In a discussion on one of my newest forum haunts, the writers are discussing the obvious prejudice clients seem to have about writers. If you can design a website, more often than not your clients will see the value in your work and compensate you accordingly (not always, but I digress). If you write copy for that same site, you’ll more often than not hear “Sorry! We blew the budget on site design, but hey, a good writer can handle this in no time for a hundred bucks.”
Here’s a news flash to all clients who think that’s so – you couldn’t be more wrong. Look at major sites – go on, pick your favorite. What stands out? The bells and whistles for sure, but what’s the company’s or site’s main function? Do you know? Can you read it there and have little doubt? If so, thank the writers. If not, it’s because your favorite site opted for the attitude you’re trying to sell.
I’d give you examples of lousy sites that lose it in translation, but I won’t embarrass the site owners. Let’s just say the folks who have strong business models and even stronger brand images know enough to pay their entire creative team for their services, not just one segment. And I’m not saying all designers are compensated appropriately. Some of you who are designers have the same problems with people who don’t value your work. I’m just saying in a crap shoot, you’re more likely to roll sevens and we writers are stuck with snake eyes.
I had a client possibility not long ago where he did exactly what I’m talking about – he paid a designer top dollar (his words) to create a really neat site. It was strong, it conveyed a definite feeling, and the images were distinct. But what was his message? Damned if I know. The world won’t know, either. He wanted to pay me, but in royalties. Are you kidding? And again, the reason he gave was that the design of the site cost so much.
I mean really – if I have my house painted, the roof replaced, the landscaping done, and then I tell the window installer “Sorry, I blew the budget on the rest of the house. But since you specialize, it should be an easy job for you” do you think he’s going to do anything beyond telling me where I can stick my offer?
The point is we don’t care. We can’t. What the clients have spent their money on – or not – is of no consequence to the writer any more than it would be to my dentist should I tell him that my new car payment is the reason I can’t give him more than $25 this visit. At any point in any client negotiation where the client brings up his or her financial constraints caused by outside factors beyond your control, it’s time to bring up the obvious – “Sorry, but I can’t give you a break in my fee because I just paid my kid’s college tuition/bought groceries/booked a trip to a conference/had to replace the computer equipment.” When they say they can’t understand how your issues are relevant to the job, point out how their issues aren’t relevant to you. Will you insult? At this point, it doesn’t matter. Anyone who cannot separate the collective from one segment of negotiations isn’t going to give you a fair shake – ever. If anything, your words may educate and the next writer won’t be insulted as a result. Maybe.
How often are you told something like this? How do you deal with it?
I hardline with clients like that. If I'm told the budget was blown on the design and there's nothing left to pay a writer, my response is, "Then why are you talking to me? This is my business, not my hobby."
LOVE that response! Actually, I think it makes perfect sense to be that frank. It's pretty obvious the client saying such things is not valuing your work. There's no reason to continue the banter.
Here's a conversation I had yesterday with some idiot posting on Craigslist for an editor. In his defense, it did say no pay, but of course I thought it was an oversight.
Me: Respond to ad. Links to online resume, some background information.
Him: Sends me a page to edit.
Me: Is this what you need edited? How much were you looking to pay for this?
Him: coffee
Me: (thinking he's joking) What kind of coffee? 😉 And are you planning to send it through mail?
Him: Hi
Well someday we can meet for coffee or if your middle age and like to host the travel video which i will make next year in fiji all expence paid trip to FIJI and star in travel video with lot lot and lots of coffee????
email me your picture
Me: So, you're not looking to pay anything in other words? I make my living as an editor. Honestly, I thought you were joking about expecting a professional to work for nothing. Since I have bills to pay this is something I cannot do. Best wishes finding someone else.
Him: you pick the wrong profession should have been a banker the ad said no pay
So, I guess I'm fairly frank. lol But still, he has no clue why asking someone who doesn't know him to do work for absolutely nothing in return is somehow wrong. It truly baffles me.
YOU'RE fairly frank? I thought his tone was patronizing, sexist, and damned rude! He wanted your picture so he could decide if you deserve coffee based on your looks alone. That's an ass. Oh, and if you're old (middle aged is old??) you might get a trip and coffee because hey, you're no longer someone who's a booty call?
That's a COLOSSAL ASS.
Synchronicity here… I've recently posted two articles I'd love your comments on: Google Says Quality is Dirt Cheap, Don’t Hire Copywriters and The Exploitation of Independent Contractors.
It's ridiculous what people try to get away with when "hiring" writers. (Sadly, they DO get away with it sometimes.)
There's also a really hysterical video about the vendor-client relationship in real world situations. Hilarious! If you haven't seen it, it shows people trying to tell the waiter of a fine dining restaurant the bill isn't in their budget, a woman saying she can only pay for a trim but wants highlights in her hair, and a guy trying to haggle with a video store clerk.
Yeah, I had to force myself to just delete the emails and forget it. I was fuming! The best part is that about an hour later I got a MySpace friend request from him. WOW!
And I'm sure I'll get a trip to FIJI for editing a single page. I'm also wondering what kind of "video" he's talking about. He will NOT be getting my photo.
I've been there, done that and have the scars to prove it. Late last year I started working with a company that seemed to be wonderful. They paid promptly and the relationship was wonderful. Then, I get a phone call with the founders of the company. It turns out they won't be able to pay me anymore because they invested all of their money in programming, design and IT. For months, I urged them to start spending money in promotion but to no avail. They asked me to stay on as a volunteer basis. Because I knew it would look good for me, I said yes but when it became apparent that my "consulting" weighed no more than a feather with them (as they never followed through on a recommendation I gave), I had to say good bye. Because they accounted for 1/2 of my income at the time, I'm still catching up on getting my bills up to date.
I ended the relationship in May, on good terms but still felt a little like a doormat for the unpaid time I put in (even though it was the bare minimum I would ALLOW myself to give).
I don't do that anymore. The moment they stop paying, I stop providing service.
Nikki, that's just nuts! Right there he said your services weren't valued. That's when I'd have thanked him for his input and hung up. The choice words would've come at home in private, but believe me – they would have come.
Krista, he be wantin' you! LOL It would be funny, but it was pretty clear the dude's a pig. Anyone who walks over boundaries that early in the WORKING relationship isn't going to respect anyone.
That video's legend, Christina. I posted it here a week or so ago after seeing it on another writer's site – hysterical! And damn if it's not true.
Know why they get away with it? Because foolish writers let them. It irks me no end. If it hurt only those writers, fine. But it doesn't. It's slowly decimating our entire field.
Christina, you know already what I think of the independent contractor situation you described on your blog. The Google thing is totally unsettling. I think I see where he was going with the suggestion that you pay even a stipend, but a penny? That's laughable.
Hey, everybody. I know I'm going to get stoned for saying this, but I'm really not trying to beat up on people. My guess is that some others are also thinking what I'm about to say:
Krista, the dude was an idiot, no question. But I can't understand what made you think "no pay" meant anything other than that. Don't even engage these idiots! It's a waste of your time, which you can be using to create better content for paying clients or better market yourself.
Nikki, I don't see how it could "look good" for you to continue at no pay for a previously paying client. There's no circumstance that should make you agree to work for free. That's what we've been harping on for ages–doing so devalues everyone's skills. Again, your time is much better spent marketing yourself to someone who will pay.
Sorry, guys. I mean no offense, but why did we have Writers' Worth Day a few weeks ago if not to get those messages across to both clients and other writers?
Gabriella, you have just been voted the voice of reason. 🙂
I can say from Krista's situation that I've been in cases where they state no pay but actually allude to pay in the ad. And yes, they do end up having a salary, but don't want to put that. Okay, lousy way of stating it, but it's happened to me a number of times.
I'm not sure what Nikki's particular situation is, so I can't speak to that. But you're right – free is never a good deal.
A great example is the Drudge Report – it's not much to look at (literally a page full of links and pics scattered haphazardly), but one of the most popular news sites around.
@ Gabriella
I still get most of my work from Craigslist. In the bottom section, there's a space for compensation. If the person forgets to put something in, it reverts to "no pay." Often, you'll see ads that ask for quotes or state the actual payment, but in the actual compensation blank it actually says "no pay." Usually, it is just an oversight on the poster's part. He did not specifically say no pay in the actual ad, just that he needed a page edited. Hopefully that explains why I made the assumption I did.
Hi Krista.
Yep, that explains it. Makes sense, too. Never mind my earlier comments!