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Ok freelancers and consultants, we need to have a talk about the whole “charge more!” thing.
I get it. We all feel undervalued and it’s true that people - especially women - sometimes underprice their work.
But. It’s not that simple.
I get it. We all feel undervalued and it’s true that people - especially women - sometimes underprice their work.
But. It’s not that simple.
There’s a difference between “I am worth a lot intrinsically because I have value and expertise”
and
“The price that the market will bear for the products and services I offer.”
and
“The price that the market will bear for the products and services I offer.”
I’m really good at what I do. I’ve also been doing it for more than two decades.
That expertise and my capability combined have value inherently. But they also have a maximum price that any one client will pay.
That’s just reality.
That expertise and my capability combined have value inherently. But they also have a maximum price that any one client will pay.
That’s just reality.
So I can probably charge more than a freelancer just starting out with limited experience.
But there *is* an upper limit to what MY unique combination of skills and experience is worth to a market. This is why pricing is one of the four marketing Ps.
But there *is* an upper limit to what MY unique combination of skills and experience is worth to a market. This is why pricing is one of the four marketing Ps.
I get paid to speak.
It’s more than some because I deliver and I’m experienced so I have a resume to show.
It’s less than others because I don’t have THEIR experience or notoriety or resume.
I don’t have to like it, but that’s what it is.
It’s more than some because I deliver and I’m experienced so I have a resume to show.
It’s less than others because I don’t have THEIR experience or notoriety or resume.
I don’t have to like it, but that’s what it is.
It’s rose-colored to do the vapid cheerlead of “you should always charge more” and it’s a disservice to people learning to freelance or consult to pretend that the only barrier to their earning potential is their own perception and self-worth.
Stop doing that.
Stop doing that.
Do research. Ask other people if they’re willing to share their rates.
Many are.
But don’t stumble blindly into the hype of “yeah gurrrrrllll (or other pronoun) get those dollars” because it’s terribly naive and it hurts you later.
Many are.
But don’t stumble blindly into the hype of “yeah gurrrrrllll (or other pronoun) get those dollars” because it’s terribly naive and it hurts you later.
And in the spirit of transparency to help these sorts of discussions:
I have 20+ years of marketing experience and I’m a published author as well as an experienced speaker.
My hourly average when I consult (though I tend to do project pricing) is around $150-$250 an hour.
I have 20+ years of marketing experience and I’m a published author as well as an experienced speaker.
My hourly average when I consult (though I tend to do project pricing) is around $150-$250 an hour.
My average speaking fee is $10-$15k per engagement.
Workshop-style engagements (where we do exercises and actively work on solutions in the room) are $15k plus.
Virtual events these days are lower.
Yes I sometimes speak for free.
Workshop-style engagements (where we do exercises and actively work on solutions in the room) are $15k plus.
Virtual events these days are lower.
Yes I sometimes speak for free.
I also have a day job so I am very limited in what I do outside of that these days, both for ethical/conflict of interest reasons as well as simply bandwidth of time and availability.
Which means I can be more selective and hold premium prices because I don’t need the work.
Which means I can be more selective and hold premium prices because I don’t need the work.
Those rates are based on over a decade of working independently on and off, owning a consultancy, and working with lots of freelancers and contractors in my corporate roles to know what the market bears.
Know your worth, but do it intelligently.
/fin
Know your worth, but do it intelligently.
/fin
