Comments on: Talking About Rates: Is it Ever a Good Thing?

By: sam

sam — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 03:14:33 +0000

I don’t think age has anything to do with being uncomfortable about discussing/comparing earnings or any other personal finance discussion.

When I was just out of high school, one of my best friends would tell me details about his financial situation. I’m talking, “I didn’t have the money to cover the Mastercard bill, so I’m going to need to pay a penalty next month.” detail. These conversations would make me so uncomfortable because I always saw someone’s personal financial situation as their problem and only their business.

As far as mentioning rates, that can’t be anything but a good thing. When I was first looking into the freelance writing concept, I was shocked at how low the prevailing rate seemed to be. I say ’seemed’ because I was going by looking at bids on elance and sites like that. I wouldn’t have even started freelancing if there weren’t people talking about how those rates were bottom of the barrel rates and usually bought bottom of the barrel writing.

This same disclosure that helped me decide to get started in the first place might also make someone new to the industry charge a decent rate for him or herself and manage some staying power, rather than being a quickly burned-out, bitter ex-writer.

I do agree though, that earnings don’t matter.

By: Karen Swim

Karen Swim — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 03:24:57 +0000

I really appreciated this article. While I realize that rates have so many variables it is nice to have parameters to know if you’re being grossly underpaid. When I started writing a couple of years ago I had no idea and no one to ask. I was so stinking happy that someone was actually paying me to do what I love it took me a minute to realize that I could have made more as a fry chef. I cheer on writers who are rocking in higher incomes. There’s room for us all and I happy to celebrate others successes. It also motivates me to keep challenging myself to get better. On the other hand if rates are shared in blaring red letters accompanied by long sales copy and lots of self promotional hype..well, not exactly my cup of tea. When sharing is done with a purpose to help and in good taste, it’s all good!

By: Jennifer

Jennifer — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 00:34:41 +0000

Hmmm, this will learn me to read here before I go and do something like post typical wages at NBT. Although, I did not disclose clients or even perfectly exact wages, just super typical to what I see going on. I hope it didn’t seem impolite.

I will say that when I was a new writer, way back in the day, I found it really useful when people honestly told me what they made. Going in, knowing I had a son to support, it made me more comfortable knowing what I could potentially expect. Also, it’s one of the most typical forum questions ever, “How much do writers/bloggers really make?” Everyone wants to know.

By: Robin Noelle

Robin Noelle — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 17:12:16 +0000

I publish my starting rates on my website so that potential clients can see that I am not the $10 press release writer or the .0001/word write they might be looking for. I don’t want to bother with people who are looking for that kind of content. But my rates are just that, a starting point based on the project. I also set my rates on what I need to earn. I live in Mexico, so what I need to live is different than someone who lives in San Diego. Since I have local clients, I can’t charge what I would charge in the states and expect local businesses to hire me. I don’t think it’s fair to charge a regional rate either, so my rates are fair to the market in which I live.

I love reading about what other people earn as writers. Reading enough about what other people make helps me create an average in my head of what I can expect for certain kinds of work. I am especially interested in mysterious earnings like eHow, Hub Pages, Squidoo, etc…

By: Dawn Allcot

Dawn Allcot — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 16:01:49 +0000

Deb,
I want to say thank you for opening my eyes to a new perspective. I started following another freelancer’s lead and posted my monthly income. Several people have told me it is very motivational to them. But I’m sure equal numbers felt “bad” about their own earnings after hearing it. (I don’t necessary feel bad when I hear of other freelancers earning more–I use it as a benchmark to either work harder, work smarter, or strive for higher paying gigs). But that may not be the case for everyone.

I have to say–and this is a complete 180–I agree with you! Now, I’m not saying other people shouldn’t. I’m far too much of a libertarian to pass judgements like that. Just that, I feel like, right now, it is no longer the right choice for me.

So thank you once again, Deb!

Dawn

By: Pamela

Pamela — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 15:26:08 +0000

“As far as sharing earnings, as I said, it depends. I don’t think it benefits anyone to learn so and so makes $8,000 per month. It might benefit them more to learn so and so charges $75 per hour.” By Deb

I finally found something I agree with. I would not mind seeing someone say they make $8000 a month if they would tell me what they charge an hour or per word and such.

Also, what type of writing are they doing. I can say that I make $700 last week, but more important is how I made it. Did I find a client with money to spend, or did I work 60 hours and almost die doing it.

If you tell people how much you make, you should tell them how you do it so that others can benefit from your information.

By: Jodee

Jodee — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 14:02:26 +0000

I think if you are going to discuss rates and have it be a meaningful discussion, you also need to include details about the writer’s background and level of experience. It makes sense that someone with a journalism degree or technical background would be qualified for different jobs (and a different rate of pay) than someone without those qualifications. It’s probably not a fair comparison to look at rates for someone who is relatively new to someone with a number of years of experience under their belt.

By: Phil

Phil — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 13:20:55 +0000

Many good points by all. I’ve posted some generalities about income, more to show what can be done (and I don’t have a site/book/offering to sell). But, like Amy, I work a ton of hours, and unlike many others here, I’m the major source of income for my family, don’t have youngsters at home (actually taking one on a college visit in two weeks), and have already fought the “what will the market bear” battle (though it never ends).

It’s also important to recognize income vs profits. I hire subcontractors for some work, which boosts both sides of the ledger, though it boosts the income side more. Highly recommend basic acccounting for those in or planning to be in serious income-earning mode. Things like revenues, expeses, profits, opportunity costs, depreciation (how quickly is that new computer outdated) and return on investment are invaluable concepts.

By: Deb

Deb — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 12:29:43 +0000

@Marion – I understand that part,though I don’t necessarily agree. There are ways to calculate wages. I don’t understand how throwing out a figure each month will help.

To say I earned x amount of dollars only tells you I earned that much money. What would help is to say, I earn $35 per hour writing web content, $20 per hour blogging and my freelance print rates are dependent on what they magazine pays. That’s helpful. It tells me what certain jobs earn. I have no way of knowing if this is the average but I can sort of gauge what I should be earning. (These are made up figures, by the way.)

Saying I earned $8000 a month and so can you…that doesn’t tell me anything.

By: Marion

Marion — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 12:20:00 +0000

People are underpaid because society has taught us it’s impolite to talk about earnings. If we talked openly about it people, particualrily women, would find they are not being paid the same as their counterparts and would demand more.
As long is someone is willing to do a job on the cheap and keeps it to themselves, or the few high paid poeple don’t talk about how much they earn, the rest of us will be underpaid because we don’t understand what we’re worth.