Good morning and welcome to the Monday morning marketing podcast. I'm Esther
and I'm Melanie.
And today we're asking, should we add the price to our products and services online? So better context on this one bit of context,
yeah,
so we got this question sent through from through the website asking about this topic that they as a consumer are getting really annoyed at the whole DM me for price or sent me a message for the price. They just want to know how much something costs before they make their final decision. But they would like it with less clicks and with less ways of having to go about, you know, so if you see an item for sale online, whether that be a service like a course or a product like, I don't know, let's just go with multivitamins. Would you want to see the price right there or would you want to have to D.M. the person and go through the whole conversation and a whole other explanation regarding the the item that you're trying to buy, you're interested in buying this item or that might.
Well, you wouldn't, would you? And it's weird how for some reason we expect to know and demand to know the prices of certain things in certain occasions. And when it comes to specific products or services, maybe online and you kind of expect to not know the price of some things. I think some of the problem I have when it comes to and it was a very good point you made about all the extra clicks is that people demand a message or and email.
Yeah.
And I think if more people were able to free up their phone number, I think that would help.
Oh, so you'd rather have a phone call?
I would. I, I personally would. You know, if I was looking for a new product and the only way I could get a response is by messaging them, this is just me, I would probably move on to somebody who could actually speak to.
Yeah, yeah. It's all like at the end of the day, it comes back to customer service. But for example, in our case, where we also sell websites and do in your case with the social media training, there isn't always a one package fits all price
Nop.
Yes, exactly. So the bespoke right. So we could start by saying prices start from, but that also might not be the right price. I mean, just because your prices might start from whatever doesn't mean that that person actually needs that whole package either, you know?
So it really does very much depend on what kind of product or service you're looking for. I can absolutely guarantee you. But I think sometimes people want to have a certain Cut-Off time to their day. They want to finish at certain times. They've got other priorities of work. You know, maybe it's a part time job. They've got they've got family. And that's why it's important for them to have the option to message or send an email. And I suppose having your phone available can be a little intrusive. But I mean, I've heard people say, oh, I don't want people calling me trying to sell me stuff over the phone or any any inappropriate calls. In seven and a half years of running my business, I've had one, just one and already
Really?
yeah, I've just said, "look, please remove me".
That's interesting because I mean, that might be your location, but up here in the UK, I would get a phone call every other day telling me that I've been in a car accident and they find my number through the website. I know they have it. Yeah, I just know they have, but whenever you think about it, you know, like you're saying, if you have a phone number there and they don't answer, say it's out of hours, it's after five o'clock, it's you know, people stick to normal schedules, whatever normal is these days. But if they're if they're sticking to a nine to five, say, but during that nine to five, they also know I have other things to do. Their part time job, their home schooling, they're looking after a family member,
zooming. I mean, you could be in the middle of something else.
Exactly right. So that's also why, though, that there are so many automated tools available. So if somebody sends you an email, you could have an automatic response going back saying thanks for your interest here. Three of the options that we sell or thanks for your interest. Here's a link to get on my calendar, to have a face to face conversation. And then it could be more face to face on a zoom with the person that makes it more personal as well rather than just over the phone, right? Or a chat box on the website, that has all the FAQs right there. But like you say, there could be a way and we talked to Lisa, Lisa Kelly about this a few episodes ago about her upbuilding service. And she now has an up estimator on her website so that you click through and basically, you know, you get an estimation and that's that's the best way to put it. It won't be this will not be your price. This is an estimate of what it's going to cost you if you go for these options. But it gives her an idea before she talks to them and it gives you an idea before you talk to her if it's going to even be in your budget. Because that's at the end of the day, most people just want to know if they can afford it before they go any further and waste their own time or waste your time.
So we haven't really answered this yet. Have you noticed that?
Yeah, I know it's one of those depends. It depends.
I mean, prices and everything these days. Let's face it, the customer service is still really important and you tend to get what you pay for. So,
yes,
if you see the downside to that comment, though, is that any start ups are listening to this. We don't have the budget. You know, we just don't have it, but you'd be surprised how many start up heroes are out there who will just sort of ease away face completely or just slash it in half or less. And but if you go and see the website and it's like. One hundred and twenty year now or something like that, you know? Oh
yeah,
just give me a ring. You'd be surprised what people can pull out for you.
Yeah,
honestly, you'd be really surprised.
No, and that's true. And I mean, because everybody started somewhere.
Yep.
So they always remember what it was like when they started. So they they're not going to just shoot you down. They're not going to just turn around and go, no, you don't have the budget. You know, there are some that will just be careful with that as well. There are some that I know that you know, oh, we don't do that for less than the amount ever.
That's the important thing to shop around. But you'd be surprised how many people because you can't pay it back. You know, you have to pay it forward. Yeah. And and, you know, I've done it before and I know you've done it before. Oh, definitely. And, you know, depending on the circumstances and obviously how busy somebody is as well, you'd be surprised what people can do for you. So just pick up the phone, make a phone call, you know, emails that can be ignored or go, oh,
yeah, yeah.
And if you can't get hold of them. Oh, this is me, if you can't go home and by phone, I'm less inclined to to follow up because you want to pass the phone number.
Well, OK, so there's also the issue of well, it's not not really an issue, but the fact that the world is smaller than it was pre-covid. Right. So the world has opened up and people aren't just buying local, although that's important to do so. But I mean, when it comes in terms of services and services that you and I offer, it's not just the local market that could be looking for you. So if you only have your phone number on the website, but somebody doesn't want to, you know, have the international calls
or put it through WhatsApp.
Yes. WhatsApp, we could talk about that another day. But you know what I mean. At the end of the day, a lot of people. It's their personal number.
Yeah.
Not a different separate business number that they can turn off at the end of the day. You know, so there's there's lots of things to consider, but what I think we're trying to get at is people want to get the information quickly in a way that they don't have to, you know, click too many buttons or, you know, if they have to if they have to send you an email or write you a message asking about the stuff, at least have it repopulated. Right. So all the automations in the chat box and everything are really good to do that. Have a pretty populated of I would like more information and they just have to put their name.
I've got one of the point actually. Don't be put off that not everybody has a website because not everybody does. Some people have started initially some people have put their business initially on maybe Facebook or Instagram shop. And, you know, they could be there and say it's kind of a website and a website, if you like. So don't be put off by the fact that you can't find a certain business on a Website. And again, not everybody's got the budget initially when they set up. So they set up the the Facebook or Instagram shop. And then, you know, as people give them business, they will eventually get a website, Esther.
And now they know where to come, but it is important to have the different, like I said, automations in place so that it makes it easier. The worst thing would be for you to turn right and say sent me a DM and then they have to sit and write out this big long D.M. I'm interested. You know, I find you here in this group or I saw your products or services here. So I have something that they can just click or have an you section either through your chat box on your website so they get it more of an idea. And if you're like Melanie and want people phoning you at all hours of the day and night.
But I don't. That's just it
I felt like Melanie, I'll put I'll put her her phone number at the bottom of it.
But it's just not true. And I don't I'm sure it does happen for some people, but it doesn't happen day or night. And you got the do not disturb function anyway. So you can put on a certain time, you know,
just do what works for you. But just remember that your customers like things easy and they like to be able to get all the information that they need in the touch of one button. OK, so that's it for today. Thank you for joining us. And we'll be back next week for more Monday morning marketing
Bye for now.