You buy a packet of biscuits. Fifty pence. Lovely. But then you see a ‘convenient’ version, the same biscuits, but individually wrapped inside a bigger packet. Now it’s £1.50. You’re getting half the biscuits for three times the price because some marketing genius knows you’re too lazy to carry a Tupperware box.
And you pay it. Willingly. No one complains. Because convenience has a price, and you’ve accepted that price without so much as a grumble.
But here’s where it gets interesting. The second a business dares to apply the same logic online; charging for convenience, ease, or efficiency – people lose their sodding minds.
The Internet Has Tricked You Into Thinking Everything Should Be Free
Once upon a time, businesses sold things at a fair price. Then some bellend with a blog convinced the world that free stuff equals success. Free shipping. Free trials. Free guides. Free work upfront, so the customer can ‘see the value.’
What a load of cockbadger-level nonsense.
You know who isn’t working for free? The guru telling you to do it. He’s making money from your clicks, your views, and your desperate need for guidance because the internet has collectively brainwashed you into believing that ‘free’ is the only way to grow.
It isn’t.
People happily pay for convenience in the real world. They’ll pay double for pre-cut fruit, pay a cleaner to do what they could do themselves, and happily throw money at anything that stops them from having to think too hard. But online? Suddenly, everything should be handed over on a silver platter, gratis, with a thank-you note attached.
Customers Want Convenience – So Let Them Pay for It
You know what? Some people genuinely don’t mind paying a fair price for a good product. A good service. A provider who gives a shit.
But for some reason, businesses have been conditioned to think they must bend over backwards, slash their prices to the bone, and throw in ‘extras’ for free. You don’t see Waitrose chucking in a free steak just because you bought some potatoes, do you?
So why the hell should you give away convenience just because some numpty with a YouTube channel told you it’s the ‘key to success’?
The Biggest Hypocrites Are the Ones Preaching ‘Free’
Every time some smarmy ‘marketing expert’ or YouTube tosser tells you that offering everything for free is the key to growth, remind yourself of one thing:
They are making money off you while telling you to work for nothing.
They’re not running free webinars for the good of humanity. They’re not writing free ebooks because they love you. They’re doing it because every ‘free’ thing they offer leads you straight into their sales funnel, where they’ll flog you a £997 course on how to do the very thing they said you should give away for free.
So next time you feel guilty for charging fairly for your work, remember this:
Your time is valuable. Your expertise is valuable. Convenience costs. And the people who actually respect what you do will happily pay for it.
Stop Playing by Their Rules
The internet is full of people telling you how to run your business. Most of them have never run one themselves.
Here’s a better plan:
- Charge what your work is worth.
- Offer convenience, but make sure it has a price tag.
- Ignore the wazzocks preaching ‘free’ while raking in ad revenue.
- Run your business for your success, not their validation.
And if someone tells you, ‘But the customer is always right’? Just nod, smile, and remind them that the customer is only right when they’re paying for the privilege.
Sod the Freebies – Here’s the FAQ That’s Actually Worth Reading
Why does free content online always come with a catch?
Because nothing is truly free. Every ‘free’ download, webinar, or guide is a baited hook designed to reel you in. You pay with your time, your email address, your data, or by being funneled into an upsell. The house always wins.
Should I offer free consultations as a small business?
Only if you enjoy working for sod all. Free consultations attract tyre-kickers who just want a freebie and then vanish. Charge for your time, or at least make it redeemable against a paid service. Serious customers won’t argue.
Is charging for convenience a bad customer service move?
Not unless you think Pret charging £5 for a sodding sandwich is bad business. People pay extra for convenience everywhere—next-day delivery, pre-cut veg, airport fast tracks. If they want the easy option, they can bloody well pay for it.
Will charging a fair price scare off customers?
Only the ones who expect something for nothing. And those people never become long-term customers anyway. The ones worth your time will respect what you charge—because they understand the value of time and skill.
Why do so many ‘marketing experts’ push the idea of giving things away for free?
Because they aren’t working for free. They’re making money off every click, view, and course they flog while convincing you to undervalue yourself. It’s a con. Don’t fall for it.
What’s the real secret to running a profitable business?
Charge what your work is worth. Offer convenience with a price tag. Ignore the gobshites telling you otherwise.