This weekend was the laziest weekend I have had this year.

Despite that, I was able to work on:

• My Notion bundles
• My Upwork Coaching for Upwork Freelancers
• My Upwork Consultation for Upwork Agencies

There is one piece of the puzzle that is missing.

And it is the whole key to my funnel.

And I will work on it tonight and share the piece of the puzzle with you tomorrow.

Stay tuned.

P.S. I think I am more creative on lazy Sundays. Maybe I should have more of these in my weekdays.

Last year, I was learning about negotiation.

And I found a golden nugget:

During negotiation, whoever speaks first loses.

I decided to apply this.

A few days after reading this tip, I was on a client call.

I quoted him $2800 for my work.

After quoting my price, I kept quiet.

He said: This is too much, we do not have this much budget.

I still kept quiet. I did not say a single word.

It was an awkward few seconds. Then he spoke first.

So, I closed that deal at $1500 with half the workload.

Now, after reading this, don’t go cold turkey on your client during negotiation.

You have to find balance – when to speak and when to keep quiet.

Did you know?
According to Harvard's professors, Nelson Mandela was the best negotiator ever. 

When I started as a freelancer, I was confused about my fees.

What should I charge?

I read online that Freelancers make more than full-time.

That boosted my confidence to charge more.

I also got greedy, so I set my rates high, thinking – I would become a millionaire from freelancing in one year.

Reality check: I couldn’t get a single order for 2 months.

Why?

Because my rates were not showcasing my true value.

So, I sat down one day and decided to find a structured approach to tackle this problem.

And that is when I discovered the art of value-based pricing.

And I realized that if I want to make more money, this framework is the key to that.

At the time, I did not have a ton of experience, tbh, other than my portfolio, I had nothing.

Except for a few copywriting samples and a few landing pages that I wrote myself.

So, this value-based pricing framework felt like a solution from above for me.

Instead of billing my clients for the hours I worked, I was charging them based on the unique value I brought to clients.

And in the next month or so, I made $1400 from a single client.

Here is how you can apply value-based pricing as a freelancer:

Framework: Value-Based Pricing

Understand the specific value you offer to each client and price your services based on that value.

Understanding Your Value (Assess Phase)

Start by understanding what makes you unique.

Conduct a SWOT analysis to identify your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats.

Write down your top three strengths that significantly benefit your clients.

This could be your speed, quality, creativity, or a specific skill set.

Communicating Your Value (Articulate Phase)

Develop a compelling value proposition that clearly states the benefits you provide.

Craft a one-sentence value proposition.

For example, “I help businesses increase their online visibility by creating SEO-optimized content that drives organic traffic.”

Setting Value-Based Rates (Set Phase)

Use a structured approach to calculate your rates based on the value delivered.

Utilize the Value-Based Pricing Calculator in Notion.

Input your project details and the tangible benefits to the client (e.g., increased sales, improved brand visibility) to determine a fair, value-based price.

Negotiation Tactics (Negotiate Phase)

Enter negotiations with a value-first mindset.

Apply the “Three Benefits” technique.

When discussing rates with a client, emphasize three key benefits they will receive from your service.

For instance, “By working with me, you’ll gain high-quality content that boosts SEO, engages your audience, and ultimately drives more sales.”

Once you have your framework in place, now it is time to implement it using a practical tool.

Notion Template: Value-Based Pricing Calculator

To help you implement this strategy, I created a Value-Based Pricing Calculator template in Notion.

Here’s how you can use it:

1. Project Details: Input project specifics, including scope, timeline, and client goals.
2. Value Assessment: List the benefits and value your service will provide to the client.
3. Rate Calculation: Use the template to calculate a value-based price based on the benefits provided.
4. Negotiation Prep: Prepare for client negotiations by summarizing the key benefits they will receive.

By following this framework and using the Notion calculator, you can ensure:

• Your pricing strategy reflects the true value of your services
• Better client satisfaction and profitability.

Let’s connect if you want to secure 1-3 clients on Upwork.

I am taking 2 students for 1:1 Upwork coaching this month.

Not more than that.

Book a slot here.

I will work with you until you hit your Upwork goals.

Remember, bookings will close after 2 students.

Let’s make your $1k on Upwork.

Excited,

Talha X

Dreamer & Founder @ The Notion Millionaire.