Comments on: Writers Worth: The Trouble with Worth

By: Yolander Prinzel

Yolander Prinzel — Mon, 23 May 2016 13:55:55 +0000

Thanks, Cathy!

Trish, I think we've all been there at least once. Sometimes walking away is the only thing you can do.

I know exactly what you mean, Paula. I'm not one of those people who's probably ever going to refer to herself as a guru or expert. I resent the sheer volume of people who throw those words around on the Internet without having the experience to actually back the claims. But understanding and explaining your value is definitely not boasting.

By: Lori Widmer

Lori Widmer — Sat, 21 May 2016 14:33:03 +0000

Yo, thank you. This is such a great reminder of why we need to balance our own value with that we give to the clients.

Cathy, that's exactly the sentence that hit me -- Yo is quite brilliant. :) And I love your value statement. Spot on.

Trish, great having you here! Your story underscores exactly why it's important that we understand the value of our skills. I bet if she had been asked to "donate" her own services, she'd have had a fit!

Paula, we've had that drilled into our brains, haven't we? So true. We have to be comfortable saying "I'm the one to do it because..." and list reasons that benefit the client.

Ashley, exactly. WHY we're worth it is exactly the point we need to be making.

By: Ashley Festa

Ashley Festa — Sat, 21 May 2016 02:21:09 +0000

Yo -- Exactly, valuation of worth is a two-way street. We definitely need to understand, believe and charge what we're worth (giving rise to Writers Worth Month in the first place), and also make sure the client understands WHY we're worth it.

Trish -- I hope you didn't hang around too long. I wouldn't have made it past that first "I shouldn't have to pay you" comment!

By: Paula Hendrickson

Paula Hendrickson — Fri, 20 May 2016 15:38:52 +0000

I love this perspective, Yo. And I try to convey that value in every LOI or query I send. It's taken me YEARS to get over the idea that it's not nice to boast, but it's not really boasting when you're stating facts to a potential client. (Saying the same stuff to someone who's not in a position to hire you? Yeah, then it's just boasting, not marketing.)

By: Trish

Trish — Fri, 20 May 2016 15:05:22 +0000

Sometimes you really have to work at explaining your value to a client. I had a client one time (she came to me) looking for help writing website content. She also asked me to edit a brochure for her; however, she said "I already wrote this, I just need you to look over it for me, so I shouldn't have to pay you for that." There was a complete lack of understanding that editing is a service and a skill for which a contractor should be paid. In the end, I had to walk away from this client because she consistently sought excuses not to pay me at all. Despite a clear need for a writer, she refused to see value in my service.

By: Cathy Miller

Cathy Miller — Fri, 20 May 2016 13:15:54 +0000

Love this, Yo, especially this part ~ not only will you feel better about charging what you’re worth, but clients will feel a lot better about paying it.

Business relationships have to work for both parties. Leave one out of the equation and you have no business.

Lori, to your challenge of describing in one sentence my value to clients, I'll paraphrase from my business site ~ I have the inside technical knowledge and professional writing skills to simplify my market's business communication. I frame it as getting projects off the back burner, and providing a consistent focus that helps them meet marketing goals. That allows them the time and resources for other business priorities.