Now, who wants great service at low prices?!!

Thanks
.-= Omar´s last blog ..Say Something =-.

I’m glad you are fighting the good fight James, because everyone else is on the free wagon these days. I’ve dropped my price for proofreading in the past just to experiment and noticed people’s desire for the service seemed to decrease equally with the price. When I priced at a premium above market rates, people balked at first, then came back later and said okay. Funny how things work.

@Joe – I’d be remiss if I ever said in my whole freelancing career that it’s a gravy train. In fact, the Unlimited Freelancer book came about because freelancing is hard – damned hard – and we wanted to show people a better way to create an easier path to success.

@Kelly – Same here. Rates influence not only the type of work you do (usually more pleasant and challenging in a good way) but the people you work with (also more pleasant!)

@Guiliette – When everyone was freaking out over the recession last year, I wondered why so many people were missing the huge opportunity that lay right in their lap.

http://menwithpens.ca/recessions-are-the-best-times-for-business

(Disclaimer: Yes, I get that some people really had absolutely good reason to freak out. I hope those people are doing better today.)

@Rebecca – It’s true that when we seek the positive with an optimist view, we tend to always see good things happening to us. It’s nice to be able to have that perspective, because it lets us deal calmly and with a positive outlook when the negative happens.

@Mary –

But having the self-esteem, confidence, and finding the balance is hard.

Want to know a secret? People can find, build and grow all these three things, all on their own, all for free. It’s not something lost that you have to find, or something you don’t have already. You do. Little steps, little steps.

@Rebecca/Barbara – I’m always wary about “charge what you’re worth” statements, because yes, they are correct – however people tend to confuse skill-worth and self-worth, and that’s where things get dangerous.

So they say, “I’m someone important, dammit!” And they are. And they raise their rates a whole bunch, putting a price tag on their personal self-worth value.

Uhh… no, I’m afraid not. Everyone has invaluable self-worth and we’re all important, but our rates should be set according to our skills, talents, and the results we provide. Not what WE feel WE’RE worth.

Because if that were the case, I’d just be absolutely unaffordable

@Kelly – My mom: “I think I’m not charging enough for my rooms.”

“No, mom, you’re not. And you know it.”

… four years later, I think she’s raised prices $10.

@Rebecca again – banana muffins?

@Sally –

Too many freelancers choke on the down-time, and totally miss out on the opportunity it creates. Then they fall straight back into the trap of being too busy, overworked, and undervalued.

YES. For the love of Pete, YES.