On the iPod: Down with the Ship by Enter the Haggis
I don’t know if anyone else noticed, but there’s been an ongoing discussion/debate on a former post here. It started when I opened my clam trap about Demand Studios yet again (will I never learn?). What ensued was a great conversation and maybe even a changing of opinion on the part of one poster who works for Demand. I hope so. I think he’s worth much more than he’s giving himself credit for.
In commenting to him, I told him that to me, successful freelancing is constantly looking at the projects and clients at hand, assessing the value and the pay, and acting accordingly. For instance, I had a client not long ago whose pay rates were abysmal. I liked the company and the work, but I realized this wasn’t going to wash any longer. All my other clients were paying three times what this company was paying. So I let them go.
Consider it a promotion. You’ve done the grunt work long enough and you’re ready to move up the food chain. That starts by expecting more from yourself and seeking out better-paying clients. That’s not to say you can’t negotiate a better rate with existing clients. In fact, I’d suggest it. That client I fired came back – they now pay me three times what they used to, putting them right in line with a few other clients of mine.
Our office counterparts work a job for a short time, put the experience on the resume, then work toward promotion. Why shouldn’t we?
So today, why not look at your current projects and clients. Are the projects interesting? Do they translate well on a resume or portfolio? Are they paying you enough? Why do you stay? Where else can you look for better quality work or better paying work?
When was the last time you gave yourself a promotion?
13 responses to “Worthy Tip: Time for a Promotion”
You don't find that kind of growth at a content mill. You get it by putting a little hustle into your job search and making sure that each job stretches you in a new way, so that you're worth the better rate.
I will keep saying it: people who stay at a content mill do so because they are not good enough and/or not motivated enough to hunt down decent-paying work.
If you're capable of writing a good 400 word article, why would you sell it for $15 instead of doing an hour of hustle and getting 10X that much or more?
Funny, my Demand Studios post is still stirring discussion too. ;o)
I have this promotion idea down to a science. As soon as I detect an assignment is preventing me from pursuing and devoting time to projects I know pay more, I walk away. I explain precisely why I'm doing so too, but not without fulfilling my commitments first. Like you said, you never know when a client might come back and offer to pay you the rate you're seeking.
Excellent advice all around, as usual.
I let one of my first clients go last November. I'd been writing for them for about two years and loved the fact that they supplied work on a steady basis, were easy to work with and paid on time. I'll admit that I was very comfortable with the arrangement, but they had become my lowest paying client and I knew that I was going to have to let it go if I wanted to make more money. I agree – good advice.
Lori, I love this comparison. I'm working a full time writing/editing job while beginning my freelance business. Not long ago, I asked for a promotion at my 8-5 job because I'd demonstrated the knowledge and ability to take on the new title. My boss agreed. That translates perfectly into freelancing. I'm not forgetting my 10 years of writing/editing experience as I determine which freelance jobs I accept. Thanks for backing me up!
I've let a few go over the years. There are a couple others that I still work for occasionally, but severely limit how much work I'll do for them, and when.
One of those is a glossy local quarterly – their pay is lower than nationals but in line with most regional magazines, or about 40-times mill rates. The editor knows I have to prioritize my workload, the jobs that pay best get done first. I do maybe one or two articles for them per year. It can be a nice change, and they're really easy to work with. If I'm busy, I turn them down and refer another writer. If I have a lull, I'll probably take the assignment.
Another is a high-end national architecture magazine. Beautiful book, but the majority of the budget goes to the photographers, since the photos sell the magazine. It's a great credit for the resume, fun articles to write (I love learning how and why people chose their home and what went into decorating and renovations). The pay is low, so I don't knock myself out looking for ideas for them – if something comes my way, I pitch it and see if they're interested. Again, it's a quarterly, so I can work those articles around my real work.
Devon, I have to agree. Growth does not come in a job that's so one-sided. I would wager the motivation is the reason most stay with them – fear of the unknown often stifles motivation. But I and plenty of us here have made careers without the aid of a content mill. I don't think it's any harder to find good projects that pay much better.
Kathy, I figured you were still getting comments! It was a great post. And I could've guessed you were choosy about your projects and clients – it's why you're so successful.
Kim, I remember that. I'm glad it proved to be a great decision. Funny – every time I've made a choice to expect better, I'm never disappointed in the result.
Paula, are they giving you a contributing writer credit? That would be the only reason I'd stick with writing for them. You already have the credit and like you said the money isn't exactly there. Ask. Maybe they'll supply it.
Rest assured, I get the Contributing Writer (one may be Contributing Editor) credit.
The odd jobs I do for those magazines are so sporadic I certainly don't count on them as income producers. They're nice diversions when I have the time. The architectural quarterly makes for great clips – it's astounding how many people I encounter who love that magazine.
Oh – the other day you asked what we're working on this week, but my post disappeared. This is what you mean when you say blogger ate your post?
My plan for this week is to send at least one LOI to some trades within my area of expertise. It's only Wednesday and I've already sent four and had two replies. (Okay, so one reply was saying they don't currently need freelancers, but she already knows my work and is hanging on to my resume. The other guy replied within two minutes saying he was forwarding my resume to some of his fellow editors who deal with freelancers.) Fingers crossed….
Because my rates tend to fall into a range for each project type, it's pretty easy to give myself a raise. Today I'll quote something at the top of my range, whereas I quoted it in the middle of the range 6 months ago for a similar project. As my fees creep to the top of the range with more and more projects, I'll periodically overhaul my fee schedule and repost a new one.
In an earlier post on your blog, I said I am working smarter and that came into play with exactly your topic, Lori.
I was doing a lot of what in the Corporate world we called "admin" work for a long-time client. They had been there for me in the beginning and isn't it funny how we feel so indebted? Great client to work with, but hey, this is my business, and I have to do what's best.
I had a heart-to-heart with my contact there and said I loved working with them but I had to stick with what I do – business writing. I told them it was my #1 goal for 2010 to work smarter.
They were very understanding and I still do my "real job" for them from time-to-time. It was scary, but since then I've landed a few new clients with well-paying projects and the prospect of much more.
I think I've been officially promoted. 🙂
Atta girl, Cathy. ;)) Feels pretty good, doesn't it?
Paula, great to hear!
Eileen, you don't post the rate schedule, do you? I've never been a fan of that. It's too easy to have someone look at your fee schedule and say "But it's really this, not that!" I had that with a blog client who wanted a press release. Even without a fee schedule anywhere in sight, I had one hell of a time convincing them the projects were NOT as similar as they thought.
Actually, I do post my rates. It serves as a prequalifying tool. I know as a consumer, I at least like to have an idea of what kind of budget I'll need to work with a service provider before I have that conversation with them. I hate getting my heart set on hiring a particular service person and then not being able to afford them.
I'm also working with a caliber of client nowadays that doesn't dicker over the price much. Sometimes a prospect will tell me he can't afford me, but these days it always seems to be said with respect. Sometimes I can salvage those projects by reducing the scope of work. And again, I don't post a set price, I post a range with a description. E.g., "Microsite/online sales letter: $4000-$9000 — Long copy on a website designed to sell a single product directly. This online letter is approximately equivalent to a 6 to 24 page print sales letter." For the clients who are used to paying those fees, it's a shortcut in deciding who makes their short list. If I charged too little, it would bring my credibility into question.
I have other criteria to accept clients, too. Unless things are very slow, I won't work with startups or companies that have only one product to sell. They're unlikely to give me repeat business; I prefer long term relationships, not one night stands. A prospect who has sticker shock even at the bottom of the posted price range is an unlikely fit for me. I'd rather he check my prices and not even call, rather than call and explain how his project is less complex, ask for a break, etc.
Promotion is a concept I don't hear broached a whole lot with freelancers – what a thought-provoking post. I felt guilty when I jettisoned my two most stable clients because all of the work was done under an NDA agreement and I could never use it in my portfolio. I finally realized I was being silly and that I *had* to captain and advance my career because no one else was going to do it for me.
Right now I'm up to my ears in work I don't normally do: grant writing and academia. But I really enjoy working with these clients, so there I am. I did make a deal with myself that I would limit the amount of work I did so I could still hunt down work in my preferred fields.
I would have to agree that Motivation plays a huge part in all this. I know there are people that are only in it for the money and don't care to make a career out of it and I know that there are those who use mills for extra money while they write for private clients. I don't agree with them,but I won't get into that part of it.
It's the ones that have a goal for a writing career of some sort or to have a writing business of their own. They feel that a mill type opportunity is what will prepare them to reach those goals. I'm having a hard time understanding what exactly they will get out of this experience that will help them in a career or to start a business.
I realize that your Freelancing experience is different than mine. But, is it so different after all? I've heard comments from those who work for these types of places that say they're great for learning things like deadlines, working for an editor and learning how to research. Correct me if I'm wrong, but, to me, those things are nothing like what you would experience with private clients or with other higher paying opportunities.
I'm sure that some believe that they're learning the craft, but they may have been told that by others who have had a career or still have one. Others, I suspect are using that as more of a front because they just don't want to do the work of marketing etc. If that's the case, then why have the goal, if you're not motivated to reach it? And, what's wrong with stating your opinion and offering your advice? Arrgh! I better not get into that.
Thank you for the post. Anyone serious about a career, no matter what stage you're at, needs to at least consider giving themselves a promotion. If not in the job then in your self-worth.