Comments on: On Rates and New Clients: Does It Ever Make Sense to Accept a “Starting” Rate?

By: Scribette

Scribette — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 21:16:17 +0000

Ann G – well congrats if you can get a quality 1000 word article done in 1 hour! I know I can’t.

That said, you probably know that you do have other non-paid tasks that you have to do during the day (finding work, emailing, talking on the phone) – thus, your overall hourly rate would be less than $60 when you take that into consideration as well.

Also – if you can complete a 1000 word article in one hour, just think about what you can make when you are paid $1 per word, $0.75 per word, $0.50 or even $0.25 per word?

By: Ann G.

Ann G. — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 11:44:06 +0000

You know, I’ve been bashed in the past for accepting wages that some feel were too low. Doesn’t matter that I’m earning more than I’d make working around here–that’s all I care about.

A few days ago, I got into another discussion with a fellow writer about wages. I landed a gig writing pages at $60 for 1,000 words which she felt was WAY to low. I can do this job in an hour, so to me it’s great and as soon as I turn one in, I’m immediately sent my next assignment.

I look at it this way. When you go grocery shopping, do you purchase from the first store you walk into even if the item is far more than you want to spend? Do you hire the first plumber to give you a quote? Do you compare insurance prices before purchasing any coverage? It’s silly to think that employers won’t do the same. We’re all in this to make as much money as possible and employers are in it to get the job done without going into debt doing so.

By: All Freelance Writing: Your Freelance Writing Resource: » Freelance Friday - June 13, 2008

Fri, 13 Jun 2008 04:24:50 +0000

[...] On Rates and New Clients: Does it Ever Make Sense to Accept a ‘Starting’ Rate? [...]

By: Deb

Deb — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 23:54:04 +0000

I’ve accepted starting rates from time to time. If my contract states my rates will rise after a certain amount of time, it can work out in the long run. Phil’s trial period suggestion is an excellent one. This way all involved get to see if the gig is worth the adjusted rate or if renegotiation is in order.

That doesn’t mean one should accept an insultingly low rate, however. Even with the promise of a raise three months down the line, there’s no excuse for slave wages.

By: Carly

Carly — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 23:49:54 +0000

This is excellent! I have one client now who initially offered me a rate that I felt was low, but I took the job anyway. I started to feel like the work wasn’t worth it, so I asked for a raise after a few weeks. The client declined, but I stuck it out, and now (less than six months after I landed the gig) I’m being paid three times as much as the original rate. Very worth it.

By: Scribette

Scribette — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 22:01:44 +0000

Phil – Good point! Trial periods are what I normally do as well. For instance, if a company wants 20 product descriptions, I will write one for the company. If they like it, I get paid for it – and then I would continue with the other ones.

By: Phil

Phil — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 21:53:24 +0000

Another solution is to work out a trial period with clients — to protect both sides.

Using a 90-day trial period helps protect writers against project scope creep while protecting the employer from getting a writer who doesn’t produce what’s expected. I’ve used such trial periods with two excellent current clients.

Such a trial period also helps protect the writer from getting in too deep before late payments get to be too much of a problem.

By: Scribette

Scribette — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 21:35:54 +0000

I agree with most of the article … (well done!)

However, companies do ‘need’ good writers as much as we ‘need’ them. Therefore, we are doing each other a favour (as I see it).

Paul – what about the situation where companies are only paying $0.02 a word? Are you willing to spend your time going through the job interview process and then find out that you will be making minimum wage? Just using this one as an example …

By: Paul

Paul — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 21:20:04 +0000

One thing that puzzles me about job posters are how often they ask for your rate. That makes me think they want to weed people out. Remember the old school way about never talking about money until you like me, I like you and there is a job offer.

By: Colleen

Colleen — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 21:06:49 +0000

Great article! I also believe in giving my all regardless of pay and I was the same when I was working in the brick and mortar world. Even if the pay isn’t amazing, I always think that with each piece I write I am improving my skills.

By: Jenny B

Jenny B — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 20:43:29 +0000

Hi Jodee
I like doing a job well. I especially love the idea of building repeat business and building a working relationship with a client. I agree with what you’ve shared.