“I’m afraid I can’t afford you.” A potential client said this to me today during our initial phone call before I gave him a bid. It’s not the first time I’ve heard this, but every time I do, it strikes me as a little bit funny that I, Robin Dale Meyers, Copywriter, who towers at a threatening five-foot-two inches tall could possible strike fear into the hearts of potential clients. I suppose it’s a compliment of sorts; a reaction to the samples they’ve seen on my website and what they consider to be the caliber of my work. But at the same time, it’s certainly not my intention to encourage clients to call me only to tell me they’re afraid of the numbers that might come up in our conversation.
What he really meant. What this statement really reflects is the concern of a start-up, non-profit and/or small business to get the quality copy they need without going over budget. And it’s an absolutely valid concern. On the one hand, I’ve heard fee quotes from other copywriters that made me gag on my own words. And on the other hand, I’ve read copy from inexperienced writers that made my eyes cross. The challenge for any business has always been to get clear, engaging and effective copy at an affordable price. And that’s exactly the kind of copy I strive to provide.
Why you’ll always get a fair bid from me. After over 10 years in this industry, I understand that every business is at a different place in it’s development. I would never charge a non-profit the same fee as I would an established international corporation. In fact, quite often it’s the small fish that own the businesses that I appreciate the most. Sure, I also appreciate the bigger checks from the bigger fish, but those afford me the time to work with organizations that may not have the funding, but certainly have the heart. So while I’m happy to write marketing copy for giant corporations that sell cars or printers or insurance, it’s the cancer services centers, schools, art therapy practices and small theaters that truly make me feel like I’m contributing to the community.
So really, my dear small organizations, please don’t be afraid. I don’t bite. In fact, I’d like to thank you for giving me a way to use my skills to give back. And my way of thanking you is to offer a fee that reflects your budget and also compensates me appropriately. A happy medium isn’t something to be afraid of, now is it?
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