How To Raise Your Rates
-By Lee Silber
Getting paid what we are worth is always a struggle for the creative person.
Here's some suggestions to "raise the roof" and make more money from what we do.
1. Do something every day to boost your worth. Add a skill, read a magazine, do research, practice, and so on.
2. Boost your self-worth and your net worth will follow. Put up awards, past successes and other "wins" so you SEE them every day.
3. Make a price list and post it where you can see. Carry it with you.
4. Come up with a strategy/formula for what to charge. Maybe you follow a company like HP which charges little for their ink jet printers but a LOT for the refills. Maybe you have a low price fee/special to get business but make money with the extras (which a are clearly stated in your price list.)
5. Make your price list look like a menu so it's more fun.
6. Ask yourself, "If I made more money what would I be able to do?" The answer is more powerful than just a number or dollar amount.
7. Start high and then come down.
8. Rather than state a price ask the client what they feel is fair. It may be higher than your "list price".
9. Pick a benchmark person (someone who is doing a little/lot better) and find out what they charge. Price yourself under where they are but higher than what you charge now.
10. Simply ask for more. Believe it or not this may be all you need to do to get more money for the same amount of effort.
Reprinted with Permission by:CreativeLee Speaking
"Helping creative people with the business side of the arts."
For a FREE copy of "Creative Self-Promotion" simply e-mail leesilber@earthlink.net and we'll send you this informative report.