Should You Put Your Pricing on Your Website?
One of the questions we get asked most often is, “Should I put my pricing on my website?” And, while there are a few instances where we feel like posting it can be beneficial, the answer really is that it depends. So today, we wanted to talk through when it makes sense for wedding planners to post pricing on their websites and when it doesn’t. Should you? Let’s discuss!
The Pros and Cons of Posting Your Pricing
A lot of planners post their pricing in the hopes that it eliminates couples who are price shopping (saving them time from needing to send emails and/or proposals only to find out their services are out of range). And, while this might help you avoid receiving inquiries from some couples, the truth is that most people don’t take the time to fully read your website, and posting your pricing is not a foolproof tactic. In addition, some planners will share a “starting at” price. This works for some people but, in our experience, we have found that couples get fixed on the starting price and it can become difficult to explain why you are quoting them at a higher rate.
The situation where we think posting your pricing is more appropriate? When you specialize in coordination or management services in your local area. Because, when you are offering services that are pretty straightforward and don’t require travel, your costs don’t change so neither really should your pricing. So, if that is the case and you are going to post your prices, be sure your website clearly communicates:
Who you are
Where you work
What services you offer
How much your services cost
In addition to including this information on your services page, we recommend adding it to a “Frequently asked questions” page and taking the opportunity to explain the price ranges that a client might see in your quote and why. For example, you might charge more for weddings outside a certain radius from your home and/or office or you might charge more for higher guest counts where you need another assistant. And, if you have standard fees for those extras, we recommend posting those on your FAQ page as well.
You should not post your pricing if…
If you offer a range of services or custom packages, we do not recommend posting your pricing. The reason being, we think it is great to have a call with the potential client and explain your services only after you have had the opportunity to do so. Because, when you have many services to choose from or are building a custom package, you cannot quote an accurate price until you learn about the details of their event and what they are looking for in a coordinator or planner. This is true even if you only offer full-service planning since most planning pricing is tailored to the client’s needs and specific event details.
Simply put, your websites should share who you are, where you work, what you offer and as many details to make couples feel like they should absolutely work with you! If you offer simple, straight forward packages and the pricing varies just slightly, feel free to clearly explain your pricing on your website. For many companies your pricing is more complicated and often changes due to the customization of services and the specific events details so leave your pricing off your site and give yourself the space to sell according to the project because, in the end, it is best to capture the potential client’s interest and then get them on a call to get to know them, share about who you are, what you do and to sell.
