Freelance Does Not Mean Free

This may turn into a rant. Yesterday, I submitted a bid for some work. I took my time over it, addressing all the points in the client’s project outline. The client wanted a blogger to produce posts of a certain length, and I quoted him my normal rate for that.

The next communication I received said that my price was too high. Reading between the lines, the fact that he got in touch meant that he liked the rest of my bid, otherwise he would have ignored it. So my question is: if the client can see that I have the experience and the examples to back up my bid, why not pay me what I am worth? Or at least what I asked for?

I don’t try to gouge clients. I give them a price I can live with that they can live with too. I try to fit in with their budget where I can. (As an example, about a month ago I had a repeat client ask me to do 100 articles for a certain price. I told him my usual rates, we negotiated and compromised on 74 articles for his budget. Both of us felt we had achieved a workable solution. ) So when I set a price I take into account a balance of my experience, the norms in the industry and the client’s budget. In this particular case, my price was right in the middle of the range for this type of job.

That’s why it ticks me off when people try to buy quality writing at a cut rate price. I always do my best to meet my clients’ expectations with any freelance writing job I do. I research, double check, triple check, proofread and deliver a well researched, error-free product that meets the brief. That’s why I am worth what I charge. (Actually, I’m worth more, but that’s another story.)

There was a time when I would have taken the job anyway, just because I like to have work in hand. But I’m not doing that any more. When I do that, clients get more than they pay for and I am the one that loses out. My time is valuable. Instead of writing for peanuts, I can spend that time on developing my own products. Freelance does not mean free!

(Thanks to Kerrie for the inspiration).