Comments on: The Great Freelance Rate Debate

By: lwidmer

lwidmer — Mon, 18 Jan 2021 17:43:37 +0000

That’s a great point, Paula. The higher maintenance the client, the less total return on investment we get on our time and effort.

I had an editor a while ago who ran me through a series of hoops that were getting bigger each time. I would get sources approved (like your editor who didn’t like the ones she provided), then she’d shoot them down. Only job I ever walked away from, and it was after I’d finished it. Twelve times.

By: Paula Hendrickson

Paula Hendrickson — Mon, 18 Jan 2021 17:24:58 +0000

I’m in a similar boat to Krista, in that most of my clients have set rates for articles. Occasionally there’s room to negotiate. But it’s up to me to decide if those rates are worth it to me. Sometimes the are, sometimes they aren’t. So many intangibles go into the decision, too: How easy are they to work with? How quickly can I wrap up their assignments? Can I fit the work into my schedule?

And you’re right Lori. I had one client pay $2/word but the editor was such a poor communicator (she literally gave me sources that she later said weren’t good enough….so why did she tell me to include them?) that I had to rewrite the entire thing with mostly new sources. In the end my hourly rate probably wound up being less than the minimum wage. Meanwhile, I have lower-paying clients who are so easy to work with that my hourly rate ends up much higher than the $2/word gig.

By: lwidmer

lwidmer — Fri, 15 Jan 2021 14:14:28 +0000

In reply to Krista. It's not too much in their faces, and it's helpful to them. Might even save them money since YOU know what you're doing and are already trusted to edit these articles. ;)

By: Krista

Krista — Fri, 15 Jan 2021 13:51:15 +0000

In reply to lwidmer. I like it!

By: lwidmer

lwidmer — Fri, 15 Jan 2021 13:26:47 +0000

In reply to Krista.

Oh Krista, I’ve been there. Some of the more annoying revisions have come from people who were paying $1.25 per word and up. The time you put into those projects often eats up any potential revenue gain.

Love your thought. In fact, I think you can make money from it. “Look, client. From what I’ve seen, you’re being hurt by paying too little for your writing help. Have you considered increasing rates and attracting more skilled writers?” Then volunteer to be one of those writers. 😉

By: lwidmer

lwidmer — Fri, 15 Jan 2021 13:23:23 +0000

In reply to Gabriella.

It’s a good thing to ponder, Gabriella. I like your thought — notify them now that in the future, the price is going up.

That lesson is one my husband just blurted out! And nothing centers you like a simple truth, right?

By: lwidmer

lwidmer — Fri, 15 Jan 2021 13:21:38 +0000

In reply to Sharon Hurley Hall. Precisely, Sharon. We should be to a point in our careers that our skills, not our rates, are what attract clients.

By: Krista

Krista — Fri, 15 Jan 2021 12:39:17 +0000

I’m in a slightly different situation because I’m usually paid per question or per article. And I’ve found that most companies I work for have their rates in place. It’s up to me to decide whether or not to accept. What I usually do if the rate sounds somewhat workable is give an assignment or two a try and see what the hourly rate works out to and then go from there. A lot depends on how picky the client is, so the rate can be a bit deceiving. For example, there were a few projects where the rate very high. But then the client had to pick apart every little thing I did, so my “lower paying projects” actually offered a higher rate. If the rate sounds completely unreasonable, I just tell them that and quote what I’m usually paid. So far, that’s been the end of the conversation. On a different note, I’ve been on the editing/review side of some of these low paying projects, and my thought is always along the lines of, “Why didn’t you pay good writers to do it right in the first place?”

By: Gabriella

Gabriella — Fri, 15 Jan 2021 12:30:16 +0000

I’m with Sharon. Nope, not negotiating my rate for new clients. I learned this lesson from you years ago, Lori: If you’re too busy, raise your rates. Welp, I’ve got a full plate and turn down work even from regular clients right now. So why budge?

P.S. I was just running through my client list this morning thinking: Are there any of them I should notify now of a rate increase, even if it’s just to allow them to budget for it next year? And what’s a fair increase to suggest? I’m pondering.

By: Sharon Hurley Hall

Sharon Hurley Hall — Fri, 15 Jan 2021 11:52:52 +0000

As usual, you lay it out clearly, Lori. I no longer debate about my rate. Clients can decide if it works for them.