Getting Paid What You’re Worth: Don’t Put Your Skin the Game
By Roberta Rosenberg on Jan 26, 2007 in Working with Clients
"I’ll gladly pay you Tuesday for a hamburger today." For those of us who grew up watching Popeye cartoons, you’ll recognize his friend, Wimpy and Wimpy’s famous catch phrase.
Robert Rosenthal in his blog, Freaking Marketing, speaks to the heart of this issue. Check out, Why Direct Marketing Agencies Don’t "Put Skin In The Game". What he says here easily and seamlessly applies to freelance copywriters, as well.
A great read! Save it, print it out and review it next time a prospective "Wimpy" client contacts you with a "Tuesday promise" deal. And while you’re at it, remember why I don’t ever write on spec.
Brian Clark | Jan 26, 2007 | Reply
Well, yes and know. Never agree to this with some random client. But I’ve done $10,000 “jobs” that paid me six figures by making it into a joint venture. Of course, I controlled every part of the project, which is what you don’t get to do with the typical company looking for talent.
Copywriting Maven | Jan 26, 2007 | Reply
That’s the major difference, Brian – control. The DM agency I worked for before opening MGP DIRECT (20 years ago this April) did a lot of “perfomance based” marketing for educational associations. But the agency controlled/paid for EVERYTHING associated with the mailing and took a large chunk of the revenue when it came in. (One promotion series I did performed so well, the client was begging to be let out of the contract and pay for it themselves.)
But without the control? It’s a “Wimpy” and a no-go for me.
Robert Rosenthal | Jan 26, 2007 | Reply
Thanks for spreading the word, Roberta. Since you mentioned spec (ah, hell, let’s call it what it is — FREE work), I thought your readers would be interested in an earlier Freaking Marketing post called, “The Difference Between Prostitutes and Advertising People.” Here’s the link (readers will need to scroll):
http://robertrosenthal.typepad.com/blog/2006/07/index.html