So how did you do on last week’s worth-enhancing exercises? I know some of you complained (too bad, Paula!), but if you took the time to do one of those things, I’d love to hear about it.
This week, let’s mix it up a bit. Some of you may find it hard to say no to a paying job, even if it’s paying well below what you’re worth. Understandable. Mind boggling, but understandable. The sure thing draws you, doesn’t it? Some of you may reason that any check is better than no check. Not so, but you’re not going to be convinced that easily.
So here’s what I suggest to those of you unable to walk away from paying work – ask for more. That’s right – stick your neck right out there and ask for more than the job is paying. If you find a client who wants to pay say 20 bucks when your rate should be more like 50, ask for 50. You should be able to face rejection (they’re not rejecting you, just the notion of paying you more) and stand up for your rates.
If it’s a magazine you’ve been working with for years, now’s the time. Thank them for the assignments, express appreciation for your working relationship, bring up the fact that you’ve been a “couple” for a while now, and ask for a raise. Go on. Ask. The worst they could do is fire you.
Oh wait – that’s a problem, right? Well, that depends. Is this a gig that’s paying you a decent enough wage? If you’re making somewhere around ten cents a word and you’re not a newbie, that’s not a decent wage. You have to be willing to risk losing something in order to gain a better fee.
So tell me, what has gotten in the way of your asking for more? Be honest. I’ll start. I’m sitting here typing this contemplating why I still work for a client when I’ve long ago exhausted my interest, my income potential, and myself. I’m sitting here, like you’re sitting there, a little nervous about cutting the ties. I’ll be working toward a slow separation, but in the meantime, the doubts are out.
So spill. Tell me why you haven’t asked for more.
Oy, my weakest area has to be when I become friends with the person. After working for them for a long period of time, it just seems to happen naturally. It’s hard to say no or to ask for more when I start seeing the person as somewhat of a friend.
It’s funny, when I start working for someone, and I don’t know them all that well, I have no problem saying no or putting my foot down on the rate. It’s just when I’ve worked for them too long that it becomes a problem.
Sometimes I ask for more when, in reality, I want to leave the job but don't have the guts to just walk away. It's very passive aggressive, and I'm better about being upfront about what I really want from a job than I used to be.
You know I'm a big believer in leaving any sort of job that no longer fulfills you on BOTH economic and creative levels.
If we wanted soul-sucking jobs, we wouldn't be freelancers.
Plus, you have to LET GO of what doesn't work BEFORE there's room for something better to come along. There's this myth that you find the new job before you leave the old — it rarely works that way. Sometimes the Universe wants to test your belief in yourself. And you have to make that leap — the Fool Card in the tarot deck — in order to land where you're really supposed to be.
For me it was comfortable to go for the "sure thing." Funny thing is whenever I sell myself short in terms of pay, somehow the job becomes more complicated than I counted on which leads to stress, resentment and kicking myself for a bad decision. The learning curve regarding pay has been challenging for me at times.
One place I've been writing for since the mid-90s already pays between 70-cents and $1 per word, but about a year ago when I did the math on one assignment it came in around 50-cents a word, so when the editor asked if the fee was okay (which she always asks), I asked for more. The editor said their freelance budget had been slashed, so paying more for that piece would mean less left for the next assignments. At first I was annoyed, but then I did the math on my other pieces for the same issue (one of which had been assigned much earlier), and when I averaged them out it was 75-cents per word, overall. Given the budget slashing, that wasn't bad. The editor later offered to add another $50 to the fee for that piece, but I actually declined. Why turn down an extra $50?
1) If $50 is enough to break the bank, you need another job.
2) It showed that I'm loyal – and someone they'll be more inclined to hire for future assignments. (In fact, since then they've actually assigned some pieces I didn't even have to pitch.)
3) I made my point: I noticed the rate had dropped.
You know what? It worked. And now that advertisers are starting to come back, they've been paying me slightly more for the same length articles.
Besides, it's a market I'd hate to lose. It's a prestigious, award-winning glossy, with fun assignments that let me speak in depth with people I'd never otherwise meet. They pay decent rates, and they pay faster than any other place I've ever worked for. Often within 10-14 days of invoice. (Bonus points that their checks show a very familiar icon/logo so new bank tellers often look at it and say, "Is that what I think it is? And why are they paying you?")
Wendy, I hear you. I've had to talk myself into getting assertive with the friendly ones, too. One in particular was the joking kind, but he wasn't anywhere near my actual fee. Alas, I did not leave him laughing.
I hear you, Devon. :)) I know. I have to leave that job. I do have some income issues first, then I'm outta there, other gig or not. My game plan is this – clear the holidays, then approach the client asking for appropriate compensation. I already know they're going to turn me down. Yes, it may be P/A too, but I think it's a clear message that we value our skills more than we value a dead-end job.
Kimberly, read what Devon said. It's exactly what's going on. Open yourself up and the universe will provide. 🙂
Great reasoning, Paula. I think that fifty bucks was a nice goodwill gesture on their part, and I love that you gave one in return.
When I ask for a raise, I don't just say "we've been together for a while, now", I also say "I've already been providing you with this, this, this and this, I'm always on time, you never have to sub my work, and I also do this above and beyond the original remit." I was working a regular gig for years and years and years and not had a single pay rise in all the time. When I finally got around to asking for the raise, they asked: "Well, what are we getting extra for that extra payment?". Cheeky so-and-s. Cost of living or reliablity isn't sufficient reason any more, or not over here at least.
I already turn down work that's less than £100/1,000 (apx $200). I don't usually charge hourly.
Diane, cheeky indeed! I'd say they don't really value you. I'd remind them of what they've already gotten. They have a freelancer who gives them what they want when they want it and how they want it.
Oh, Lori. You always ask such challenging questions … and set the bar so high!
Color me "chicken" because if I raise my rates, I don't say anything to anybody, even repeat offenders/clients.
Recently I decided to institute a two-hour minimum rate for any, ANY job. If someone asks, I'll explain why I'm charging "so much" for even a simple task like proofreading a five-page report. It takes the same amount of time to handle the ancillary work for any size job.
ALL my time is valuable.
I try to avoid working for friends. It never ends well for the friendship, in my experience.
Amen, amen, amen. Great system, Georganna! I think it's sensible. I have a minimum, too. I never advertise it. I just quote it as my minimum charge when the quote goes out.