How to Negotiate as a Freelancer
Sam glover over at The Consumerist writes about how to negotiate as a consumer. A great list, especially since they also apply to Contract Workers:
- Talk to Someone Who Can Give You What You Want. Why talk to a notoriously cheapskate client looking for a layout artist when what you want is a lucrative contract worth your competitive copywriting skills?
- Be Up-Front About What You Want. Don’t be embarrassed to let a potential client know what your services are worth. He’s expecting that. Just be sure not to sound too demanding, and that you can really deliver what’s needed.
- Stay Cool. Don’t sound too excited. Phrases like “I must have this project” or “I really really really hope to work with you” leave you in a disadvantageous position. Unless you’re really willing to work for someone for less than what you’re really worth (like when you want to build a portfolio).
- Confirm Your Understanding of any Agreement in Writing. Many people have good intentions, but easily forget them when they’re not written down for posterity.
- Be Understanding. You want something. So does your client. It’s good to keep Frank Sinatra’s “My Way” in mind, but remember that agreements require meeting in the middle.
- Never Make Threats. Even if you can deliver on your threats, why would a potential client bother working with anyone who relies on them?
All freelancers and contract workers, of any kind, should be at least decent at negotiation. Knowing how to negotiate is a great way to literally get your money’s worth. A fact of life is that our time is always limited, and you have to make sure that every second of your work is reasonably compensated.
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7 opinions for How to Negotiate as a Freelancer
Prosthetic Device » Freelance Negotiation
Mar 23, 2007 at 2:04 am
[…] post at Contract Worker borrows from The Consumerist for a list of skills needed to negotiate […]
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Mar 24, 2007 at 4:05 pm
[…] Прочетете повече Рейтинг до момента: Гласуване … Ако този материал ви е допаднал, абонирайте за безплатния ни бюлетин или за RSS емисията ни, за да сте винаги информирани за най-новите теми тук. […]
Neerav
Mar 30, 2007 at 8:18 pm
#2 is really important for freelancers trying to get a budget out of a prospective client
Basically regardless of how polite you want to be, being blunt is more likely to work so I use this approach:
“We’re both professionals so let’s cut to the chase. For projects like yours, I charge a minimum of $XXXX. Is that above your limit?”
This way you can get a quick Yes/No answer and not waste time creating a proposal when their budget is 1/2 of what you’re willing to accept
Rico
Apr 2, 2007 at 4:43 am
It also helps you save time, so that you can either get down to business as soon as possible, or look for another opportunity.
Freelance Writers and Negotiation
Sep 5, 2007 at 10:52 am
[…] at Contract Worker, Rico has a great list of things to remember when a new contract is in the offing. My favorite is his […]
Anne Wayman
Sep 5, 2007 at 10:55 am
how did I miss this one? Love them all, but number 1 is my favorite!
A
http://www.thegoldenpencil.com
Where’s the Line Between Good and Bad Marketing?
Sep 17, 2007 at 10:29 am
[…] marketing anything, including a project proposal or your actual skills as a freelancer, it helps to focus on who you think are looking for what you have to offer. The Dexter treatment may have limited success because it tried to go for a broad appeal, even if […]
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