Mar 13 2009
Whether To Display Your Writing Rates?
There is nothing new in the age old discussion of whether us freelance writers should display their rates or not. Quite frankly, I’m still undecided on what is better. I’ve used both options of the coin and right now, my rates are not publicly displayed because I found that I might have scared too many potential clients off, because I’m certainly not cheap. Plus I wanted to see what option works better for long term booking chances.
On the other hand, displaying your rates is a great way to pre-qualify your clients, meaning when they contact you they ARE already highly qualified to become a new client. This has worked well for me in the past and I wasn’t short of work for a long time. To be exact, pretty much for the full year of 2008. But since I went on back-to-back vacations at the end of last year business has slowed down a little, giving me much needed breathing space to organize my future. At present I believe this was due to having my rates displayed, the usual business cycles and traveling for over one month.
While initially it worried me a little, it was actually a blessing in disguise because it allowed me to take on board new writers and outsource some work to them. I also had more time to get serious with my niche sites which until then were suffering neglect. This is a win-win situation for all involved because the client gets his work done more cost effective; I earn residual money; and my writer gets paid to start his business.
“My” writer has delivered outstanding work so far and I’m in the process to take this whole relationship even further, assuring him to earn even more money with bulk work for a new personal project of mine. This will most likely have a roll-on effect on his business too, allowing him to outsource some of his work and so on.
So while displaying your rates certainly pre-qualifies potential customers, NOT displaying them also has its merits. In the end you have to ask yourself what you hope to take out of either action.
- Is it more important to you to get lots of work fast - if so, do NOT display your rates.
- Or do you rather forgo work for higher income - in that case DO display your writing rates.
Either way is perfectly fine. Remember, it has to fit YOUR business. Let me know what you feel.
