By: Kimberly Ben

Kimberly Ben — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 17:14:00 +0000

I think you are right. I am reaching for much higher paying projects than I started charging as a newbie. I recently (last week) ended a client relationship after raising my fee to make room for something new.

By: Angie Ledbetter

Angie Ledbetter — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 19:19:00 +0000

I like bird dog or referral fees too.

By: Cyndy Kryder

Cyndy Kryder — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 13:46:00 +0000

I agree that lowering rates, even in this economy, is not what freelance writers should do. I will give clients “volume discounts” if I’m working on a series of projects for them; I don’t feel as though I lose dollars because there often is a synergy when writing content for a number of deliverables in the same therapeutic area (I’m a medical writer). Once in a while I’ll have a client for whom I do a lot of work ask me to pull together something they need quickly. If I can do this, say, in a couple of hours or less, and it will lead to a larger project, I might say, “This is on the house because I know when you get the work, you’ll call me to write the content.” Sure, I didn’t make a couple of immediate bucks, but I generated lots of good will with that particular client, which is important. I write it off, in my mind, as a marketing expense. That good will has enabled me to build long-lasting relationships with my clients.

Comments on: Start Cheap, Stay Cheap

By: Kimberly Ben

By: Angie Ledbetter

By: Cyndy Kryder