Under Pricing Your Writing Is A Big Mistake!
September 16, 2008 by Anne Wayman
Filed under Jobs
(www.thegoldenpencil.com)
As you who follow this blog, I’m a big proponent of charging enough for your writing. Of course, just how much is enough is an open question. My experience, however, indicates that many freelance writers consistently under-value themselves, often in an attempt to keep the cash flowing.
It doesn’t usually work that way. When you charge less for your writing than it’s worth, you expect less from yourself and your clients will follow right along with your thinking. When you charge what you’re worth, your confidence increases and so does the confidence your clients have in you. You also begin to attract better clients. I’ve seen it happen over and over again, both ways, and have experienced it myself.
I was delighted to discover I’m not alone. Steve Slaunwhite who blogs at The Wealthy Freelancer (don’t you just love the affirmation of that blog title?) says the same thing from a whole different angle in an article called: The Biggest Pricing Mistake You Can Make
Do you agree or not? And why?
Write well and often,
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Yes, yes, yes! I think underpricing is a huge reason writers get burned out and frustrated and end up giving up on their freelance career (or wanting to!). How you price your work is so closely associate with how you value it — and yourself. As I have started to treat myself and my work with more respect, the “better” clients are beating at my door! It is essential to charge what you’re worth. Essential. ESSENTIAL.
Yep… we’re on exactly the same page ;)
Anne, you say “When you charge less for your writing than it’s worth, you expect less from yourself and your clients will follow right along with your thinking.” – while this happens often I’ve also seen a different issue. A client who got me to accept to work for just a third of a fair rate, well below my costs, still expected the full service, including all the bells and whistles he could think of. Only a strong reminder that I actually sponsor him with 2/3rd of the cost for his project and that he should not spend more of “my money” on his project got him to understand and stop.
The only valid reason to accept such underpaid projects is if you need them as a reference, and even then be very sure that you do not spend your time (= your money) on empty promises.