If you’re a freelancer with a wide range of skills and abilities, it can be tricky to showcase the different services your business offers. While freelancing is growing like crazy, it’s still not a concept that everybody knows inside out. What’s an easier way to showcase your services?
The reality is that many clients struggle when hiring someone for a task. Sometimes there is a lack of understanding of what is needed, or there is too much on offer, or they simply struggle with formulating a request.
How can you as a freelancer, help your potential client?
Package your products or services to make it easier for them to make the decision to hire you!
With this article you will learn:
- Benefits of offering service packages
- How to create a package [Guide + Examples]
- Basic tips when bundling services
Let’s take a look at some of the reasons why you should offer your freelance services as a package to help your clients.
Benefits of offering service packages as a freelancer
1. Easier to pick for clients
As we said before, often clients don’t really know what they need or the services they are looking for until they get it in written format. If you were to give them options in the form of packages that include different services with a detailed description of what these include and how much each of packages cost, they’ll see the light! Your client can then easily understand what they need and what package fits their requirements (and budget!)
2. Avoid miscommunication
Having your services mentioned upfront will allow your client to see everything included in the package and this will set the project scope and thus avoid project scope creep.
3. Speed up your workflow
Including the different steps of your process in the package makes it easier for you to organize your work with that particular client and helps build a solid starting point for both parties.
4. Make sure you enjoy the projects you take on
Sometimes it’s hard to say “I don’t do this or that” and you find yourself taking on work that you don’t actually enjoy. Jack of all trades? No thanks! This way you’ll be sure that you work on things you are good at.
5. Potential to earn more
And finally, in case the client needs extra services than the ones included in the package, you can make an additional charge for added services and value.
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How to package your freelance services
Bundling up a couple of things you offer into one can help your career immensely, but now you might be thinking how to sell your freelance services in a package.
Here’s how it’s done:
1. Draw on experience and research
To start with, you’ll want to determine the services you want to bundle together. This generally relies on three steps. The first is using logic – you should bundle things that are somehow connected with each other, e.g. by serving a common goal. If you do social media marketing, for example, it might make sense to offer assistance with multiple platforms in a bundle.
Secondly, you’ll want to look at your previous experience with clients – Was there a project where clients were left expecting more or paid you for additional services right after you completed the job? That’s what you want to look at and package together. Truth is, your clients often don’t know what a certain buzzword encompasses.
And finally – do your research. Look through job offers, talk to your clients and hear them, and bundle accordingly.
A great service add-on could be to offer a basic workshop deal to educate clients (e.g. on how to install and use WordPress) along with your website development services. Or perhaps, an initial strategic audit of a product that allows you to reach smaller clients.
Here an idea for a product audit bundle:
Another example, for a content strategy package:
2. Create specific bundles
We’ve already touched upon the fact that creating bundles is about simplifying the process for your clients.
You don’t want them to look at something like “I have years of experience in fields X, Y and Z, call me”. Instead you should be specific with your packages.
For example, a general but more specific package would be: “I`ll build you a website, host it and take care of any issues for X months” – now that’s a package they can click with!
Tip: Be as detailed as possible in your offer.
3. Offer the right amount of choices (anchoring)
Anchoring is a way to create different options that give varying reference points and make a certain option more appealing to the client. It sounds tricky, but it’s actually quite simple.
Here’s an example: You offer 3 packages – the basic one is for 100 dollars, advanced for 200 dollars and premium for 500 dollars. People will tend to go for the middle one (especially if you highlight it as the recommended one).
Your anchors (package one and package three) have established the sensible price range. If you only had the basic package for 100 dollars and the advanced one for 200, you’d find fewer clients pick the advanced one as compared to the first example. Understanding this method and using it is a great first step towards pricing your packages.
A service package for a website redesign could include these 3 package options:
4. Pricing your freelance service packages
Pricing, along with packaging services is one of the most difficult parts of the process. Especially when you create a bundle before adding additional services to an initial offer.
Packages solve the issue of offering different options and set clear expectations for the client but how much should each package cost?
You need to think about how many hours each element of the package will take you and then price it based on that. You might prefer charging per project instead of by the hour, but you probably have an hourly rate that you can use as a reference (see setting your rates as a freelancer).
You could also include a time frame when you detail your package so that the client understands how much work you need to put into it. In our previous example, you could say that the Basic package takes you approx. 2 months, the Professional takes you 3 months and the VIP will be completed in around 4 months.
Service packages aren’t simply the number of hours you put into them, though. It makes things easier for you and the client, but it’ll also take you some time to put them together. You’ll need to bundle the right things, come up with a strategy, market it correctly, etc. Think about all those things when setting up the price.
Tip: Don’t be afraid to test things out and make changes when needed
Bundling your freelance services can be a game-changer for your business if it’s done right. Take your time to find the right balance!
General tips when bundling services
- Base your bundles on regular requests by clients
- Be as detailed as possible about the services included
- Don’t be afraid to make changes if needed
- Think of the services that can really provide value to clients
- Consider packages with other freelancers (Designer + Developer, e.g.)
- Add a CTA in your package so that clients can directly buy it
Do you already package your freelance work? If not, go for it!
