If You’re Giving Away Strategy for Free, Read This
If You’re Giving Away Strategy for Free, Read This
Let’s be honest.
Most marketing providers give away their strategic thinking for free.
It happens during “discovery calls.” It sneaks into proposal writing. It shows up in Slack messages and client meetings. And before you know it, you’ve handed over your highest-value work, without charging a cent!
Why Does This Happen?
Because for a long time, strategy has been treated like the “invisible bonus” you toss in to win the project. But here’s the truth: Strategy is not a bonus. It’s the brain of the whole operation. And when you don’t charge for it, you undervalue your role and dilute your revenue potential.
Most marketing freelancers and consultants were taught to sell outputs: a website, a rebrand, a messaging doc. But in 2025, smart business owners aren’t just buying deliverables. They’re buying clarity. Direction. Growth.
That’s strategy.
What Strategy Actually Includes
Strategic work isn’t fluffy. It includes:
Identifying real opportunities to grow revenue
Clarifying what makes a brand different and how to position it
Building a system that connects messaging, website, funnels, and content
Prioritizing what will actually drive ROI, not just look good
If you’re already doing these things in your head or in your conversations, you’re offering strategy. The only question is whether you’re charging for it.
How to Start Charging for Strategy
Name It. Package your strategy work as its own service. Give it a title, scope, and price. For example, I offer a Mini Marketing Assessment for $500 and Strategy Sprints starting at $3,500.
Lead With It. Stop treating strategy like a side dish. It should be the first offer, not the last. Diagnose before you prescribe.
Productize It. Use a clear framework to guide your strategy work. I use my GROWTH Marketing Strategy Framework, which lets me walk clients through a step-by-step process instead of starting from scratch each time.
Show the Value. Share case studies or results that came from strategic work. When I scaled a client from from $3M to $25M in under three years, that didn’t happen from a shiny website alone. It came from strategic alignment.
Why This Matters Now
If you’re still giving away strategy, you’re training your clients to undervalue your thinking. You’re also leaving money, clarity, and respect on the table.
In 2025, the most successful marketers aren’t just designers or copywriters or implementers. They’re strategic partners.
You don’t need more certifications. You need a repeatable process that turns your thinking into an offer your clients will pay for.
Ready to Get Paid for Your Strategic Brain?
If you’re giving away strategy for free, you’re not just losing money, you’re missing your most valuable offer. If you’re ready to change that, let’s talk.
I'd love to help you figure out how to position, price, and sell strategy in a way that feels clear, confident, and effective.
