I knew when I was crafting the proposal last week that it wasn’t going to fly. While the potential client had all the earmarkings of someone who understood paying fairly for services rendered, there was that underlying current of not understanding exactly what constitutes fairness. I can’t blame him for not having the knowledge of industry-standard rates for writing, but I can’t work for what he has budgeted, especially since the project required specialized industry knowledge and a background in the project he’s proposing, which I have. When he saw my proposed rate, he was disappointed. Yes, I knew you would be.
Let’s just say right here he was a nice guy and he was willing to think about my rate. Then again, that was before he saw it. His rate, it turned out, was a mere 10 percent of what I could do the job for and still survive (giving him a price break due to some existing material). So facing his “It’s out of my price range” note, I had a choice – either accept it and move on or panic and renegotiate. Guess which one I chose?
I’m all for counteroffers, but I’m totally against lowering your rates below what you can afford to work for just to win the bid. A couple of reasons why – you lock yourself in at a rate that’s nearly impossible to circumvent for any future work from this client(knowing that your client can’t afford what you’re really supposed to be charging). You’ll always be known as the writer who will break her/his neck to do a job for bargain rates. And even if this client makes scads of money off your final product, the chances of you seeing a raise are pretty slim. Not that it can’t happen, but I wouldn’t look for it.
The other reason why I don’t like lowering rates just to win work – you look desperate. Hey, maybe you are. But you’ve set the tone with your client that even you don’t respect your talents. Why should a client care if you underpriced yourself and can’t make ends meet? Think he’s going to rethink what he’s paying you and increase it because you’re such a swell person? Right. Would you rethink sending the dentist a bonus because damn, that last cleaning was amazing? I’m just saying that not respecting your abilities enough to charge what you should opens you up to a general lack of respect throughout that project, such as the “Hey, one more thing” additions that get piled on to that already large helping of underpriced work, or a general feeling from your client that you aren’t serious about your career – that it may in fact be no more than a neat hobby for you or that you’re desperate and will work for nearly any rate. Not exactly the message you want to be sending, is it?
What do you think? Would you work for 10 percent of a project’s true value just to get the experience? What are some of the offers/counteroffers you’ve received that you had to turn down?
You know my answer on this: No.
Quality work requires skills we’ve learned and earned. We deserve to be paid a living wage for our skills.
He gets what he pays for. If he’s only willing to pay 10% of the industry standard rate, that’s the quality he’ll get from whomever he hires.
Because if one is too desperate and working at too low a rate, one has to carry such a heavy workload that quality goes right out the window.
And yes, I agree — it shows a lack of respect for one’s own work,and if we don’t respect ourselves, why should anyone else respect us?
I knew your answer before I wrote the post, Devon. 🙂 We agree totally on this point. Ignorance of the market and its prices is understandable if you’ve not hired a writer before. However, it takes just a little homework to see what’s out there and what one can typically expect to pay.
Then again, we have all those writers who’d write 50 articles for $5. If we who do this for a living are measured against those who don’t value themselves, we’re all screwed.
You did the right thing, Lori.
We both know what’s going to happen. He’s going to get mediocre material and have to work really hard to get it where he wants–if that’s possible. At some point later in the project, he’ll wonder whether he should have upped his budget or reduced the workload a little to work with a true pro. You won’t know when that happens, but it will.
Look, I might negotiate a little, but not when the other side is at 10 percent of an already discounted price. Maybe you’ll get to 30 percent of your discounted price? Nope. I think your time is better spent beating the bushes trying to land other new clients and pitching to those who already value your skills.
By the way, I’ve been feeling fine recently with enough work for March and April, but Wednesday and Thursday I had a panic attack that maybe nothing would materialize for May.
I’ve been able to calm myself down and refocus. But I think the lesson is that we can’t keep doubting ourselves just because of the economy. We’ve run good business models for years, and they’re still good business models despite the crazy economy.
At least that’s what I’m telling myself!
Another resounding NO. I almost never accept counteroffers. My prices are firm based on years of experience of how long particular items will likely take me to complete. The only acceptions are potential new clients I highball just to see how much I can get and long-term clients who have brought in a lot of money for me over the years. Even then, my discounts are 10-20%. A request for a 90% discount wouldn’t even elicit a response from me.
Any suggestion of any sites freelance writers can check for regular updatings of what working rates are/ought to be??
I know it’s kinda off point, but curious.
And I guess because I’m just fresh outta college, I haven’t been too keen on a huge salary. My focus has been experience. I’m good and I know it. And all my past employers know it too.
I’m giving myself a year to get the experience and exposure. And then… kaboom!!
I hate to say it, because I agree with all of you and wouldn’t go that low either. But “you get what you pay for” isn’t always true these days – and clients know it.
There are many experienced (and panicked,)writers freshly laid off from newspapers, agencies and corporate jobs that are charging a pittance of what they should to pay the bills while they job hunt.
This in turn changes the game: because clients ARE getting decent work for chump change in many cases. I’m not saying we should feed that frenzy by contributing to it, and of course, specialized industry experience still carries clout to clients who seek it.
I’m just saying that until the economy improves – which it WILL eventually – maybe we need to find other ways to sell the value of our rates – maybe touting business stability…the fact that we’ll be there for them vs someone simply doing this until they land a job?
I’m just brainstorming here…wish I had better answers! When the economy eventually improves, many people will be back in cubicle land, and supply/demand equation may return more to our favor.
Sorry for the long post…
Devon’s answer is excellent: …if we don’t respect ourselves, why should anyone else respect us?
I’ve had to turn stuff down. I do lower my rate a little if it means I get to keep my copyright. I think that’s a fair trade and it works for me.
*smiles*
Michele
Good for you for sticking to your guns and not devaluing your work. I’d think about lowering IF the amount was within 20% of my original bid…but to work basically for free? No. I know how to work lots of other part time stuff outside of freelance.
I can’t tell you how often potential clients come back to me, having hired writers at a lower rate AND GOTTEN EXACTLY WHAT THEY PAID FOR.
And they want me to fix it.
And my rate goes up.
And I get it.
Hire me the first time at my rate and you get quality — WHAT YOU PAY FOR. Hire someone at a lower rate and you get WHAT YOU PAY FOR. Re-hire me to clean up the mess you created by trying to be cheap and it’s going to cost extra.
Amen, Devon. If you hire someone who’s not up for the job in the first place, you spin your wheels and spend extra to get everything fixed later. Bad business, if you ask me.
Michele, agreed. Lowering a little is fine. Lowering them a lot – unacceptable.
Angie, I think that’s a good barometer. If it’s within 20 percent of original rates – great measurement! And a very easy boundary to draw.