Pricing Your Doula Services: Tips for Longevity and Financial Stability
Release Date: 09/30/2024
Ania Freitas on Doulas, Cultural Differences, and Postnatal Care in Northern Ireland
The Birth Geeks' podcast
Welcome to another insightful episode of "The Birth Geeks"! Today, Dr. Hillary Melchiors sits down with Ania Freitas, a passionate doula originally from Madeira, Portugal, now based in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Join us as Ania shares her journey from helping her sister in Northern Ireland, discovering her calling as a doula, and navigating different cultural landscapes. We'll dive into Ania's unique experiences in the doula field, her role with Doula UK, and her contributions to the European Doula Network (EDN). She discusses the welcoming yet complex landscape of doula work in Northern...
info_outline
Mastering SEO and Analytics for Doula Marketing with Expert Darcy Sauers
The Birth Geeks' podcast
Welcome back to another exciting episode of The Birth Geeks! Today, hosts Dr. Robin Elise Weiss and Dr. Hillary Melchiors are joined by the insightful , a seasoned doula and business expert, for a deep dive into the intricacies of running a successful birth-related business. In this episode, we'll explore strategic blogging to attract local clients, the critical role of consistent thank-you campaigns, and the importance of tracking referral sources to make evidence-based business decisions. Darcy and our hosts will share valuable tips on managing data efficiently without feeling overwhelmed...
info_outline
Exploring Doula Certification and Policy Challenges in Maternal Health
The Birth Geeks' podcast
Welcome back to another insightful episode of The Birth Geeks! Today, we're thrilled to be joined by Elizabeth Mosley, an exceptional birth doula and advocate committed to systemic change in birth care. Our host, Dr. Hillary Melchiors, delves deep into the intricacies of trauma-informed care, the importance of culturally congruent support, and the ongoing challenges in doula certification and reimbursement with Elizabeth Mosley. From exploring models of doula care and the impacts of volunteer advocacy to navigating the complexities of state and national policies—this episode is packed with...
info_outline
Navigating Cultural Nuances with Doula Advocate Debbie Mitchell
The Birth Geeks' podcast
Join Dr. Hillary Melchiors as she dives deep into the enriching journey of Debbie Mitchell, an integral part of the European Doula Network. Debbie shares her insightful experiences and the remarkable collaboration between organizations like DONA, ICEA, and Red Mundial de Doulas that brought the "doula corner" to the FIGO Conference in Paris. The discussion shines a light on the enormous impact that collective efforts can have in the fields of obstetrics and gynecology. European doula shares her journey, influenced by a friend, and completed training in Slovenia. Faced challenges in...
info_outline
Stress-Free Rebranding: Insights and Tools for Birth Professionals
The Birth Geeks' podcast
Welcome back to The Birth Geeks! In today's episode, your hosts Dr. Hillary Melchiors and Dr. Robin Elise Weiss delve into the intricate world of rebranding and visual updates. We'll explore the importance of networking and leveraging connections within the industry, the necessity of updating visuals like logos and fonts across platforms, and the challenges of the rebranding process itself. Hillary shares her first-hand experience of evolving her doula business, while both hosts emphasize the critical role of professional help, cohesive messaging, and effective client communication during...
info_outline
Pricing Your Doula Services: Tips for Longevity and Financial Stability
The Birth Geeks' podcast
Welcome to another enlightening episode of The Birth Geeks, where we delve into practical and essential topics for doulas. In this episode, TBG 56, join hosts Dr. Hillary Melchiors and Dr. Robin Elise Weiss as they navigate the complex world of setting and raising doula fees. Discover why it’s crucial to understand your value and charge sustainably, how cost of living impacts your rates, and the importance of balancing personal financial goals to avoid burnout. We'll also discuss how to respond to client pushback about fees, strategies for offering discounts without undervaluing your...
info_outline
Back in Action: Catch Up with The Birth Geeks
The Birth Geeks' podcast
Welcome back to The Birth Geeks podcast! In today's episode, hosts Hillary Melchiors and Robin Elise Weiss catch up after a long break and dive into a range of exciting updates and developments in the birth and doula community. They talk about Hillary's upcoming trip to France for the European Doula Network conference and reflect on their busy year, including Hillary's rebrand of her doula agency. From discussing the challenges of balancing doula work with personal life to sharing insights from recent conferences and legislative advocacy efforts, this episode is packed with valuable...
info_outline
Post Work Rituals
The Birth Geeks' podcast
How do you stay awake on the drive home at 3am after leaving a long birth or postpartum shift? In this 47th episode of The Birth Geeks Podcast we talk about scream therapy, streaking through your house, our go-to meals and self-care routines. After helping our clients, a post-shift ritual is so important to shift your mind out of work mode and actually contributes to helping stave off burnout. Our tips and a few fun references are included in this episode!
info_outline
Confidence
The Birth Geeks' podcast
How do you define confidence for yourself? You may have a supercomputer in your pocket, but that still doesn’t mean that you have to know all the things or that all the things you can know are in there. In this episode we talk about “doula dysmorphia” and mastery development. There’s always something more to learn as a birth geek, but there are more important confidence boosting ways to learn than taking all the trainings and reading all the books. What bursts your confidence bubble and how does your sense of humor play into your work confidence, earned or otherwise.
info_outline
Money Matters
The Birth Geeks' podcast
This episode is all about MONEY! We talk about all different ways that childbirth educators and doulas feel about money. What is your money mindset? Do you have an abundance mindset too? We talk about shortcuts to keeping good records and a few key moments that you need to recognize that you should ask for help from people who’ve been there. We also delve into multiple revenue streams and passive income as a childbirth professional. If you’re a birth professional entrepreneur, this episode is especially for you!
info_outlineWelcome to another enlightening episode of The Birth Geeks, where we delve into practical and essential topics for doulas. In this episode, TBG 56, join hosts Dr. Hillary Melchiors and Dr. Robin Elise Weiss as they navigate the complex world of setting and raising doula fees.
Discover why it’s crucial to understand your value and charge sustainably, how cost of living impacts your rates, and the importance of balancing personal financial goals to avoid burnout. We'll also discuss how to respond to client pushback about fees, strategies for offering discounts without undervaluing your services, and recognizing when it’s time to increase your fees.
With insights into tailoring service packages, maintaining transparent communication, and advocating for proper compensation, this episode is packed with expert advice to help you thrive in your doula career. Stay tuned as we empower you to confidently set and adjust your rates, ensuring both your well-being and that of your clients.
Overview
- Discussion on doulas raising fees for sustainable income.
- Importance of charging a livable wage and recognizing when to adjust rates.
- Factors for increasing rates include:
- Experience from multiple births.
- Rising living costs.
- Preventing burnout and ensuring job satisfaction.
- Full calendar indicating high demand.
- Timing for rate increases should focus on future bookings.
- Awareness of local market rates and community positioning is essential.
- New skills or certifications can justify fee hikes.
- Comparison of fee structures across regions, e.g., California.
- Personal financial goals are crucial to avoid burnout.
- Use "doula-of-fee algebra" for pricing strategy.
- Consider yearly expenses in financial planning.
- Strategies for discussing rate increases with returning clients.
- Clearly explain value and handle objections confidently.
- Mistakes are part of business growth.
- Confidently state fees without justification to unsuitable clients.
- Advocate for fair compensation for doula work.
- Consider tiered packages or early signing incentives.
- Maintain prenatal visits for effective support.
- Regularly review rates based on experience and feedback.
- Communicate rate changes transparently and in advance.
- Prepare for pushback on fees with strategies.
- Prioritize financial security for mental health and sustainability.
- Utilize resources like doula fee calculators and cost of living data.
- Engage clients in discussions about fee adjustments.
Links Mentioned in this Episode