Why not ask for what you're worth?

I met the director of a market research department for a large trade publisher recently and she revealed a very interesting client-side perspective to me. This executive has a half million dollar annual budget for "consultants" and she's not afraid to spend it.

Most charge $1000/day and she's fine with that. But, she said, sometimes she deals with consultants who are new or unsure of themselves and who don't ask for enough money. With them, depending on many factors (including whether she likes them) she will offer a higher fee than she knows they'll request.

So forget your worries and fears about asking for too much money. And remember that when you're dealing with large corporations, they have already allocated money for your services. And if you don't get the work, someone else will.

Comments

[Anonymous]

Two separate agencies asked me about my rate(s) on the for various
services. Of course both wanted someone that can do it all (web design, development flash, SEO, and blogging). I then told them what the rate would be for each service and they said that my quote was too high.
One even went as far as to give me a lecture about how others quoted them for half as much for the same services.

I know there are individuals out there charging what I was requesting. As for my search engine services, I know my rates are solid. I have 5 clients on my rate for at least over a year.

I calmly thanked them for their consideration and wished them good luck in their search.

If nothing else, I was memorable, and I handled it with grace despite feeling attacked.

[Tracey]

Too true!

Also, FWIW, I have found that those who grumble about fees are generally the clients who cause problems along the way (PITA comes to mind).