When you easily concede on seemingly small items like payment terms, you inadvertently tell the customer that your pricing isn't firm. This encourages them to push for more discounts, slowing down the deal. Instead, trade every concession for something of value to your business.

Frame every negotiation around four core business drivers. Offer discounts not as concessions, but as payments for the customer giving you something valuable: more volume, faster cash payments, a longer contract commitment, or a predictable closing date. This shifts the conversation from haggling to a structured, collaborative process.

Instead of offering a fake, expiring discount to create urgency, frame it as a payment for predictability. Tell the prospect you will pay them a discount in exchange for mutually aligning on a specific close date, which helps you forecast accurately. This turns a sales tactic into a valuable business exchange.

Instead of asking for a generic "review," which can feel transactional, reframe the request. Ask past customers to provide a "reference" for your "digital resume" or "online presence." This reframing highlights the personal impact on your business, making clients more willing to contribute.

View each customer interaction not as a transaction, but as a public indicator of your value. A positive experience becomes a review that directly impacts your ability to secure future sales, effectively turning value creation into a form of lead generation.

In recurring business relationships, winning every last penny is a short-sighted victory. Intentionally allowing the other party to feel they received good value builds goodwill and a positive reputation, leading to better and more frequent opportunities in the future. It inoculates you against being price-gouged upfront.

If an event can't meet your full fee, build lead generation into the contract. Jess Ekstrom suggests adding a clause that requires the client to introduce you to four other relevant events if they are satisfied with your talk. This transforms a lower-paying gig into a powerful referral engine.

Before investing time to create a perfect offer, secure a conditional commitment by asking, 'If I can deliver on these specific things we've discussed, do we have a deal?' This tactic prevents the prospect from backing out to 'think about it' and ensures your efforts are aligned with a committed buyer.

Instead of offering generic bonuses, design them specifically to address the primary reason a customer might hesitate. For instance, if they're worried about implementation time, offer a bonus of free, hands-on team training to eliminate that specific objection and close the deal.