If you feel pressure to be fast, cheap, and convenient just to compete, this episode is for you. Cutting corners as a business owner OR consumer never pays off.
We’ve felt this pressure before, too. Courtney will start to feel stressed and say to Abbey, “Business is slow! We need to cut our prices to book more projects!” Good thing there are two of us—we can talk it through and bring the stress down so we can realistically think about the future of our business.
So if you’ve been feeling that way, use us as your second person to encourage you to NOT cut your prices, but maybe even raise them?!
Maybe you will by the end of this episode!
What Happens When People Feel Stressed
2026 is really starting with a kind of stressful bang…
- Rising costs—every platform seems to be increasing its annual fees.
- Tighter budgets—clients and businesses have tighter budgets.
- Clients are shopping harder—selling is harder than it’s been before.
- AI making everything feel faster + cheaper— c’mon Chad (AKA ChatGPT)
- Pressure to discount to stay competitive— discount, payment plans, offer smaller packages, etc.
When markets tighten, people default to cutting corners: the quickest service and the lowest cost. We are guilty of this, too!
Being “fast” can sometimes mean cutting corners. That looks like…
- Cutting research
- Skipping strategy
- No depth… You are just trying to get the work done versus thinking about the best way to do it.
- Rushed delivery
- Burnout
Cheap services are almost never the most profitable path. You are thinking about the immediate month’s revenue, not sustainable growth. Listen to episode #128 to hear about a guest’s experience using Fiverr for logo design.
We are NOT the Cheapest or Quickest
Our website projects are not structured for speed or cost. And we are unapologetic about that because we know this is better for our clients.
- Project timelines average 4 months
- We require branding
- We require SEO
- We do more than 5 web pages because that’s what you need for growth and visibility.
- We include extras for free, like freebie pages, Instagram links, legal pages, etc., because conversion matters.
- We include every member of our team—specialties matter to create something that works.
- We include analytics, conversion, and follow-up meetings 4 months post-launch.
Have we lost clients because of this? Yes, we absolutely have. But that’s okay. We don’t want to work with people who don’t appreciate our thorough process.
We develop BIG websites that actually convert. Oh, and they are pretty, of course!
If we were to cut a project’s timeline or budget in half, we’d be cutting a person or a strategic part of the process, such as user experience strategy or keyword research. And we aren’t willing to sacrifice dollars for output.
Are You Cheapening or Quickening Your Services?
Ask yourself these questions to see if you’re accidentally cutting corners:
- Are you building something for the long run or just deliverable for the moment?
- Are your packages based on what you think they should be, or on what your clients want?
- Are you pricing for survival or sustainability?
- Are you attracting buyers who value depth or urgency?
If you are worried you’ve fallen into this trap, then you need a position shift.
Instead of focusing on “we can be fast” or “we can fit into your budget,” push back and position around thoughtful, strategic, and premium language.
The headline on our website service page reads: Big websites + strategy that actually convert your dream clients.
We focus on big websites, strategy, and conversion. This is what we want you to see. We are not a Website-in-a-Day business.
Here’s what we want you to take away from this episode:
If you’re underpricing:
- Audit your offerings. How much time are you spending on these projects? What’s the process? Do you have an SOP? Try to break things down into an hourly rate and see how that feels.
- Increase your prices every X projects booked.
- Clarify your process publicly… This is marketing!
If you’re rushing work:
- Build in timeline buffers—this is where SOPs come in.
- Practice communicating why your process takes time.
- Add “why” language to your proposals.
If you feel pressure to compete on speed or price:
- Strengthen your messaging and your differentiator.
- Show your depth—share your portfolio, work, and results.
- Show your systems and processes.
Stick With The Program
If you are feeling pressure to compete, be fast, and be cheap, just stick with the program. Stick with what makes you feel best in your business, and remember to grow sustainably, not to think long-term.
Don’t think about next week.
Don’t think about next month.
Think about next year.
Think about five years from now.
Understand your worth and what you bring to the table. You have so much more value than you’re likely charging for.
Don’t Miss This Episode!
Apple Podcasts | Spotify
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Abbey Oslin and Courtney Petersen are Minnesota-based marketing experts with over 20+ years of combined experience working with big brands. They are educators and co-founders of Duo Collective; a boutique organic marketing agency specializing in SEO, branding, and custom websites for women-led small businesses and creative entrepreneurs.
Ready to grow your visibility and become unforgettable?
Learn more or work with our team here.
To inquire about being a guest on Duo On Air, please fill out this application form.
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