If you take a look around this website of mine, you might find that things look a tad different. I added some new services pages for my copywriting, content writing, content strategy, and consulting work. I created a lengthier about page and I sprinkled in some fresh testimonials. But the biggest change?
I took my freelance rates and packages off of my website. *gasp*
While this might not seem like that big of a deal, to post or not to post your rates is a huge debate in the freelance writing world. Of course, there are pros and cons to either approach. For one, I’m a big fan of transparency. Posting your rates makes it easier for potential clients to see whether they can afford to work with you. On the flipside, you’re stuck at that price. If your rates are stated in black and white on your website, that leaves little room for negotiation.
Get a bunch of freelancers together and you’ll hear a bunch of opinions, but here’s why I decided to take my freelance rates and packages off of my website.
1. I found it pretty limiting.
While having my freelance rates on my website made it pretty clear to people what they’d be getting, I also found that I tended to attract a certain type of client. Namely, people who were looking for support with one-off writing or editing projects. And while the variety of work was exciting, I quickly burned out.
Now, I’m not saying that listing my rates on my website was the reason I was getting a lot of short-term work. It was my mindset that was keeping me thinking small and my rates were an extension of that. Instead of challenging myself to engage bigger clients, I got comfortable working with people who comfortably fit into my safe, little hourly rate box.
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2. My freelance rates list was getting pretty lengthy.
Every time somebody would reach out to me for a type of assignment that I didn’t have listed on my website, I would add it to my packages section. Pretty soon, this part of my website was getting out of control. On top of that I, personally, started to lose focus on what I actually wanted to do for people.
Just because I can do a lot of things, doesn’t mean I have to list all of those things on my homepage. Plus, I’m not just a content marketer/freelance writer/editor for hire. Like most people, I do my best work when I’m really engaged and excited about a particular project or client. Which means I can’t cater to everybody. And that’s more than okay.
3. Most potential clients had specific projects in mind.
When I first started this business, I read a blog post on how to package my services and thought, “Yes! This is brilliant.” I created a content strategy package, a blogging package, a website copy package, and so on. You name it, I packaged it.
Unfortunately – and this is a pretty tough one to admit – not a single person bought one of them. That’s not to say I didn’t make any money. It just meant that most people had pretty specific content marketing needs and wanted a custom solution.
Take a blog post for instance. Depending on the length, the topic, the amount of research or interviews required, or the number of revisions, the price can vary widely. However, I know it’s no good to keep potential clients in the dark so I’ve developed a handy-dandy pricing list with my content and consulting packages to give people a rough idea of what to expect. Let me know what you think of it in the comments!
Ultimately, the biggest reason why I took my rates and packages off of my homepage is that I want to change the conversation from one about price to one about value. If you just want a one-off article or email, I’m not your girl. But if you’re launching a new product or service, rolling out a new marketing campaign, or looking for a go-to copywriter to serve your agency clients, let’s chat about how I can make some magic for you.