I have to thank Kathy Kehrli for this link to a post by Angela Hoy. Angela’s a champion in our profession – she has a system in place to chase down deadbeat clients and turn up the heat, getting many of them to pay. For that, we should all be bowing down and taking turns kissing that woman’s feet. She’s telling us all flat out – don’t enable these fly-by-night job posters by accepting their wages.
But do you all listen? Many of you practice your profession the right way – you put a value on your services and you determine – not some fool wanting your work for free – what you’ll charge. But there are others out there (maybe even lurking among us?) who will take whatever comes for whatever price in some vain attempt to gain clips or some modicum of a career. Yea, that’s not working for you, is it?
Since Rome wasn’t built in a day (nor was Los Angeles, but I digress), we may need to take baby steps. I’ll be gone two weeks. Here’s the challenge to you – I want you to turn down one lousy job offer and let that job poster know A) your rates, and B) that the rates offered aren’t acceptable. You don’t have to beat them over the head. In fact, politely decline citing both reasons above. Stay professional. You’ll find it’s the one thing you have that they don’t, besides your talent.
Here’s the other part of your challenge – work just a little bit harder to find a client who pays you what you’re worth. You don’t have to secure that client (though that would give you bonus points and hey, a paycheck), but just contact clients outside your comfort zone. Screw on that confidence and ask for the job like you would one of those $5 an article rip-offs. You have the talent, dammit. It’s time someone pays you what you’re worth.
So that’s it. Turn down one lousy offer and approach one or more paying clients who put actual value on your skills. You’ve got two weeks to do it. Ready? Go!
I’ll see you all on the 17th. I’ve left you in good hands. The next two weeks you’ll be reading guest posts from some of my favorite people. I’ve seen the posts. You’re in for a treat. 🙂
I turn down those jobs daily and hunt down decent-paying work.
So, does that mean I get ice cream? 😉
We also enable people to treat us without respect, even if they pay a decent going rate. I worked for a client last year that had no respect for my time or value, though he did pay me (with much grumbling about my fee and squeezing extra work out of me). So when he emailed last week and said "Call me at your earliest convenience, we have some projects for you," but declined to include his phone number, I decided I was not going to hunt through old records for it. Instead, I emailed him two simple questions: could he wait for the work until the week of August X, because I'm booked, and could he please email me his phone number and the best times to reach him.
He failed this simple test of professional courtesy by not even replying. In my earlier days, I would have dug out old records, found his cell phone number, and frantically tried to reach him. But not these days, because I'd just be enabling more bad behavior. I don't chase anyone. It's undignified and gives them all the power – just like those $5 articles.
A couple weeks ago I replied to an ad seeking a press release writer. They didn't mention their budget, instead they asked writers to state their fees.
I did. Within a couple minutes I received a poorly written (and incredibly rude) reply saying I must be the greatest writer on earth since my rates were the highest he'd ever seen, and they already had ten replies from writers willing to do the job for a fraction of the cost. He ended his eloquent diatribe with, "Rip off!"
I kept it professional and responded by saying my rates were right on target for a professional writer with my level of experience. Then I wished him luck with whatever writer he decided to hire. (Thinking, "You'll sure need it!" as I hit send.)
As Bugs Bunny would say, "Bon Voyeggie!"
You get Moose Tracks even, Devon. Two scoops! 🙂
Eileen, excellent insight. We don't have to put up with bad behavior just because they're paying us. If they want to beat up on someone, they should've gone into boxing.
Oh Paula, you showed great will power! Yes, you're wise to educate even the idiots who would act that way. He's no employer – he's out for cheap work. Guess what? He'll reap what he sows.
They made a wrong toyn in Albu-koi-kee, didn't they Amie? 🙂
"We also enable people to treat us without respect, even if they pay a decent going rate." AMEN to that! Lost a client today because I stood my ground: they always hated my policy of charging billable time for onsite meetings, (although I always offer to meet for free via conference call if their budget is tight.)
They feel I should be pleased to drive 1hr round trip and meet for 2-3 hrs to share strategic advice -because it would result in great projects down the road.
While this client does offer legitimate work, it's small tasks here and there; nothing big or even steady.
I've diplomatically explained the freelance business model: that we can't afford to operate like a full-service agency and do onsite/spec work, because we don't charge sky-high agency rates; nor do we make fat media/production commissions. That we only earn money (and pay health insurance and eat!)when we bill for time.
When I wouldn't budget on a non-paid 3-hour kickoff meeting, they were NOT happy. Sometimes it's hard to decide what you will/won't give in on – especially in this tough economy. It's easy for clients to make us feel greedy or unreasonable if we object to their request. But I don't regret refusing – even if I lose them.
Sheri, I agree with you! I turned down a job writing business profiles for professors at an Ivy-league U because I didn't want to take the time to head down and meet the profs and then attend one of each of their classes. It was all face time I wouldn't have been paid for. And it was just to stroke the profs' egos.
The person coordinating the assignments admitted that she'd had another freelancer walk off the job because it took too much face time.
No, thanks! I'm a freelance person, not a staffer you can require to be at meetings. I'm happy to do phone conferences, but onsite meetings? Unless there's a darned good reason, nope, nope, nope!
Yah, I turned one down a couple of days ago, and again today. Actually, I refused to provide free content for a women's site on creativity for the dubious opportunity to earn 50% of any income from Google ads displayed on the page where my "contribution" appeared. She accused me of being insincere when I say I like to help people and writing "only for the money", not for the love of writing. Sheesh!
By refusing to make the long trip and sit through an even longer meeting, Sheri just carved out another five-plus hours for paying work.
One thing it didn't take me long to discover is how most meetings are a total waste of time – even for staffers!