Note from Jennifer: I always try to encourage writers to ask for high rates when negotiating with clients, especially when they know you are a great fit for their needs. In today’s guest blog, freelance writer Ryan Douglas shares a story almost too good to be true that really backs up my advice. Find out what happened when he got tired of a low project rate and endless scope creep. And then check out Ryan’s website for more about his work.

by Ryan Douglas

It seemed like a perfect fit.

A mutual friend had dropped my name to an agency in need of another writer. A new client had recently overhauled their website and wanted to bolster their blogging efforts.

Based on my colleague’s enthusiastic recommendation, and a small test project, we were in business. My only concern: the pay wasn’t quite what I had in mind. But, between wanting to fill some gaps on my calendar—and mention of an increased budget “down the road”—I tentatively agreed.

At first, everything seemed fine. I was given rough outlines to generate the content, both the agency and client were easy to work with, and I got paid fast (no drama involved). However, things began to change…

Hello, Scope Creep

As time went on, I somehow found myself involved in more tasks, like hour-long conference calls to discuss article ideas. The client also brought in a marketing consultant who was very particular about SEO and social media descriptions for the content.

Needless to say, these meetings and rewrites proved quite time-consuming. Not to mention that such tasks were never discussed during our initial interview. While I felt the pain of resentment slowly sinking in, I continued to give my best on every assignment. But the requests kept coming. Social media updates. Interviewing guests. And making even more SEO changes. I’d had enough.

The Tipping Point

After politely explaining my side of the story—and asking for more money in return (the answer was no)—I told the agency I was quitting.

I said that I wanted to grow my business, and the project budget and scope simply weren’t in-line with my expectations. However, as a goodwill gesture, I offered to finish the two posts remaining on the schedule and help find a replacement writer. I even left a nice review for them on social media (all of which was true). We finally said our goodbyes and I assumed that would be the last I’d hear of it.

Turns out I was wrong.

A Comeback Story

Not long after, I got a surprise email from the agency owner:

“Hi, Ryan,

The (client) asked me to reach out to you. We’re still in search of a new writer for their project and they’re realizing that they very much still like your writing style the best.

They’re wondering if you could be persuaded to come back on to their project as the writer if they were willing to pay you a bit more. We’re also no longer doing those brainstorming calls which should hopefully alleviate the scheduling issues and amount of time required to write the posts.

Let me know if you would be interested and if so, what your ideal rate would be.”

Hmmm. Figuring I had nothing to lose, I thought, “Why not ask for double?” If they said yes, I’d get a nice bump in earnings. If the answer was no, I’d just move on.

My reply:

“Hey, (agency)

Thanks for reaching out.

I did enjoy working with you and the (client), so yes—I would be open to the opportunity again.

Based on what we did in the past—and the average length of the posts—I’d be comfortable with $$$ per article. That would include all necessary research, work, and revisions. So, for two posts per month, we’d be looking at $$$. This is the same rate I charge my new clients and you’re already familiar with my work ethic and quality.

If this sounds good, let me know and we’ll pick up where we left off.”

Much to my surprise, they said yes (with no haggling). In hindsight, makes me wonder if I should have asked for more.

Conclusion

As strange as this all sounds, there are a couple valuable takeaways to glean from it. Especially for anyone else who finds themselves in a similar position.

1. Listen to Your Gut. I knew deep down that I wasn’t happy with the original project rate. However, I needed more work at the time and was willing to “bend” a little to fill my calendar. Settling for less than you deserve is never a good idea.

2. Always Do Your Best. The goal is to try and not get yourself in a bad spot to begin with. But if you’ve already committed to a project, give it your all until you can gracefully exit.

I’M 100% CERTAIN I WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ASKED TO COME BACK HAD I NOT DONE A GOOD JOB IN THE FIRST PLACE.

Clients may not express gratitude as often as we’d like, but they all appreciate quality work, meeting deadlines, and great communication. Be the person to deliver this experience and good things will happen.

3. Know Your Value. If you’re not getting paid appropriately – or feel underappreciated or overworked – don’t be afraid to walk away. It’s far better to wait for the right project to come along than to rush into something you may regret afterward.

Be Your Own Advocate

No doubt – it’s easier said than done when you’re just starting out. But as time goes on (and you continue to build your pipeline) it really does get easier.

In the end, I didn’t drop my client just to get more money. That would be a foolish negotiation tactic on my part. But sometimes when you do what’s right (both for the client and yourself) things have a funny way of working out for the best …for everyone involved.

 

Have you ever renegotiated terms with a client and doubled your rate? Or more? What’s keeping you from giving it a try?

If you’re looking for new clients who will pay what you’re worth, join my 3rd Annual Winter Marketing Challenge and enter to win an Amazon gift card by using my tips to market your freelance writing services.