This is Part 2 of a series on raising freelancer rates. To read Part 1, please click here.
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In the previous post, I talked about the average rates that most freelancers are getting. The rates seemed like such a surprise, since they went from $41 to $73 per hour. In the same post, I also encouraged Pinoy freelancers to raise their rates.
But how do you go from charging very low rates ($1 to $3) to more competitive rates ($20 to $50)?
How to raise your rates
There are a few steps you need to raise your rates and prove your worth to your potential clients.
Understand the value of your work. The first step to raising your rates is to understand the value of your work. Apart from the finished product, what does your work do for your clients?
For example, if you’re a web content writer, the content you write may be used to bring in advertising revenue for your clients or to bring new visitors to their website. If you write ebooks that your clients sell, you could be bringing them $1000/month revenue for the sale of your ebook.
In other words, your work isn’t just the final product you submit – it’s also the value you give to your clients. Stop thinking of your rates as something that will cost a client, rather think of your rates as an investment that your client will have to make to ensure success. Until you understand this, you will never believe that you are worth $20 per hour or more.
Make sure that your web site looks professional. “First impressions last” is as true on the internet as it is offline. What does your professional blog or web site look like? Even if you’re the best freelancer in the Philippines, most of your clients won’t believe this unless you have a professional, credible web site. Here are some articles that can help you judge your site:
- Stanford’s guidelines for web credibility (a must-read)
- Check out this site if you’re looking for design inspirations
- If you don’t have solid web design skills, here’s a list of sites that give away free professional-looking templates. Also, here’s 3 easy ways to create professional-looking websites.
Have a solid portfolio. Your portfolio should only include a few key items that truly represent the quality of your work. Put the best (and only the best) work samples you have on your portfolio. Here are some additional resources you might want to look at:
Present case studies. Did your work increase profits for a certain client? How much? If you can present this data via graphs or a document, your potential clients will see the positive effect your work had on other businesses. They’ll see their future success reflected on those case studies. If you show potential clients that by investing $30/hour on you, they’ll be gaining $100/hour value in return, then they will accept your rates as the price they have to pay for quality work.
Be willing to go the extra mile. If you want your work to be worth more, you might need to give a bit more. Send regular email reports to your clients, especially for large projects, so that they’re aware of your progress. Don’t ever, ever receive an email where the client is asking “How’s my project going?” Update them regularly so that they’ll have ease of mind.
They might also want to have voice chats with you via Skype, even just once, so that they can tell if you’re a real person. Now, I’ve only had to do this around 3 to 5 times in my career, so not all clients will look for someone they can talk to on the “phone”. But if there are clients who want to hear you voice, you need to be prepared to talk to them.
Ignore or minimize low-paying jobs. You won’t have the time or energy to take on new $30/hour clients if you’re spending almost all of your free time on low-paying gigs. Drop the jobs that pay the lowest – or else, you’ll never get out of the $1-$3/hour bracket. Spend your extra time focusing on the things listed above. They’re worth the investment of your time if they’re going to bring in higher paying jobs.
Have a career ladder. You also need to have a solid plan for your freelance career. Just because you’re not working a traditional corporate job, it doesn’t mean you don’t need to have direction. This subject is quite extensive, so I’m just going to lead you to a post I wrote about plotting your freelancing career ladder.
Some of these steps might seem intimidating, but they’re really worth it if you want to thrive (and not just survive) as an online freelancer.
Do you think you charge enough as an online freelancer? What steps have you taken to get paid better?
‘think of your rates as an investment that your client will have to make to ensure success’
I like this specifically to reinforce our way of thinking as service provider or writers.
Thanks for the tip!
I am thinking of joining paid to review schemes to increase online earnings. Do you have any sources where to find available jobs in the niche of entrepreneurship, personal finance, investments, and self-motivation?
I don’t really do paid-to-review schemes, so I can’t give you my experience/opinion on that. I do post online job listings here at Frugal Pinoy each week. Many of the jobs I post are of the niches you mentioned.
I recommend searching for the top blogs in those niches (foreign blogs) and looking for a “Submissions” or “Write for us” page and applying through there.
You know what, Celine? I was actually one of those persons who were lamenting the sorry rates in freelancing. I’m new to this and I didn’t know what I was worth, until I read your blog. So I decided to make a stand and you know what? The client actually agreed to my rates with some “persuasion.” If not for your “You know what you’re worth” advice, I would have caved in to a much lower rate. Thank you.