Swipe Whisperer - Toronto Photographer

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Biz Series - How to Get High Ticket Clients if You Are a Freelancer

Introduction

Alright, something a little different today. Forget about the girls let’s talk money.

I sell high-ticket photoshoots and I’ve learned a thing or two about attracting high-end clients. But it didn’t happen overnight and I was dealing with lots of low-paying and annoying clients earlier in my career.

Here are 4 things you must do to be able to attract top-paying clients

You have to show competence and have a legit offer

I don’t believe a business will last if the offer/service is bullshit. People with money are not dumb and they will not buy something just because it’s expensive. I focus on giving my 110% effort to each photoshoot, I always make sure my clients get the best results possible, and I have high standards for my own work.

Sometimes on a shoot, my client would be very happy with the photos I took of them and want to wrap the day, and I would be the one to tell them something like “No, I think we can do better still, and let’s take some more shots”

I have a very consistent record of getting guys high-quality matches on the apps and I intend to keep it that way.

I have a ton of testimonials and a good portfolio on my website to show potential clients. Often I heard from clients that “Yes you are more expensive than everyone else but I like your work the most and I trust you know what you are doing”

Because I built a solid foundation and have a pretty good sales page. I often don’t even need to sell my shit on the actual sales call. Some clients are already sold before we jump on a call and I only need to work out the logistics and take the deposit when we talk on the phone.

If you want to charge a lot of money for your service, first make sure it’s one of the best options available on the market. You can not hack this, there’s no shortcut.

If I didn’t believe in my own service and my ability to get clients’ results, I would feel like a dickhead for trying to scam people out of their money. I wouldn’t speak with the same conviction when I talk to potential clients. And in this internet age, you will not be able to get away with selling bullshit. People will talk bad about your business and you will lose your reputation fast.

You have to believe in your worth and never waiver

I still get clients who ask for discounts on the sales call sometimes. I used to give in and agree to reduce my rate to get the sale. But I learned the hard way that if a potential client doesn’t see your worth despite you showing them all the proof they need. That’s a red flag and they will just create more headaches down the road.

Nowadays I simply tell clients that they can either pay my full price or look elsewhere. I don’t care, I don’t need their money they need my expertise. If I always give out discounts I’m essentially telling my own subconscious mind that I’m not worth my prices. It will affect how I view myself and make me hate my work. It will do more damage than good in the long run.

You have to stick to your guns.

Do you think brands like Rolex/Patek and Ferrari are giving out discounts to sell their watches and cars? If you want to buy from them they make you get on their 3-year waitlist and beg them to take your money.

Your goal should be to create a top-tier offer and have a strong reputation, your clients should chase after you to take their money. Even if you are not the Rolex of your niche, start acting like it first and the rest will follow.

Maybe if you are low on cash and you are a newbie, you can break this rule here and there. But don’t make a habit of it if your long-term vision is to sell a high-ticket service.

You have to show that you understand their pain

A lot of my clients come to me because they don’t know what they are doing with getting quality girls on dating apps. The reason why I have an easier time getting clients is that I also suffered from the same problems my clients are currently having.

When I speak to them, I understand what they are going through and all the frustration and loneliness they face. I can build an instant connection by showing empathy and understanding. I can make myself very relatable by speaking about my own negative experiences with online dating.

I also figured out how to fix that problem for myself and now I’m the one disqualifying and curving girls. My clients see this and they feel reassured and hopeful. They trust that I can help them as well.

You have to show genuine care and earn the trust

You have to be a good person and have strong integrity if you want your clients to trust you. As I said, people with high incomes are not stupid. Not only do you have to make your clients believe in your services, but you also have to make people trust you as a person too when you are selling high-ticket services.

I was raised to be an honest person and I do my best to never take advantage of people. I personally don’t like a lot of the companies in the dating industry because it’s very easy to exploit people who are desperate for love and many of them do. I make a point to never cross that line.

For example. I recently had a client who was sick of spinning his wheels on dating apps and he was ready to do whatever it takes to fix his problem. He wanted to book my most expensive package (my 10K offer) but I was the one to down sell him to my 4K package. The 10K offer was not suitable for him and he wouldn’t get the most out of it.

This is not an act, this is the way I do everything. You actually have to be a good person who genuinely has people's best interests to earn trust.

And this is the same reason why I’m friends with people who are older and more successful than me. They trust me and want to invest in me because they know one day I will be a valuable partner/friend to have in biz and life.

Conclusion

So yeah, these are 4 things I do that help me attract high-paying clients, get referrals, and repeat customers. Genuinely offer a great service that improves people’s lives and be a good person. Believe in your worth and be relatable. If you do these things you should be able to attract better clients too.