Comments on: Freelance Writing and Why Rate Isn’t Everything

By: lwidmer

lwidmer — Wed, 26 Aug 2020 17:48:36 +0000

In reply to Paula Hendrickson. Great way to approach that conversation, Paula. These days, I give a per-word rate, and the caveat that if the client would rather have a per-project rate, I can arrange that. It may change by a few hundred words/dollars, but that may be a savings the client is looking for.

By: Paula Hendrickson

Paula Hendrickson — Wed, 26 Aug 2020 15:22:20 +0000

I had one of those conversations with a potential new client yesterday.

When asked what my hourly rate was, I said something like, “I really don’t like stating hourly rates because it can cause sticker shock, and hourly rates penalize efficient workers and reward slower workers. I also don’t care for per-word rates because they only count the words, not the time, effort, and experience than went into producing them.” Then I said the hourly rate I use when calculated per-project fees (along with the length and complexity of each project) is “a competitive $125/hour.” She didn’t flinch. Minutes after our call she sent me paperwork to sign so it’s on file when she’s ready to assign something.

By: lwidmer

lwidmer — Tue, 25 Aug 2020 14:06:52 +0000

You like it, Joy? Thanks! I’m still playing, so this may not be the final iteration, but it’s appealing to some extent.

By: Joy Drohan

Joy Drohan — Tue, 25 Aug 2020 13:33:55 +0000

The blog redesign looks great, Lori!

By: lwidmer

lwidmer — Tue, 25 Aug 2020 12:42:03 +0000

Gabriella, you always come with great points and anecdotes. Glad to see you here. 🙂
I would have taken that job, too. I took one like it about seven years ago because there was respect, and there was a steady flow of work. And it wasn’t a client who swamped me with work so I couldn’t find other clients. That mattered.
You proved your worth to him, and that’s golden! And this: “Don’t undervalue yourself!” Perfect advice.

By: Gabriella

Gabriella — Tue, 25 Aug 2020 12:28:30 +0000

Amen, sister. I’ve taken a few jobs that were lower than my hourly or per-word rate. Early in my freelance career, I agreed to a monthly project that was maybe $.50 a word–way less than my $1 per word at the time. But it gave me a monthly base of income, and it was easily doable.

That client and I have grown together, and he’s asked me to take on more and more, my monthly take from that is about $1k more than when I started because of pay increases and added projects. We also won a writing award together.

And a side note: I think I took the job because the client showed respect for me. He initially offered me even less, and I declined the work. He came back to me a few months later and essentially said that the work he got for that lower rate wasn’t as good as my samples, and he was willing to pay more. I think that told me he’d be professional and fair. That mattered, too. But it’s also a reminder to new freelancers: Don’t undervalue yourself!

I’ll take that any day over a scattershot approach of me pitching work or hoping my regular clients contact me for an unexpected project.