeting you at your price, you don’t have to meet them at their deliverable.“
I was recently caught out on this when I did some work for a local business and ended up spending much longer to create their content. When I broke down how much time I spent shooting, editing and then the revisions, it worked out that I earn’t about $8p/h for the job.
I’m not saying this to get pity but to share a lesson that I learnt. When you’re staring off as a content creator, it can be hard but keep learning, keep growing and soaking in as much as you can from the gurus of media content like these guys. So good!
Another aspect is, when you start taking away from the deliverables you may notice that some people actually don't want that reduction and rather pay a higher price to get the full program. Others may actually not need the full thing and appreciate that you can do less for less.
I love how you kept it authentic and left the 'dont break mo' part in there instead of editing it out!
I can’t express how genius this is.
This is amazing, it changed my perspective towards client's budget. People actually pay more for what they value most and will contribute to their public image but never willing to invest in what generate them income to sustain their public image.
Same with budget for IT in smaller companies here in my region. Firewall? Does it cost money? Bah no, it doesn't burn. Security? I have a lock on my door. Awareness traning? No sir, I pay for an antivirus. And so on. Everything has to work, but nobody wants to spend money for it 🤦♂️
@@syradon4051 and as an IT we all get blamed for it by the employees... Trash talked by outside onlookers when something gets wrong
The video is clownish. Completely disregards competition. A fair price is what the market will pay, and what your competitors of similar quality will take.
So IMO, this free content is further proof of the value Chris and the Futur bring to the design industry. I've seen the recent response videos (random guy and the Beeple video, etc.) and when I see things like this being given out for free, then comments like 'Chris doesn't know what he's talking about / he's just trying to bilk money from young designers" sound as absurd as they are. Here's a super valuable objection / response to a situation we've ALL been in with a respectful and effective way to handle it and get yourself the job for more money than originally offered. All being offered for FREE like all of The Futur's YT videos. Thanks!
Wow. Instant sub. This is invaluable to anyone who is truly passionate about their work. No one wants to be taken advantage of
Welcome to the Futur
I really love these role play sessions! They're teaching us how to negotiate, how to think and how to find diplomatic solutions while we keep our strategy going. 💯
Negotiation only works on lower priced items. I sell items worth a minimum of 40k. I tell you the price and if you don’t like it, too bad move on and go someplace else. The price is the price.
@@jool5941 I used to sell items worth $100k to above a million. Negotiation was practically always taking place, with few exceptions. It depends on the industry, the power balance and who you are talking to. If your customers don't have another option and you have the ability to say No that's very powerful.
These videos are some of my favourite in the web. Especially having absolutely no marketing and negotiating background. You guys are incredible man. Really appreciate y’all sharing this.
Sense Chris Do is waaaay ahead of his time in our timeline when it comes to the business side of design and design itself, I am so blessed with his teachings and the audience interactions with him.
Even as a small studio owner this video speaks volumes about how to conduct business relationships in nearly every creative industry.
Chris I can't even explain how you guys helped me to start doing what I enjoy. I used to charge for something only 200 dollars and now I'm charging clients 1600-2000 dollars for the same work only thanks to you and the futur. Thanks and also, these Role plays are the best! :)
congrats! don't forget to support us by becoming a sustaining member.
I've been with a rapidly growing marketing firm for the last 5 years and implementing the discussion points here are fundamental for real growth. There is a sweet spot once you have around 10 employees where efficiency over bulk growth/output starts to really become vital and that is when these conversations pay the most dividends. Thanks for the well made helpful content! Though the illegal chess move at 7:35 hurt my soul a little lol.
Enjoyed watching this role play!
What Chris does so well is expose that when you eliminate the downside to the client by making it performance based (no production cost - only 50% of new customer revenue) what you reveal is the asymmetrical bets folks never want to take because they actually know your worth and are betting on the fact that you are either: 1) not aware of the value of your work; and/or 2) not able to clearly articulate that value. “I’ll pay you 1K, I know you are top notch, but only want value you at 1K” - is how the conversation goes round and round in circles.
But once you try to honor the dual goals of respecting their “hard budget” along with valuing yourself and your product, and offer to rework the deal based on that, all of a sudden, they don’t want to pay you on the upside$, even though you are totally eliminating all the downside risk to the client. Not easy to do when you are new to the business, but an important lesson we all need to learn to be successful. Keep inspiring!!
This works perfectly well if you can meet the business owner. Sadly it's not always the case. I do like that Chris explains to the client that it's possible that the client does not really need to spend that money. Very insightful.
Works only if you have the power to negotiate. Most freelancers are desperate for work. This is why these fictional conversations miss the point.
I didnt expect love on my comment so I'll say why I said "wow. just wow."
Your starting price was $4K. When the client deemed that unpayable, you drew up other alternatives that they did not find suitable and ultimately ended up settling for $4K. Unbelieveable. Best example of negotiating and business ever demonstrated.
As a Freshman in graphic design, I'm learning from your videos A LOT and have been since Young Guns EP 10. Thank you to everyone at The Futur 😊👏🏽
Thank you Mikey
He pretended to settle. That's the difference.
His first argument was the best: ”Does this guarantee me any revenue?”
Even if you have a big problem, and you could pay a lot to gain a lot - you risk paying a lot and not gaining anything.
The reply ”I’ll do the video for free and take a cut” is the perfect response to that
Dislike the "take a cut" those that negotiate on price and price alone are not particularly fair on paying. Their justify paying you less because theie highest value is keeping the most money. I say my price and it's out there. Can't afford it? I 100%understand. Call me when you get the budget. I dont haggle. Ppl get the budget. Saves me the pain of the wheelerdealers AND the opportunity cost vecayse whilst I'm scrabbling after their crappy budget I lose the opportunity it to do work for a client t that has the budget and is willing to pay.
Easier to stick with the easy pays.
@@leahweinberger583 Personally I agree. This advice is mostly for those just starting out who are struggling to get any customers at all - and are willing to gamble on a loss to gain something. However with an established business I would always play it safe and go with a set fee rather than gamble and risk getting nothing.
@@BenRangel Yeah, those openings can be brutal. I guess after a while you just realize that some customers are too expensive. It's a thing.
If a man driving a high-powered luxury sports car can't afford to pay $1k, run away. He's either cheap or broke. He paid for all those things that bring no value but wants to screw the people helping him earn money. Sinking ship
Can't believe how time flies, looking back is helping me refocus my strategy. Nice work bros and ladies.
I'm a humble hungry student...... This video is PURE GOLD...
This is an absolutely great video, a lot of advanced techniques shown here.
Chris does a really good job of doing the "push and pull" method while being passive-aggressive.
I do think one of the most underrated things in this video is his tonality.
Amazing use and control of the tonality to give the prospect a calm yet professional environment.
I learned something, thank you guys. This conversation made me a little bit unconfortable at first, but I like how your confidence and a quick analyze of his business kept your speech consistent. Bravo
this role play is Gold.. I've watched all the role plays Chris has done on the futur, but this one somehow resonates even more. I guess its the pro-group ;) Great Video
Pro members are tougher
This was AMAZING, I totally felt the love and generosity in which this video was made and experienced♥️
05:25 - That's why you have to be in it for the long run. If your goal is to get a lot of money within the next 6-12 months, then, of course, losing a $1,000 job hurt. There is no doubt about it! For a lot of people, it's a big amount of money! But are you in it for the long run(3-4-5+ years), then you don't care about losing this customer, because there will come a new one, one who will gladly pay you the $4K, you require in order to start the job.
Build a solid body of work and have patience.
*The insights that Chris is giving are gold. Thank you!*
Glad to hear
Roleplay was the best and the video editing is on another level. Love these short videos ❤️
Thanks. Ricky is on his game.
All I can say, is thank you UA-cam algorithm. I’ve never heard of Chris until tonight and my mind is blown. Subbed and starting my journey of change and learning. Thank you.
This is something I'm currently struggling with in my 3D printing/3D modeling business, so thank you for the information. Everyone's solution is to take what you can get or lower my prices. It's refreshing to know I can learn how to navigate these conversations more confidently.
No never base your business on price alone. trust me it is a race to the bottom, if you don't charge enough and there is always someone more desperate than you willing to go lower.
@@leahweinberger583 100% true and that was my struggle. I'm still learning, but this doesn't happen as often anymore.
@@Niqueman1989 you will always be learning. I never make the same mistake twice, that's true. I DO make an entirely new mistake though. Ah entrepreneurs learn each and every day. That's the fun and the ick of it. Best game ever!
Watching Chris navigate sheds light on something that I need to put serious effort into fixing... I get way too emotional during negotiations. That is a serious weakness.
Try to remain neutral and objective.
The guys next to Chris are so relaxed, seems like they got an asmr session from the conversation.
I literally just “broke up” with a client yesterday because of a similar issue. I wish I saw this video days ago! Very informative and opened my eyes. Que sera, sera.
Thank you for this.
Whatever will be will be
Lo que será, será.
As a creative that gets this type of one-off gigs and has a hard time negotating with clients, this video is one that of the best I've come across on the internet
Chris is the only guy convincing creatives everywhere that you can use the same playbook used to sell performance marketing, to sell creative services.
This is beyond amazing. I recently went through a break up and had an epiphany about the - never settle - know your worth - love that the word you used was "disproportionate" and seeing how this isn't only a romantic relationship idea - this is a universal - finances, friends, etc! LOVE THIS, I am now confident I am heading in the right direction in life in general, you just added fuel to the fire. Pure genius videos, and I never even comment on anything ever. LOL
I love the community you build Chris! You're such an inspiration
Thank you
Liking this newer roleplay with these pro members a lot more, it's alot more realistic than some past ones by the Futur. Maybe future video you show how one of the pro members generates 2-3 customers for a client with a video ?_? with a case study/ real life example? think that would be a sick followup
Jenosyde easily a 100k view video
That Asian dude was a master negotiator. And while this was a mock conversation, it was quite realistic and practical. Subscribed.
Thank you. Welcome to the Futur Nathan.
You know what’s hilarious about this. He doesn’t ask the price. And in real life, they usually don’t because they wanna talk service, not money. It took the whole second conversation for him to ask about your worth. So this is a great vid for controlling & steering the conversation
Great topic but not realistic. CLIENTS NEVER GIVE OUT THEIR BUDGETS. They always say “ I’m not sure” because it’s part of their bargaining chip. They usually just want to get your price and decide from there. I wish to see a video where the caller is not part of a group but an actual tough client. Something more real. Just a thought.
Know any clients that would be willing to get on the phone with me?
they actually did a video on that also... getting clients to give you their budgets.
@@nreekayimmortal4386 are you a client? where are you based out of?
@@DEPARTE Did they do a video on getting clients to give you their budgets? Anyone can direct me to that video I cant seem to find it :(
@@thefutur we are based out of India.
Love the content you put out Chris!
Communication is a lost art these days. Thanks for displaying this fine art of negotiation. Respect the HUSTLE!
"You are too expensive"
"Not really. It sounds like you are shopping on price, not results?"
KNOW your worth, NEVER back down, NEVER never let them see you sweat!
Weeee, i love this
watching chris talk is so amzing, i've learnt a lot
Thank you
I am dumb when it comes to money and business so I don't know how I got here lol, but this was an interesting back and forth. What it basically looked like to me was that he was very convincing, almost finished it like a mathematical proof, that he is worth 4K per video/project, and by the end of it not only did the client see it that way but also felt like he was getting a deal! Talk about salesman skills, wow.
Just found this YT channel a couple days ago and there is a LOT of valuable knowledge and wisdom to learn from this. I know it's geared towards entrepreneurs but I'm a apprentice in the trades and I hate my job. I do have one cool talent I do for a side hustle as an entertainer; I'm a Street Magician with 20 years experience. I hope to apply these lessons to my own business and stop selling myself short.
Love the confidence behind this guys words. Big lessons here
I love the fact that you did not bend to the pressure to do it for 1k. A very good video with very great information.
Never seen this channel nor these people. Never heard of it. First video and first impression, and I love every single bit of it so much that I'm upset I didn't come across this earlier. It feels authentic, real, relaxing, to the point, and not trying to appeal to the YT algorithm or appeal to self-help addicts. The fact that Jim Rohn is mentioned is such a cherry on top as he's my favorite speaker. I love this!
That was EXCELLENT.
Calm, diplomatic, non-confrontational, gentlemanly confident. Subscribed.
I enjoy the way the video is edited. It is crazy how Chris can keeep the role, he help us vision the game and upgrade our dialogue to Pros!
This guy is the real deal. And I don't say that lightly.
Thank you
@@thefutur AND he responds to comments!
The Futur is "The Future."
by the way this back and foward phrasing was taking from a different video .. unfortunatly i dont have the link ..
Wow! My heart dropped when he said a 50% sooooongood
I swear! I was like whaaaaaaat?
I usually dont comment on videos but this is THE BEST SALES VIDEO i have ever seen
God, I have such a crush on Chris and his amazingly smooth way of negotiating. It's incredible to watch.
The pro group back and forth is so sick I love it!
Chris is crazy good at thinking on his feet. For me though, when I find an initial call going this way, I usually end it quick. From my past experiences anytime I have to try too hard to help a client understand the value, it almost never ends well. Either a lot of time wasted trying to help the client understand value, or way to much hand holding during the development process. Sometimes it's good to check out a client's experience the same way they try to check out yours.
True
Nater51 I agree with you 100%. I feel like so many sales people try and come up with quick, witty responses. When we do our homework on the client we always get a better result! Well said!
What great timing, was just dreading having this conversation with a potential client!
As a former media professional, I follow this page because it paid off in my dealings with cheap clients. I've been trying to figure out ways to apply this in my new profession, trucking. You offer your rate, and the broker hangs up on you...or tells you
"I move this load all the time at the rate that I'm offering."
The problem is the same value you can provide...or problem that you can solve, anyone with the equipment can produce the same results.
Well done. Without going too deep on the technical, nitty gritty specifications to what the client expects from you to deliver as a creative, literally just narrow it down to what they expect to get from it based on your input and sync up the logics with a journey they would understand. Awesome.
I totally understand this as a new freelancer...the artist sets the price and you just have to pay to play..if you want the best you pay for it
Chris is the goat... point blank
I agree. Fire advice! Sales is about being honest, direct, obviously deliver a good product, and then be confident in your abilities
Whilst the client I ever had: Bro, your price is out of our budget.
Me: copying Chris Do's technique.
Client: Sorry bro, unfortunately, that's our max cap. Well.. maybe not today. It's nice to see you.
Me: Smiling whilst watching my money goes.
Anyway, this is a great video! Learnt a lot.
Awesome tips!
Chris is soo awesome
The Pro members too
My favorite quote - “If they are not meeting you at your price, you don’t have to meet them at their deliverable”
mind blowing 🤯
Literally one of the best videos that i've seen on sales... like ever.
Thank you 🙏
🤯🤯 Great content!! They don’t teach this in college!!
that's why we exist.
whats up duuude!
@@arminkorsos yo yo
No article could have articulated this price negotiation better. This was amazing. Thanks the Futur and the Pro members for doing a great role play!
Watch and learn.
In my honest opinion, there should be a Netflix series about all this kinda stuff. There will be narrators and a huge ass film production team that just captures the conversations between Chris and his clients. It will be very very famous. Like totally calling it.
Let’s hope you are right
I like the sound of this idea.
Because of this video, I've learned how to value myself and defend my price.
This might be the most valuable channel on UA-cam. Can't believe it's free. Didn't learn any of this in school.
No pun intended, but this format is the future of UA-cam. At least, I hope.
This channel is so valuable. I'm not in the creative industry, and this is applying to my work right away.
Glad to hear
These conversations are terrifying to me, and always feel like I'll either cave and meet their budget or scare them away by sticking to mine. So it's 💯 awesome to see you guys play out so many possibilities... I like the cut of net new customers idea, whether it's an actual fee structure you would aim for or not, it's a brilliant negotiation tool that helps the client understand the impact/value of the work they're asking for.
This is hilarious. I’ve had 4 companies low ball me at exactly $1000 for an ad integration on my channel after quoting them a higher price.
This will give me some ammo to come back with. Thanks guys!
This is the best video that I have ever seen on dealing pricing with clients.
I need to get involved in more convos in 2020. I want to be as knowledgeable and assured as the guy on the right. This also comes from knowing your time, worth and not "needing" the job.
I was surprised Chris didn'yt offer to scale down the 4k job into a 1K, of course with much much less work
My biggest issue is not valuing my own work enough to expect someone else to want it for such a high price. This was an amazing video to see though. Now all I need is more confidence in my abilities as a photographer...
This is great!! A huge improvement to my negotiations, although I have turned away jobs due to those low budget high expectations.
The background music and the tone of this conversation are perfectly aligned. 👌🏾
Sir, you are too much.Concise educative and real-life approach to make people a total self-reliance. U are my mentor.may God keep increasing u in knowledge
Wow, thank you
Amin