Requests for proposal are a pain. Many agencies and freelancers are rightfully tired of jumping through hoops just to do great work. But the real problem with RFPs is that they’re often dishonest and set up from the start for a specific company to win. Here’s how you can tell if an RFP is worth pursuing and what to do should you decide to go after one.… Read more
You have it. The buyer wants it. The meeting is over. You part ways. What happens now? Many deals cannot be signed immediately and require buy-in and approval from others on the buyer’s end before closing. Here are some ways to make that happen.… Read more
Successful salespeople generally listen way more than they talk. They have a way to make prospects feel listened to and heard. They create an environment in which the buyer feels that the seller is collaborating with them to achieve a mutual goal. Their superpower? Sales conversations!… Read more
Not everyone can or needs to buy your product or service. By qualifying your leads, you determine whether you can and want to sell to someone. Qualifying lets you save time and effort by focusing on those most likely to buy.… Read more
A majority of people resent selling as well as the feeling that they’re being sold something. It doesn’t have to be like that. In this three-part series, I will reveal a method for selling that builds trust, focuses on the buyer’s needs and enables you to establish a value-based price.… Read more
In your dealings with clients, one thing is constant: you. Who you are as a person and your interpersonal skills shape interactions and outcomes. This is what I’ve learned about the importance of humility, confidence, and empathy in the world of freelancing, agencies and consulting.… Read more
The year 2019 is here. The turn of the year also marks the first anniversary of this blog. Join us on a trip down memory lane and see what insights and ideas MMXVIII brought.… Read more
In our first post in this series, we looked at how you can get the user insights you need for a successful blog. In the second part, we discussed how to find the right topics for your blog. Welcome to the final part in which we’ll put it all together in a blogging plan you can stick to.… Read more
In our first post in this series, we looked at why agency blogs so often fail. We explained why understanding your audience is critically important in order to write posts that get read. In this second part, we show you how to find the right topics for your blog.… Read more
Many agency blogs are started in the hopes of generating leads. In reality, few do. Here’s how you can turn your agency blog into a real lead-generating marketing asset in 3 simple steps.… Read more
Agencies with high pricing power can raise their prices without their clients raising their eyebrows. Pricing power also depends on the circumstances. Knowing this, “grunt work” can be sold as highly critical “nuclear event” work for which price is not an issue.
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![Consultant to agencies, Karl Sakas [credit: Karl Sakas]](https://blog.bondsai.io/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/karl-sakas.jpeg)
I recently ran into an idea so simple and powerful that I had to interview the man behind it, consultant to agencies Karl Sakas.… Read more
Keeping the pipeline of work full is a challenge for freelancers and small agencies, especially when on a tight marketing budget. Luckily, many have networks of people who will gladly refer, or even buy from them at little cost making selling easier.… Read more
Lack of predictable income is the #1 worry among freelancers. Life as a freelancer or independent consultant has its perks. But being independent comes at the price of not getting a regular paycheck. Here are five ways to create worry-free predictable income.… Read more
When it comes to client loyalty, small actions matter. There are thousands of things you can do. Introducing the Client Happiness Idea Generator, a source of ideas for putting a smile on your client’s lips.
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The word ‘project’ is a given part of the vernacular of agencies and consultants. However, to shift focus from managing means to achieving outcomes, we need to start talking about product management, not projects.… Read more
Constant learning is a requirement for developing your business. It starts with an active agency-client feedback loop. I talked to three agencies about how to get feedback that lets them continuously improve.… Read more
To stay relevant and in business, agencies and consultants must constantly evolve and offer new services. However, making your customers realize that you can do more for them isn’t always easy.… Read more
I love reading. The wealth of concepts seem endless, and I wish I had the time to read even more than I do. Here are twelve books, the ideas and the inspiration they gave me.… Read more
I’m a big fan of value-based pricing. It encourages collaboration and a win-win approach to making business. There are, however, ways of using it that you should avoid.… Read more
We recently explained why customers hesitate and what you can do about it. A key step to overcoming buyer hesitation is to counter their fears. This infographic is a handy reference for the top 7 most common buyer fears and lists things you can do to overcome them.… Read more
We previously covered the benefits of being customer-focused. That requires insights into your customers’ goals, needs, and problems. The BDA Model is a powerful tool for generating such insights for innovation.… Read more
We’ve all been there: you’re pitching a great idea or solution with a solid business case. Still, the client has doubts and is reluctant. There’s a reason: your services are credence goods.… Read more
In the minds of many agencies, deliverables are what it’s all about. However, what matters to clients usually takes place long before and after an agency deploys their code or emails their designs. Use the Smiling Curve to uncover that value.… Read more
Four Kitchens, a distributed digital agency, has started exploring virtual and augmented reality on the web. I talked to its CEO and co-founder, Todd Nienkerk, about the possibilities and his advice to agencies interested in working with VR and AR.… Read more
