Well, it doesn’t take me long to get back on a tear, especially when I sense an attempt to get out of paying a writer a decent wage. This week is no exception.
I don’t know what it is or why it is that some prospective clients find it their business to define our businesses for us, but it seems there are those out there who think without them, we’d be eating generic Cheerios while living in a cardboard box. I won’t detail the “special” offer I received not long ago because it would clearly identify the client, but let’s just say I was given a “You’re really lucky we’re taking you on and making your life easier!” message.
It’s not always easy to tell when someone is trying to convince you they’ll be paying you less. But after you’ve felt the singe marks from being burned, you’ll get to seeing it sooner. Meantime, keep an eye out for these red flags, which I’ve seen firsthand:
You won’t have to market for projects. Really? Since when does one project or even ongoing projects from one client make the career of any writer? You certainly do have to market. In fact, it’s a safe bet marketing got you sitting across from that client in the first place. Don’t laugh. Also, try to resist the urge to lunge across the table aiming for the jugular. I’ve handled it by saying with a smile, “Actually, yes I do. It’s how we’ve met, in fact.” A client’s project or series of projects does not an entire career make. No writer would put the bulk of their work into one basket. That’s career suicide.
We’ll have to get you to drop that rate. Funny, here I was thinking I was going to have to get you to raise yours. If the client says “I can’t afford that” that’s an entirely different statement from one saying “You’ll have to…” One is a statement of fact. The other is a statement of ridiculous proportions. You determine your rate. NO ONE tells you it’s time to lower it. Never let any client dictate your rate. If you do, you might just as well hand them your checkbook and let them run your finances.
This will make your career! Unless it’s Donald Trump looking at you saying those words, don’t believe it. The importance people place on their projects is directly proportional to the lack of importance actually attached to said projects.
We’ll pay you more later. How about now? How about you start out by paying me my rate? Show some good faith by negotiating something a lot more fair. You’re saying “Trust me!” and in the next breath saying “But for now, I’ll just do what I want and you’ll take it.” If they want to negotiate a lower rate going forward, fine. But starting out? Never believe the “We’ll bump the pay up later” line. It rarely happens. And once again, a client is treating you a bit like an employee, dictating your rate. I had one instance where contractually, my rate went up after three months. Funny how their calendar has so many more days in their months than mine, for they kept insisting that no, we didn’t start this month, we started that month. And when their self-dictated month did appear? You guessed it. No raise. Buh-bye.
We’ll need your hourly rate. Doesn’t sound heinous, does it? Hear me out. I used to think quoting hourly was a good idea. However, experience has shown that the minute the clock is ticking, the clients’ eyes are on that clock, too. Normally, not a big deal. But in one project, I was given two hours to complete a job that would’ve taken six or more to do properly. Why? Because the client said there was only two hours’ worth of money to be spent on it. The result was as expected – it wasn’t completed perfectly. When the client went ballistic, I staved off that storm by reminding them it was their time limits that tied my hands, not my lack of skills. And you can bet in their minds, they expected me to “donate” the time needed. No, because I expect business people to run their businesses properly. That includes paying what it takes to get the job done right.
What are some of the the attempts at lower payment you’ve heard?
9 responses to “The Not-so-special Offer”
I'm often puzzled and aghast by requests to complete a 10-hour project in 2 hours or less. I don't understand why some think that they can underpay or not pay for completed work.
I once had a client say that s/he could complete a specific project (new web site content of a medical nature)in less than an hour and a half and expected me to do the same. I told this person to go ahead and do it then because I could not in good conscience do an adequate job in that timeframe. S/he seemed surprised that I tossed it back.
"I can't afford that."
"If you were a professional, you'd know how to budget our time to fit into our budget." (the typical do a 10 hour project in 2 hours thing).
The ones who want me to use MY contacts to market THEIR products, instead of me just doing the writing job for which I was hired.
People who hire you to write a press release and then expect you to submit it. No, hon. I WRITE it. That's all I do. Getting it out there is YOUR job.
"We're starting up, but when we get on our feet . . ."
If I can't pass it on to the landlord, the plumber, etc., you can't pull it on me.
"It'll be really good for you to get the exposure."
Uh, no, actually, it will be rally good to be PAID for my work.
"Anyone could write this." Go ahead then. Write it yourself, save the money, and see where it gets you.
It has to be the oft quoted one of mine:
"Why should I pay your extortionate rates when I have hundreds of enthusiastic amateurs willing to do it for free?"
Nuff said.
We must not forget the bullies. The ones who claim they have business contacts that they can refer to you if you're nice to them. If not, then they can make things difficult for you. At this point, I start imagining some kind of Al Capone type character coming in to "negotiate" a deal with me.
The ones that contracted with you for an article, then send you their ads, contracts with an online magazine and other writing for you to take a "quick look" at and give your opinion.
Funny, when I quoted a consulting fee, they all went away…hmmm…
Cathy, I had that same thing happen. I finished the large project, then the email came from her: "If you were to put a caption on this photo, what do you think it would be?" Did she really think I was that stupid?
Wendy, I've not been bullied yet. I figure no one has that much clout that the entire WORLD would stop hiring us! But it's nice that these bullies have such low opinions of themselves, huh? LOL
Diane, that's when I say "Fine. You get what you pay for." I never look back at those. Crazies!
Devon, you've certainly hit on plenty I've come across, too! I don't do startups because they're so interested in wasting money on Flash websites and uber-cool business cards that they fail to have enough to pay their contractors.
Good for you, Carole! I'd have tossed that one back myself. Ridiculous parameters – there's no way any writer can do a fantastic job in two hours. You have to have enough time to visualize and build the ideas.
Someone once told me that he would "put me on the map" if I did 30 articles for free. Articles that he stated were "time-consuming." I nearly fell out of my chair laughing 🙂
I think you hit on something when you mention in the comments about spending money on flashy websites and business cards — Those are things that they can't negotiate price. I think many people feel that a writer's price is more flexible than the price of a tangible product.
Anytime someone acts like they're doing you a huge favor – run in the opposite direction.
I'm with Devon on the press releases thing. Several years ago, after quoting a rate of $250/page, a potential client assumed that included compiling a mailing list, printing out hard copies, and mailing (not e-mailing) them out. Postage, too. Um, dude, that amount wouldn't cover the paper, ink and postage let alone my expertise.
Ashley, his verbal slip was very telling – I bet they were time-consuming!
Yes, I don't know how many times I have to remind people that I write, not distribute. Same goes for editing books. If I'm editing your book, I'm fixing the copy. I'm not finding a publisher, agent, or waiting until that time to get paid.