Uncategorized | Words on the Page

Yes Virginia, There Really Are Stupid Questions

Posted on April 9, 2009 by lwidmer

Some of you asked about the service I’m using to identify “unknown” or otherwise blocked numbers on my cell. It’s called TrapCall, and I found it thanks to someone on Twitter who’d posted a CNN article about the service. For the majority of the wireless providers, it’s free. No more calls. None. Miraculously, it has…

Can You Hear Me Now?

Posted on April 8, 2009 by lwidmer

I don’t know whether to be confused or ticked off, though I’m leaning toward the latter. I received a number of hang-up calls to my cell phone again yesterday, and one very odd call to my home phone, which came right after a “private” call hang-up. Normally, I might think the message that was left…

What Constitutes Conflict of Interest?

Posted on April 7, 2009 by lwidmer

Over the weekend I was asked to work for a new client. Client B was the subject of an article I wrote recently for a Client A. They liked the article so much (and liked working with me, they said) that they called me first to handle their new writing project. I was tickled. The…

An Open Letter to Coffee Shop Dwellers

Posted on April 6, 2009 by lwidmer

Dear Freelance Laptop Nation: I saw you. Yes, I did. Right there in every coffee shop and in every free WiFi spot in town and all around the region. You were sitting there with me, vying for that one outlet to share among a dozen laptop users. You thought you had it figured out, didn’t…

Associating with the Right Crowd

Posted on April 3, 2009 by lwidmer

Recently, I was mailed an “invitation” to join a women’s business association. After a cursory look on the Internet to make sure they existed and appeared legitimate, I filled it out the postcard and sent it back. Then the fun began. I got a call from the group’s “Executive Vice President” who wanted to ask…

Here Comes a Rant

Posted on April 2, 2009 by lwidmer

Let me just say this: I’ve been patient. Really, for me, holding my opinion longer than a minute constitutes extreme patience. But I can’t hold it any longer. I’m about to get ugly on you – and it’s about the rates you’ll accept for the work you do. Most of you here are already savvy…

The Denegration of Freelance Writing

Posted on April 1, 2009 by lwidmer

Now I’m ticked. There are a few places in my online world where I think I’m safe from the crap offers, the low-balling freelance rates (and nonpaying posts), and writers competing to do a thankless job for exposure. Can I vomit now? It’s just creeped in to my LinkedIn experience. It was a post in…

Monthly Assessment – March

Posted on March 31, 2009 by lwidmer

Yes, it’s time once again for us to look at the month and see what went right, what went wrong. Ready? Oh, what a month. No, not work-wise. Just oh, what a month. Too much weirdness, too many failed attempts to find work, too much idle time spent dealing with unnecessary, well, crap. Here’s how…

The Price is Right

Posted on March 30, 2009 by lwidmer

Ruthibelle asked last week how to find what other writers are charging. Great question. Anne Wayman wrote a post about this a few years ago, and it holds true today. She includes a link to Eldon Sarte’s Profit Goal formula, which I think is brilliant for determining how much you need to make to pay…

Just Call Me Disappointment

Posted on March 27, 2009 by lwidmer

I knew when I was crafting the proposal last week that it wasn’t going to fly. While the potential client had all the earmarkings of someone who understood paying fairly for services rendered, there was that underlying current of not understanding exactly what constitutes fairness. I can’t blame him for not having the knowledge of…

Devon Ellington

March 27, 2009

You know my answer on this: No.

Quality work requires skills we’ve learned and earned. We deserve to be paid a living wage for our skills.

He gets what he pays for. If he’s only willing to pay 10% of the industry standard rate, that’s the quality he’ll get from whomever he hires.

Because if one is too desperate and working at too low a rate, one has to carry such a heavy workload that quality goes right out the window.

And yes, I agree — it shows a lack of respect for one’s own work,and if we don’t respect ourselves, why should anyone else respect us?

Lori

March 27, 2009

I knew your answer before I wrote the post, Devon. 🙂 We agree totally on this point. Ignorance of the market and its prices is understandable if you’ve not hired a writer before. However, it takes just a little homework to see what’s out there and what one can typically expect to pay.

Then again, we have all those writers who’d write 50 articles for $5. If we who do this for a living are measured against those who don’t value themselves, we’re all screwed.

Gabriella F.

March 27, 2009

You did the right thing, Lori.

We both know what’s going to happen. He’s going to get mediocre material and have to work really hard to get it where he wants–if that’s possible. At some point later in the project, he’ll wonder whether he should have upped his budget or reduced the workload a little to work with a true pro. You won’t know when that happens, but it will.

Look, I might negotiate a little, but not when the other side is at 10 percent of an already discounted price. Maybe you’ll get to 30 percent of your discounted price? Nope. I think your time is better spent beating the bushes trying to land other new clients and pitching to those who already value your skills.

By the way, I’ve been feeling fine recently with enough work for March and April, but Wednesday and Thursday I had a panic attack that maybe nothing would materialize for May.

I’ve been able to calm myself down and refocus. But I think the lesson is that we can’t keep doubting ourselves just because of the economy. We’ve run good business models for years, and they’re still good business models despite the crazy economy.

At least that’s what I’m telling myself!

Irreverent Freelancer

March 27, 2009

Another resounding NO. I almost never accept counteroffers. My prices are firm based on years of experience of how long particular items will likely take me to complete. The only acceptions are potential new clients I highball just to see how much I can get and long-term clients who have brought in a lot of money for me over the years. Even then, my discounts are 10-20%. A request for a 90% discount wouldn’t even elicit a response from me.

Ruthibelle

March 27, 2009

Any suggestion of any sites freelance writers can check for regular updatings of what working rates are/ought to be??

I know it’s kinda off point, but curious.

And I guess because I’m just fresh outta college, I haven’t been too keen on a huge salary. My focus has been experience. I’m good and I know it. And all my past employers know it too.

I’m giving myself a year to get the experience and exposure. And then… kaboom!!

Sheri

March 27, 2009

I hate to say it, because I agree with all of you and wouldn’t go that low either. But “you get what you pay for” isn’t always true these days – and clients know it.

There are many experienced (and panicked,)writers freshly laid off from newspapers, agencies and corporate jobs that are charging a pittance of what they should to pay the bills while they job hunt.

This in turn changes the game: because clients ARE getting decent work for chump change in many cases. I’m not saying we should feed that frenzy by contributing to it, and of course, specialized industry experience still carries clout to clients who seek it.

I’m just saying that until the economy improves – which it WILL eventually – maybe we need to find other ways to sell the value of our rates – maybe touting business stability…the fact that we’ll be there for them vs someone simply doing this until they land a job?

I’m just brainstorming here…wish I had better answers! When the economy eventually improves, many people will be back in cubicle land, and supply/demand equation may return more to our favor.

Sorry for the long post…

Michele

March 28, 2009

Devon’s answer is excellent: …if we don’t respect ourselves, why should anyone else respect us?

I’ve had to turn stuff down. I do lower my rate a little if it means I get to keep my copyright. I think that’s a fair trade and it works for me.

*smiles*
Michele

Angie Ledbetter

March 28, 2009

Good for you for sticking to your guns and not devaluing your work. I’d think about lowering IF the amount was within 20% of my original bid…but to work basically for free? No. I know how to work lots of other part time stuff outside of freelance.

Devon Ellington

March 29, 2009

I can’t tell you how often potential clients come back to me, having hired writers at a lower rate AND GOTTEN EXACTLY WHAT THEY PAID FOR.

And they want me to fix it.

And my rate goes up.

And I get it.

Hire me the first time at my rate and you get quality — WHAT YOU PAY FOR. Hire someone at a lower rate and you get WHAT YOU PAY FOR. Re-hire me to clean up the mess you created by trying to be cheap and it’s going to cost extra.

Lori

March 30, 2009

Amen, Devon. If you hire someone who’s not up for the job in the first place, you spin your wheels and spend extra to get everything fixed later. Bad business, if you ask me.

Lori

March 30, 2009

Michele, agreed. Lowering a little is fine. Lowering them a lot – unacceptable.

Angie, I think that’s a good barometer. If it’s within 20 percent of original rates – great measurement! And a very easy boundary to draw.