Episode Details

This happens a lot! a Nigerian business owner or salesperson puts up a great post on LinkedIn, Instagram, or TikTok to stay accessible to their audience. Then, a potential lead—a real person ready to spend money—comments with a simple question: "How much is the cost of this service?" Instead of closing the deal, the business owner responds with: "Kindly reach out to us via DM to discuss how we can be of service. Thank you."

You might think there’s nothing wrong with that, but you are actually costing yourself business and money. By telling a customer to DM you, you have abdicated your responsibility as the professional and given the customer "homework." In sales, every extra step you add increases the chance of attrition, where people simply drop out of your sales funnel because they don't want the extra hassle while they are scrolling through social media.

Why We Avoid Pricing in the Comments

Now, I understand the intuition. Most Nigerian business people don't want to put prices in the comments, and you are actually correct to feel that way for four main reasons:

 * The Need for Discovery: You need a proper conversation to figure out who the person is and what specific package they actually need. You can't do that effectively in a public comment section.

 * Building Value: The comment section is too "tacky" and unprofessional for the high-level conversation needed to explain why your service is unique and better than the competition.

 * Prices are Time-Bound: A price you post today might be outdated in a year, but the post will still be there. You don't want inaccurate information floating around forever.

 * Customization: For professional services like industrial cleaning or fashion, the price depends on the size of the building, the materials used, or the delivery timeline.

The Better Way: Take the Initiative

Instead of waiting for them to "rush" you, you must be the professional and take the initiative. Don't ask them to DM you; you slide into their DM.

When you see that "how much" comment, go directly to their messages and say:

"Hi, thank you for commenting on my post! I noticed you asked about the cost. I couldn’t respond there because the price depends on a few factors like the size of your space and the specific reagents we’d need to use. For me to give you an accurate quote, I’d love to have a quick chat. Are you okay with us having a conversation?"

Even if you are the one reaching out first, you don't lose status. Like I always say, if Aliko Dangote calls me first to do business, I’m not going to think he has "lower status"—I’m going to realize he’s the boss because of how he carries himself. Being the professional means being the one who moves the conversation forward.

Handling the "Just Give Me a Price" Crowd

Some people will still be stubborn and insist on a price immediately. In those cases, refocus them by giving a range. Tell them that in the last year, your cheapest job was 1.2 million and your most expensive was 12.6 million. When they see that massive gap, they will understand why a discovery conversation is actually necessary to get them an accurate quote.

Stop losing leads to unnecessary "homework." Be the professional, take the initiative, and close the deal.

If you want me to look at your specific sales process? I’m no longer on social media, but you can reach me directly for a 15-minute sales audit or a full business audit.

Call, Text, or WhatsApp me: 08064662140

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