This has been an interesting discussion. It’s ALWAYS valuable to examine assumptions and perceptions from varying perspectives. Freelance Folder has a great community in that regard.

(I feel a bit like we’ve all been in a brainstorming session.)

If you do decide to post on this on any of your blogs, be sure to link here and let me know.

Thanks again for sharing your ideas.

Sorry, Dick. Getting someone’s name wrong is always embarrassing :D

YES! The key word there is “perceived”. There is absolutely a perception of a market rate among buyers, which they will use as a guide when they have no other information.

It’s up to the writer to change that perception… to make their writing distinct from a commodity.

However, when writer’s themselves talk about a “market rate”, they are contributing to that perception, and hence to making it harder for themselves to charge more.

In other words, there’s a perception of a market rate among buyers partly because writers themselves contribute to that perception.

There is no such thing as the market rate for a car. There IS something of a market rate for a specific model of car, such as a Tata (claiming to be the world’s cheapest car), or a Mercedes (one of the more expensive cars).

Why do people buy a Mercedes, when a Tata will get them from A to B? After all, isn’t a car just a car? Isn’t it just a commodity?

No. There are many differences in design, look, feel, shape, perception, engineering and so on.

The same is true of writing. Of course there is going to be a difference between a third world writer, to whom English is a second language, with only a few months writing experience, and Laura Spencer’s writing (with her 19 years of experience).

That’s because writing is NOT a commodity. But it’s true, some clients may PERCEIVE it to be a commodity.

As writers, when we use and take phrases like “market rate” seriously, we are, unfortunately, contributing to that perception…

… which brings me back to one of the reasons clients might low ball us… because we haven’t done enough to change that perception of our writing in the client’s mind.

Secondly, I have to agree with Paul, although it’s more like writing with an aim, the copy being written has a purpose, and I suppose it’s that purpose which could influence the price. However, I also believe there is a perceived market rate by buyers, who think word for word, all writing was born equal. I guess in the end it’s basically down to which client and which provider you look at, and how they see themselves.

One bushel of wheat is essentially the same as another bushel of wheat. But one chunk of writing is almost certainly NOT the same as another chunk.

But I think we’re on the same page, because, as you say, if a person is just selling “writing”, then they are selling it AS a commodity (regardless of whether it is or not).

So I think we’re essentially saying the same thing, even though I maintain that writing is NOT a commodity, otherwise my next blog post would contain 500 words, all of which would be “hello”. Dead easy. Except nobody would read it.

@Laura, the blue book value is still framed around the manufacturer’s determined price.

Now, I know next to nothing about cars, but let’s say a 5 year old Porsche has a blue book value of 10K. That’s only because a new Porsche is, let’s say, 30K. It isn’t the market which sets this new price, it’s the manufacturer. The manufacturer sets the overall “frame” which determines the blue book value of the older cars.

Sure, if they set it a new car’s price too high, nobody might buy. But it’s still the manufacturer who sets the price. The market simply decides whether they want it at that price or not.

I’m not trying to be “controversial”. In fact, I think what you, Dave and myself are saying is close to the same thing… which is that the “manufacturers” (in our case, the writers) have more CONTROL over our prices than many writers realize, in the same way that car manufacturers do.

That’s what I meant in my previous comment. Clients may be low balling us if we are just selling “writing”, because THEY perceive it to be a commodity.

That’s why we must sell our writing, but not simply as “writing”. Clients usually want writing that achieves something, and it’s the thing that is achieved (i.e. the benefits) that writers need to be selling.

So a market rate only exists in the sense of a kind of “average” rate, for “average” writing. But if you can establish that your writing is worth 100.00 to the customer, you can charge 50.00.

Whenever writers talk about a market rate, they are contributing to keeping their earnings lower than they could be… unless the clients specifically wants “average” writing.

A few people mentioned it already, but I’ll say it again: There are people who just don’ t know the time and skill required to do the work and are surprised at the rate quoted by the professional, and there are people who shop by price alone. Then there are people looking for a break because they really don’t have the money but need the help, and those looking for partnership ventures. There are tons of reasons people ask for lowest prices, discounts, freebies, whatever.

In all cases, the correct answer is: Be professional.

Be polite, be nice, be friendly, and be respectful. Freelancers (and mostly artists) SUCK at this. (Sorry guys.) There are ways to tell people that you can’t/won’t accept a lower rate without being a snot, an arse, or an egotistical arTEESTe.

You can even say no and look really, really good to the client. You can even change their mind! “Wow, he’s so nice… Okay, well, I’ll find the money because I really want to work with him.” You catch way more flies with honey.

Know what you want to be paid, know the rate you won’t go below, and stand firm, sure. But that doesn’t mean you need to be rude, hurt your reputation, create enemies or condescend to people. And, it happens all too often.