Be a Freelance Blogger

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Can You Negotiate Your Way to a $100 Prize? It’s PITCHFEST Time!

Can You Negotiate Your Way to a $100 Prize? It’s PITCHFEST Time!

PITCHFEST! PITCHFEST! PITCHFEST! *dances*

Pitchfest is one of my favorite things we do here on Be a Freelance Blogger!

There’s the excitement of knowing that some lucky entrant is going to win a $100 prize – but, more importantly, I love knowing how much these contests help freelance bloggers become better pitchers.

I’ve received literally thousands of pitches in my inbox since I started working for BAFB over three years ago – and most of them were terrible. And, honestly, that’s not surprising! Most freelance bloggers have no idea what a good pitch actually looks like. And that’s because, most of the time, the pitching process is kept private.

This is your chance to view REAL pitches from REAL freelance bloggers – and see what REAL editors have to say about them!

This is your chance to get your pitching style critiqued in a “safe” environment. (Sophie and I are both nice ladies and promise we won’t bite your head off if you slip up!).

This contest is FREE to enter and the prizes and knowledge to be gained are fantastic.

Follow the directions carefully, stick to the theme, and have fun!

Here’s how you enter…

Enter the Pitchfest!

In case you’re not familiar, Pitchfest is a blog post pitching contest we run here on Be a Freelance Blogger every 3 months. You tell us your blog post idea and we choose our favorites, with prizes of up to $100 for the winners.

The contest starts today.

Your theme for this Pitchfest

This time we’re looking for pitches on the theme of “negotiation”.

Interpret that theme any way you like! Could be negotiating anything — payment terms, raises, deadlines, workload, etc. — with any client or potential client.

We’re looking forward to seeing what YOU come up with.

UPDATE (9/26/16): I guess I wasn’t clear enough originally because we’ve been getting pitches that have nothing to do with freelance blogging… Your pitch’s theme has to be about “negotiation,” but it MUST revolve around freelance blogging (Be a Freelance Blogger’s niche). How can negotiation help you/your clients earn more money through freelance blogging? How can it help you meet freelance blogging deadlines? How can it help increase or decrease your freelance blogging workload? Stuff like that, please.

Okay, now that that’s cleared up, here are the rules…

The rules

  • Anybody can enter the contest by typing (or pasting) their pitch into the comments box at the bottom of this page.
  • Only ONE PITCH per person, please.
  • Follow the pitch format I’ll tell you in a moment.
  • After you submit your pitch, Lauren and/or Sophie will offer feedback to help you optimize your idea for this blog’s audience and improve your pitching skills. You may also get feedback from other entrants, BAFB team members, and innocent bystanders — pay attention, because they represent your readers here.
  • After you get our feedback, you can revise your pitch if you like and re-submit it by pasting it into a follow-up comment. And yes, that means you can offer us a completely different idea if we’ve told you your first idea definitely won’t work for this blog.
  • If you win, we’ll ask you to send us a draft of at least 1000 words, so bear that minimum word count in mind when you pitch.

The prizes

  • First prize: $100 for your guest post, paid on publication.
  • Second prize: $50 for your guest post, paid on publication.
  • Third prize: A 3-question mentoring package with Sophie via email.

The deadline

  • Submit your pitch before the end of Saturday, October 1st, 2016.
  • We’ll announce the winners on October 6th.
  • If we choose your pitch, we expect you to deliver your first draft to Lauren by October 21st. (But if you need a little longer, let us know and we’ll work around it.)

How to pitch

  1. Read our general guest blogging guidelines first, then come back here to submit your pitch.
  2. Suggest at least one headline designed to make freelance bloggers want to read your post.
  3. Follow the headline with the opening lines you’d use in the post. No less than 30 words, no more than 60. You DON’T need to write a whole post (or even a whole introduction) before you pitch — we’d like to give you feedback on your idea before you write a draft.
  4. After the opening lines, give us no more than 6 points you’ll make in your post, and provide a one or two sentence summary of each point. (If you plan to make more than 6 points in your post, only tell us the most important 6 in your pitch.)
  5. Then explain in no more than 3 sentences why this is a great post for Be a Freelance Blogger and why you’re the right person to write it.
  6. Put your pitch in the comment box at the bottom of this page.
  7. Check the little box that says “Notify me of follow-up comments” so you’ll know when we’ve given you feedback.
  8. Submit your comment and if you followed all the steps above, you’re entered into the contest.

Extra tips

  • It’s a good idea to explain how your pitch reflects the theme of “negotiation” — unless it’s blindingly obvious, in which case you can probably assume we’ll see the connection without extra signposting.
  • Remember to tell us why you think your blog idea will interest the people who read Be a Freelance Blogger.
  • To get a better idea of what Sophie and I are looking for in your pitch, study the pitches and responses in previous Pitchfests.
  • Save a copy of your pitch somewhere before you post it here — if your comment gets lost in the internet, you don’t wanna have to re-write it from scratch.
  • Your comment may get held in a moderation queue, especially if it contains hyperlinks. Don’t worry if that happens; we’ll get to it and reply!

OK, it’s time.

Let the Pitchfest begin! This contest is closed.

Comments

  1. Even if we want to leave negotiating to the professionals, we need to learn how to not settle for anything. Being one of those child’s that “should have been a lawyer”, I argue everything. Where we are going, whose is in charge and whos getting the last cookie (me). I’m here to tell you that demanding what you want isn’t a bad thing.

    Reply

  2. The fine art of negotiating with a Tween
    Who doesn’t think their tween would make an excellent lawyer? From bedtimes to rules about homework and chores, it seems like tweens negotiate with their parents all day long. Yes, back in the day parents set the standards and kids did what they were told. But back then we also had phones attached to the wall with cords and walkmans. Now it’s all about negotiating and listening to everyone’s feelings. How can parents effectively negotiate with their tween?

    – Establishing who works for whom in a parent/child relationship
    – Avoiding threats
    – Why bribing can be a good negotiating tool
    – It’s always a negotiation – learn when to hold and when to fold
    – Keeping promises
    – How to really listen so you can parent appropriately

    Reply

  3. Hi Lauren,

    I’ve been reading Be A Freelance Blogger for a while now and love the website! I’m a freelance writer myself and find the information super valuable and inspiring. I’d love to write an article for pitchfest and have put together a possible article outline that I think would be really compelling to your audience:

    Stop Negotiating With Yourself – It’s Painful To Watch

    The opening line would look something like this:

    I see you. Doubting yourself, wondering if you’ll ever be smart enough or good enough to pursue what you want out of life. You’ve negotiated and compromised with your own mind so much that it’s like smashing puzzle pieces together.

    My 6 subtitles would be:

    On a Scale of 1-10, How Bad Is It Really?
    What Do You Want Your Day To Look Like?
    What Parts Of Your Job Do You Love?
    When Was The Last Time You Were Happy?
    How Does the World React To You?
    When You’re 80, Would You Be Satisfied?

    I believe this post would be great for Be A Freelance Blogger because there are A LOT of people who say they want something but never go after it. They negotiate with their own minds so much that analysis paralysis takes over.

    I feel like I’m the best person for this job because I love helping and seeing people succeed. Plus, I am my own success story.

    If you would like to discuss this idea further, please do not hesitate to contact me!

    Thanks so much for your time and consideration,
    Sacha

    Reply

  4. Pitch: 50+: The things nobody tells you (humor)
    Around the age of 50, STRANGE things started happening. Nobody told me I would need to look in a magnifying mirror every day to see if I have hairs growing in odd locations on my face. Nobody told me I would have uncontrollable gas. That I would not be able to sleep more than 30 minutes at a time without waking up in the middle of a coughing fit, in pain, or in a fit of anxiety about WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO ME NEXT????? Nobody told me I would start to smell weird, or that if I somehow managed to get myself down to the floor, I would probably need help to get up. Nobody said I would have to stop half my favorite foods, including ice cream, in order to NOT wake up in the middle of the night feeling like I have to throw up.
    Nobody said my body would start to look like a YAM. You are what you eat? I HATE YAMS….What the hell?

    Reply

    • Hey, Diane!

      I love your personality! lol. Your comment gave me a good chuckle. And it’s definitely something we should all keep in mind (I’m 31, but I can feel 50 creeping up on me every day!).

      However, in order for your pitch to be accepted as an entry, it needs to revolve around freelance blogging (our niche).

      Reply

  5. Hi brilliant Sophie and Lauren,

    I thought it was time for me to win the Pitchfest once and for all, so I am taking part again. ☺

    Are you interested in publishing a guest post:

    The Number One Secret That Takes You From Intimidated To A Master Negotiator

    [You finally found your perfect client. They need your writing services and they need you to write on topics you truly enjoy. You’re ecstatic so you pitch them an offer.

    The client’s happy with your writing samples, they really love your style, and would love to hire you, except they cannot afford you so they send in a counteroffer that breaks your heart.]

    In this post I provide four steps that lead to being an amazing negotiator and help you negotiate your way into getting the writing assignments you want. These are:

    1. Ask for help. I know this sounds counterintuitive but people generally love being asked for help. When you are negotiating an offer and can’t seem to find the way to get your client to say yes, ask them to assist you in finding the perfect agreement. I’ve used this before and it worked well.
    2. Be well prepared. Know what you are going to say and have the necessary information ready. I also provide a simple exercise to help you to do this.
    3. Always have a back up plan. If your original plan doesn’t work out and you know you really want to work with this client, be prepared and have an alternative plan ready.
    4. Don’t push too hard. If it doesn’t seem easy and pleasant don’t pursue it. You most probably won’t get what you want and you will end up doing an assignment you hate while being paid pennies.

    Who am I?

    I’m Tee, creator of growbrilliant.org, certified life coach, freelance writer and author of The WindFinder. I help women reinvent themselves and reach dreams they never had the courage to pursue. Your readers will benefit from my post because I show exactly how to become a master negotiator if you follow the four steps provided and embrace the number one secret that will take you from being intimidated and shy to an expert negotiator.

    Thank you for considering my ideas!

    Warm regards,

    Tee

    Reply

  6. Hi
    Lauren,
    I am Jyotirupa Sarma and I am planning to write on “How a freelance blogger should negotiate a pay raise”. Negotiating a salary or pay raise is always a difficult task. But, it is extremely important for a freelance blogger or a writer as salary or the payment is one of the prime factors which motivate us to write. Here are the six points which will help freelance bloggers in negotiating their salary. 1. don’t surprise your boss by asking a pay raise suddenly, instead schedule a meeting. 2. Get an idea of what you should be asking. Talk to as many people as you can. 3. don’t focus on the past achievements but talk about the future and how you can be an asset to the company or the site. 4. be careful, your approach should not be threatening. 5. Avoid naming the number 6. In case your boss cannot raise the pay for some reason be prepared to negotiate non-salaried options.

    Reply

    • Hey, Jyotirupa!

      This is looking good so far, but I’d love for you to add your intro (it can be short!) to your post and a bit more about who you are. We like to get to know our bloggers’ writing styles before we make a decision, so those opening lines are important — they show that you know the writing style we expect here at BAFB.

      Reply

  7. Just a reminder: Your pitches/articles MUST be about freelance blogging!

    The theme of this contest is “negotiation,” but it still needs to revolve around freelance blogging (BAFB’s niche).

    I apologize if I wasn’t clear enough the first time. I’ve updated the “theme” section of the rules to clarify the matter.

    Looking forward to reading your pitches!

    Reply

  8. Hi Sophie & Lauren,

    I am Srinivas and my pitch is “Negotiation through Diplomacy”

    Diplomacy in negotiation is very important for the following reasons :-

    1. Give and take is very important in negotiation as in diplomacy and freelance blogging e.g. content and rates .

    2. Kindness in negotiation as in diplomacy . This will help in negotiation as in freelance blogging .

    3. Waiting for a path through which you which can give your point of view . This is achieved through listening to the other person before giving your point of view .

    4. Listen to the other person’s point of view and agree with it .

    Who am I

    I am Srinivas, HR professional from India , married with a child .

    Regards,

    Srinivas

    Reply

      • Point 3 is super valuable. 🙂

        The other points, I must confess I did not really grasp what insight you wanted to communicate. Maybe if you replaced each “as in” with an explanation of the relationship, it would have made the points clearer.

        Reply

  9. Don’t Be a Sucker. Negotiate the Terms of Your Project FIRST.

    Enthusiasm about a project can carry us away, am I right? You get that proverbial freelance writing nibble and yank on the line, trying to reel it in before the client has bit the hook. Because it was a fish…a real, live, hungry FISH and you have wanted to catch one all day, and became so excited to land it that you didn’t take all of the necessary steps to make sure you weren’t going to be stuck with an eel. Or whatever other dreadful fishing conclusion you can think of.
    You will be hired to write, and it will be very exciting. In all of the excitement, however, there are several key elements to consider before you set the hook and reel it in.
    1. Know your currency symbols. Print off a list of world currency symbols and find a reliable currency translator online so that you can ensure that you are bidding an amount that you can live with. I once wrote an entire ebook for a woman in the Phillipines, for, brace yourself….$21. U.S. Dollars! It took HOURS of work, a ton of research, and I was stuck with the project because that is what I agreed to and it was only fair to complete it to the best of my ability. The client got a very good deal, and I had a good lesson in currency exchange. Good times.
    2. Get the details in writing and in contract form if you can. Iron out the details of pay, word count, etc BEFORE you start writing. Again, in a surge of excitement about an early writing project, I started in researching and writing an in-depth article for someone based on an initial quote. After having researched and written quite a bit of content, the client changed the terms mid-project and the amount he changed it to was unacceptable. My lesson here was to get the details in contract ahead of time so that I had some recourse for this type of situation. So now I have a half-written article and some free-range irritability.
    3. Create milestones and payment agreements. It is easy to get swept up in the excitement of a new writing project and when clients want to pay you at the end of a project, we generally want to be agreeable and go along with it. I was hired to write the story of a woman’s challenging delivery and was sent extensive notes to complete the project. It took hours and lots of weeding through heavy, emotionally laden material and notes that often didn’t make a lot of sense, and I wrote the thing. It turned out great. 3,000 words. And, she didn’t pay me. We hadn’t created any milestones, therefore I had no way to check in with her about where we were in terms of the work and pay schedule. She ignored many attempts at contact and I had no way of following up to be compensated for my time and efforts.
    4. Figure out your fee per word so that you are paid what you deserve per article. Ok, so here’s one that I did right. (About time, right?) I was hired to write a series of articles on a subject and before getting started I determined the approximate length the client needed for each one and calculated my fee for each article based on my fee per word. The client wanted a blanket fee for the entire project, but I was afraid that by doing this, I would end up screwing myself like I did in prior jobs. So, I negotiated my per word fee with the client and was able to establish the project with fair guidelines so that neither of us had a surprise at the end of the process.
    5. Negotiate with yourself. When you begin cranking out projects and have many on the docket that await you, it is tempting to write in every spare moment you have to make deadlines and cram in as much work as you can. Don’t do that. Find the times of day in which you produce the best writing and set a time limit so that your work doesn’t suffer and you don’t get burned out. We come to writing out of a passion for the craft, and we deserve to take the time we need to recharge so that we can do our best work and still actually ENJOY it.
    6. DON’T negotiate your style. We all hate it when rock stars shift over to country, right? C’mon Darius Rucker, what were you THINKING??? Your style should remain your style. If you are trying to force yourself to write in a niche that truly doesn’t suit you, maybe there is a good reason it doesn’t work. For example, are you trying to force yourself to do sales writing, when your true skill is academic writing? Not every job is right for you and it’s ok to acknowledge that to yourself and move on to projects that better match your style.

    Reply

    • Looking good so far, Paula! We usually discourage our bloggers from going on bidding sites, but your first point is still a valid one, even when dealing with clients directly.

      My only real complaint is that you went in strong with the fishing metaphor at the intro and then just kinda dropped it for the rest of the post. Maybe a rewrite is in order…? It just didn’t feel like it matched up with the rest of your post’s theme.

      Also: We’d love to know more about YOU! Include a small bio with your pitch so we can get to know you better as a potential guest blogger on our site. 🙂

      Reply

      • Thank you for the feedback Lauren! (: Below is my revised copy. -Paula

        Don’t Be a Sucker. Negotiate the Terms of Your Project FIRST.

        Enthusiasm about a project can carry us away, am I right? You get that proverbial freelance writing nibble and yank on the line, trying to reel it in before the client has bit the hook. Because it was a fish…a real, live, hungry FISH and you have wanted to catch one all day, and became so excited to land it that you didn’t take all of the necessary steps to make sure you weren’t going to be stuck with an eel. Or whatever other dreadful fishing conclusion you can think of.
        You will be hired to write, and it will be very exciting. In all of the excitement, however, there are several key elements to consider before you set the hook and reel it in.
        1. Know your tides before you cast a line: (Know your currency symbols) Print off a list of world currency symbols and find a reliable currency translator online so that you can ensure that you are bidding an amount that you can live with. I once wrote an entire ebook for a woman in the Phillipines, for, brace yourself….$21. U.S. Dollars! It took HOURS of work, a ton of research, and I was stuck with the project because that is what I agreed to and it was only fair to complete it to the best of my ability. The client got a very good deal, and I had a good lesson in currency exchange. Not a fish story you want to have to tell.
        2. Use the correct bait: (Get the details in writing and in contract form if you can). Iron out the details of pay, word count, etc BEFORE you start writing. Again, in a surge of excitement about an early writing project, I started in researching and writing an in-depth article for someone based on an initial quote. After having researched and written quite a bit of content, the client changed the terms mid-project and the amount he changed it to was unacceptable. My lesson here was to get the details in contract ahead of time so that I had some recourse for this type of situation. So now I have a half-written article and some free-range irritability.
        3. Chart your course and use the fish finder: (Create milestones and payment agreements). It is easy to get swept up in the excitement of a new writing project and when clients want to pay you at the end of a project, we generally want to be agreeable and go along with it. I was hired to write the story of a woman’s challenging delivery and was sent extensive notes to complete the project. It took hours and lots of weeding through heavy, emotionally laden material and notes that often didn’t make a lot of sense, and I wrote the thing. It turned out great. 3,000 words. And, she didn’t pay me. We hadn’t created any milestones, therefore I had no way to check in with her about where we were in terms of the work and pay schedule. She ignored many attempts at contact and I had no way of following up to be compensated for my time and efforts. So this one was lost at sea, and no Gilligan.
        4. Sell your catch by the pound: (Figure out your fee per word so that you are paid what you deserve per article). Ok, so here’s one that I did right. (About time, right?) I was hired to write a series of articles on a subject and before getting started I determined the approximate length the client needed for each one and calculated my fee for each article based on my fee per word. The client wanted a blanket fee for the entire project, but I was afraid that by doing this, I would end up screwing myself like I did in prior jobs. So, I negotiated my fee-per-word rate with the client and was able to establish the project with fair guidelines so that neither of us had a surprise at the end of the process. He bought my articles, hook, line and sinker!
        5. Fish calm waters. (Negotiate with yourself). When you begin cranking out projects and have many on the docket that await you, it is tempting to write in every spare moment you have to make deadlines and cram in as much work as you can. Don’t do that. Find the times of day in which you produce the best writing and set a time limit so that your work doesn’t suffer and you don’t get burned out. We come to writing out of a passion for the craft, and we deserve to take the time we need to recharge so that we can do our best work and still actually ENJOY it. The fish will still be waiting.
        6. Don’t keep a mackerel when you really want haddock. (DON’T negotiate your style). We all hate it when rock stars shift over to country, right? C’mon Darius Rucker, what were you THINKING??? (get the reference to Hootie and the BlowFISH?)(Did I just officially take this analogy thing too far?) Your style should remain your style. If you are trying to force yourself to write in a niche that truly doesn’t suit you, maybe there is a good reason it doesn’t work. For example, are you trying to force yourself to do sales writing, when your true skill is academic writing? Not every job is right for you and it’s ok to acknowledge that to yourself and move on to projects that better match your style.
        Regardless of the path you find with your writing, just keep doing it.
        Even stupid mistakes have their worth (at least that’s what I keep telling myself).
        And the final piece of advice (and last lame fishing analogy of this article, I promise); if you are rejected dozens of times, there are other fish in the sea. You will find your niche and when you do, you’ll look back and laugh your bass off (sorry, had to).

        Paula H. Cookson is a psychotherapist and freelance writer from Maine.

        Reply

  10. Hi! I have been freelancing for about six months now.

    My headline would be “How to Negotiate a Regular Freelance Writing Workload”

    Opening lines: Freelance writing can be amazing, but one of the downfalls is continuously having to pitch for new work. Your clients love your work and come back to you often, but your jobs are not regular. One week you have a ton of work, and the next you are scraping to make ends meet. We all have bills that need paid on a schedule – so we need ongoing regular work!

    Points:
    1) Build up your client’s confidence. Make them love your work. Ensure that YOU are the one they want writing for them.
    2) Make an educated guess on how much writing they need on average. Are they looking for 1 or 2 posts per month or perhaps a post per day? You don’t want to go in asking for too much or too little.
    3) Pitch a plan. Let your client know that in order to ensure your availability and on time delivery, you need to work on a set schedule. If they can guarantee a certain amount of work each week or month, you will be able to build it into your editorial calendar.
    4) Be ready to Negotiate. Know what you are willing to sacrifice for regular work. Perhaps you could discount $5/post. Get creative. Being able to predict your income is worth sacrifice.

    I have just now been able to leave my 9-5 and take my freelancing full time! One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is how to negotiate regular work from my clients. Having a regular and predictable income stream made the jump more realistic and feasible. Not knowing where your next paycheck is coming from or how much it will be can be overwhelming and stressful. Clients like the idea of knowing their writing is going to be of high quality and on time. Regular schedules allow all of that to happen. Freelance writers need regular income just like anyone else.

    I’d be happy to write up a post if you are interested.

    Thanks!
    Melissa

    Reply

    • Hey, Melissa!

      Looks great so far! I’d love for you to add two more points to your post so that we know that it’ll reach the 1,000+ word count we require for guest posts. Other than that, it’s looking good.

      Oh, and more mentions of freelance bloggers rather than freelance writers in general would really help to boost your pitch when it comes time for us to make judgement calls. Our niche is very specific, and we like to know that our bloggers will be writing for our audience.

      Reply

      • Thanks Lauren! See below for updated pitch

        My headline would be “How to Negotiate a Regular Freelance Writing Workload”

        Opening lines: Freelance blogging can be amazing, but one of the downfalls is continuously having to pitch for new work. Your clients love your work and come back to you often, but your jobs are not regular. One week you have a ton of work, and the next you are scraping to make ends meet. We all have bills that need paid on a schedule – so we need ongoing regular work!

        Points:
        1) Build up your client’s confidence. Make them love your work. Ensure that YOU are the one they want writing for them.
        2) Make an educated guess on how much writing they need on average. Are they looking for 1 or 2 posts per month or perhaps a post per day? You don’t want to go in asking for too much or too little.
        3) Pitch a plan. Let your client know that in order to ensure your availability and on time delivery, you need to work on a set schedule. If they can guarantee a certain amount of work each week or month, you will be able to build it into your editorial calendar.
        4) Be ready to Negotiate. Know what you are willing to sacrifice for regular work. Perhaps you could discount $5/post. Get creative. Being able to predict your income is worth sacrifice.
        5) Follow up. Ask your clients for feedback on your work. They will appreciate that you care enough to request feedback, and it will allow you to tweak your approach if things aren’t going exactly right. You want to keep them happy right?
        6) Be Flexible. If your client needs to adjust the amount of work over time, be flexible. The key is that the work is regular and predictable. If they need to reduce the number of articles, that is okay. You know about it in advance and know that you will need to pick up a new client. At least there aren’t any surprises and little guesswork!

        I have just now been able to leave my 9-5 and take my freelancing full time! One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is how to negotiate regular work from my clients. Having a regular and predictable income stream made the jump more realistic and feasible. Not knowing where your next paycheck is coming from or how much it will be can be overwhelming and stressful. Clients like the idea of knowing their writing is going to be of high quality and on time. Regular schedules allow all of that to happen. Freelance writers need regular income just like anyone else.

        I’d be happy to write up a post if you are interested.

        Thanks!
        Melissa

        Reply

  11. Negotiate your way to a brilliant freelance blogger career

    Why should you learn to negotiate with your clients and why is important?

    As a freelance blogger you own your time and time means money as you are the only responsible for your income. By negotiating with your clients you will not only realize how much your time is worth, it will also allow you to detect better opportunities that will let you get the most out of your job.

    – Learn to know your value by setting a per hour rate.
    – Set your own term and conditions before initiating a negotiation.
    – Keep in mind that the reason you are negotiating is because both have something you need.
    – Do not settle. Your time matters and you get to decide how you want to manage it.
    – Keep in mind the cost-benefit of you taking on an assignment. Sometimes some assignments are not worth your time, especially is the offer is not good for you. Learn to say NO when an offer is not convenient for you.
    – Know who you will be working for. The offer may not be as good as you want it to be but working for them may be the beginning of a good relationship that will lead you to better opportunities.

    I believe this is good material for a post in Be a Freelance Blogger because it gives important information to new freelance bloggers that are starting off on their careers. I have experience firsthand the struggles of getting new clients and have them stick around with you especially with the clients than have lower standards and expectations. As a freelance one of the toughest things I have experience is how to communicate the value I am providing in my work because that’s what differentiate one blogger from another.

    Thank you!
    I’ll be looking forward for your feedback 🙂

    Reply

  12. Hi Lauren!

    It is very exciting to see opportunities of this kind which not only provide a boost to aspiring freelance writers like me but is also a great way to kick-start our freelance writing careers.

    5 habits a freelance blogger should never negotiate with.

    Intro:
    Has your freelance writing career come to a halt? Does your dream of earning a six-figure income seem crumbling? The chances that you have become complacent about your writing career are high. In this case, it is time to scrutinize each and every arena of your writing career. In most cases, its about the habits of a freelance writer that need immediate attention. Most writers adopt a schedule which gives them positive results but there is lack of consistency in efforts due to which they stop seeing any hike in their income. Negotiating with your daily habits and not giving every ounce of your energy to writing is the reason why most freelance writers stop achieving success after sometime.

    Points to be covered:
    1. The habit of writing at a fixed time
    2. The habit of reading as much as one can
    3. The habit of maintaining your website
    4. The habit of sending cold pitches everyday
    5. The habit of increasing your rates on an annual basis.

    Who am I?
    My name is Charvi. I am an aspiring freelance writer. I have been reading a lot of stuff around freelance writing these days in the pursuit of starting my own writing career. This post of mine will be targeted towards all those people who want to start their careers or have already started but couldn’t go too far.

    I am waiting for your feedback.

    Yours sincerely,
    Charvi Kathuria

    Reply

    • Looks pretty good, Charvi! My only complaint is that you used the word “writers” instead of “bloggers.” We have a very strict niche — freelance bloggers — and like to know that our guest bloggers know that that’s the audience that they’re going to be writing for.

      Reply

      • I apologize for the blunder I committed.I shouldn’t have used “blogging” and “writing” interchangeably. I chose to rewrite my pitch.

        5 habits a freelance blogger should never negotiate with.

        Has your freelance blogging career come to a halt? Does your dream of earning a six-figure income seem crumbling? The chances that you have become complacent about your blogging career are high. In most cases, its about the habits of a freelance blogger that need immediate attention. Most bloggers adopt a schedule which gives them positive results but there is lack of consistency in efforts due to which they stop seeing any hike in their income. Negotiating with your daily habits and not giving every ounce of your energy to writing are the reasons why most freelance writers stop achieving success after sometime.

        Habits to be covered:
        1. The habit of writing at a fixed time
        2. The habit of reading as much as one can
        3. The habit of maintaining your website
        4. The habit of sending cold pitches everyday
        5. The habit of increasing your rates on an annual basis.

        Who am I?
        My name is Charvi. I am an aspiring freelance blogger. I have been reading a lot of stuff around freelance blogging these days in the pursuit of starting my own blogging career. This post of mine will be targeted towards all those people who want to start their careers or have already started but couldn’t go too far.

        Reply

  13. Pitch Perfect Tips for Negotiating a Project Upgrade

    Freelance blogging begins and ends with negotiation. It is an intricate dance as writer and client discuss client needs, rates, and deadlines. However, sometimes it is necessary to upgrade a project. Client needs changed or you may find a single post is better as a series – there are many reasons you might need to negotiate a project upgrade.

    1. Prepare your case. Before you fire off an email to your client about the upgrade, take some time to organize your presentation.

    2. Keep it brief. Adequately explain the need for the upgrade, but you don’t need to write a dissertation. Stick to the point.

    3. Begin negotiations sooner rather than later. Try not to wait until the last minute to approach project upgrade negotiations. This allows you to discuss the upgrade while keeping as close to the original deadline as possible.

    4. Show value. Ultimately you client wants to know how the upgrade will benefit them. Take some time to explain it.

    5. Ask about their budget. Get an idea of what your client’s budget is then figure out what you can do for that amount.

    6. Go high so you have some negotiation room. Once you throw out the first figure the dance begins. The client will likely come back with a low ball offer so aim high enough that you can meet in the middle.

    There is a lot of information about negotiating the front end of a project, but very little out there to guide writers in negotiating mid-project changes. This article would set Be a Freelance Blogger apart by offering something to writers that isn’t often found elsewhere. I have negotiated several mid-project upgrades including a single blog post on Canadian Internet law that turned into 5 blog posts, turning a $160 project into a $1,000 project.

    Reply

  15. Hi Lauren,

    I am a newbie to the BAFB community, however I saw the Pitchfest contest and thought I’d throw my hat into the ring and give it a shot. I’m honored to be a part of this process. I consider it a gracious opportunity to get real feedback on a legitimate pitch and I want to thank you for putting it together each quarter.

    I have quite a bit of sales experience and I know how to generate a person-to-person sales conversation; perhaps that experience transitions well to being a freelance blogger… I think being a career salesperson could come in handy in an event like this one a.k.a the Pitchfest! I also think that a salesperson discussing negotiations ads a bit of an insider perspective when it comes to the art of negotiations.

    To start, my thought is that we want this to be a simple guide to the BAFB readers to understand simple tricks or helpful anecdotes that put the negotiation at ease from beginning to end. Additionally, this article would help create a developmental dialogue to empower freelance bloggers and then help generate a guided dialogue between the Client and the Freelance Blogger. Finally, this article would help to create an ongoing and direct dialogue with the BAFB community about the open box ideas regarding “everything to do with negotiations.”

    The Headline:
    Freelancing the Deal: The art of negotiating your freelance deals

    1. Educate yourself –
    i. About their company
    ii. About their blog
    iii. About their customers or readers

    2. Everything is negotiable – it’s a partnership and you both dictate what you want in order to move forward.

    3. Have a plan – Know where you add value to achieving their goal. What are your strong points and what do you bring to the table?

    4. Be prepared and know what you want – what will make or break the deal for you?
    i. What are your deal breaker “needs?”
    ii. What are your negotiable “wants?”
    iii. What are your bargaining chips – the tit for tats?

    5. Generate a hypothetical contract and plan to make it reality.
    i. Sample Contract with Sample Points
    ii. What will you provide for what you are getting?

    6. Set yourself up for the future – plant the seed in the negotiation for when your article does well that may need to be reflected in future negotiations with them and vice versa if your article stinks.

    Bottom Line Conclusion – the negotiation is a conversation that discusses how you and the client will work together to create an article that gets results.

    I see this article providing the readers of BAFB with an arsenal that not only prepares them for battle in negotiations, but also feeds them with how to be confident before, during and after the negotiation. This article also creates an open and ongoing dialogue for BAFB readers to discuss the potential desires and outside the box thinking about negotiations.

    As a salesperson, these are the things that I utilize going into a negotiation. I have experience in these settings, and I think this experience transitions well into writing an article that is informative, constructive, interesting and forward thinking and I hope that comes out in what I’ve put together in this short synopsis.

    Please let me know if you’d like this article and further what thoughts you have about how this piece would or even could fit into your blog?

    Thank you so very much for your consideration and I look forward to hearing from you!

    Jeff

    Reply

  16. The Art of Negotiation for Freelancers
    Or How Not to Suck at Getting What You Want

    Let’s face it, the word ‘negotiation’ for some of us makes our stomach cringe. Our stress level rises up and we fail to rise up to the occasion of getting business done. I’ve been there. I stare at my computer and wonder where to start with a new client who is ready to do business.

    Let’s take the stress out of this process to begin with. Negotiating is nothing more than creating a fair agreement for both parties. As writers we should be able to communicate clearly what we want, what we can do, and when we can deliver services. So let’s break this down and keep it simple.

    This article will cover:
    1. Your pitch is accepted. Now what? They have given you terms and pay structure, or they may ask you for your pricing. Negotiating terms is simply an understanding communicated between two parties.
    2. Agreeing to their low price to begin with may be acceptable to start with; however let them know it’s under the condition that you can renegotiate the price in the future to meet your needs.
    3. Don’t sell yourself short. If you are giving them a price to start with – don’t low ball the price just to get the job. Make sure you are quoting them a price you can work with. Ultimately you are setting a value on your talent and time. Over deliver your services and they will value your services even more.
    4. It’s okay to say no. No we don’t have to work for pennies per word. There’s a saying in the sales business: “Some will, some won’t, so what…next!” Some clients won’t agree to your terms, and that’s okay. Because there are thousands of writing opportunities out there that will.
    5. Keep track of clients and the ‘number of closed deals’. It’s a number game. The more people you pitch to and get work, the better ratio of sales for your services. Closing a deal or negotiating is the same process. The bottom line is your improving each time to make more money.

    Not sucking at negotiations means you’ve made enough attempts to do business, and that the process becomes easier each time. Practice does make perfection. Find what works for you in getting clients to agree with your terms. Fine tune the process and keep true to it. Short cuts don’t measure up. Keep to good business practices and don’t get lazy. The results will bring you all the success you desire.

    Reply

      • Lauren,
        Thanks for the review and the opportunity! Looks like I got wrapped up in what to say and didn’t give an introduction!

        I am a freelance writer, website designer and I consult business owners on how to use their website with social media platforms.

        I am striving to build my writing career because it is more profitable. I have followed this blog for sometime now and have learned a lot! Pitchfest offers us the encouragement and recognition to keep moving forward! Thank you!

        Reply

  17. HEADLINE: Your Past Is Not Your Future: 5 Negotiation Lessons Learned by Growing

    OPENING LINES: When you started as a freelance blogger, you weren’t sure how to pinpoint the client’s goals and voice. Or what defined good SEO. Or what you were worth.

    Now, a year or two of experience later, you have a better idea of what you’re worth. But you still aren’t sure what to say when a prospect asks for your rates. …

    KEY POINTS:

    1. Never give a straight answer to the prospect who asks your rates first thing. Like the notorious “yes or no” question, this derails any really productive discussion before it begins.

    2. Always find out the prospect’s real goals early on. Often, they aren’t sure themselves, so have plenty of probing questions up your sleeve.

    3. Don’t feel that your rates are permanently locked at $20/post because you got roped into that rate on one early job. Experience counts here no less than in the corporate realm, and delivering top-rates quality isn’t “cheating” anyone (except yourself if you charge low rates).

    4. The “once isn’t always” principle applies to long-term contracts as well. When it’s time to decide whether your top clients will have you write all their posts for another year, be ready to show them evidence of the value you’ve already provided.

    5. With any job that involves writing regular posts for more than three months, have your contract provide for quarterly “performance reviews.” You want to be sure the blog is accomplishing its goals and that you and the client stay on the same base.

    WHY THIS POST? WHY THIS BLOGGER?

    Most freelance bloggers (not to mention freelance writers in general) would rather write than fight–in other words, few of us are natural negotiators. Worse, blog writing has no universal “market rates,” nor even a general understanding that puts all freelancers in remotely the same ballpark. All the points covered in this post are things I’ve learned by trial and error–and by sharing them, I hope I can help other freelance bloggers avoid the errors that kept me in starving-artist mode for too long.

    Reply

  18. Boy, most of the good ideas are taken. Oh well, worth a shot:

    “How to Negotiate the Sale of Your Blog.”

    Your dreams have come true. Somebody else sees the value of your little internet domain and just has to have it. And, honestly and for whatever reason, you’re ready to sell it. Maybe you’ve exhausted all you have to say on the blog’s subject, or maybe you just feel like taking the money and running. But how?

    1. Disclaimer: Make sure this is what you want. Do you really want to be done with what you’ve built? And are you sure you want your legacy in these particular hands?

    2. Disclaimer Part 2: the Disclaimering: Making sure this isn’t a scam. Let’s face it, there is a good chance any offer on the internet, especially person to person offers, is fake. My inbox is full of businessmen from all over the world with very interesting opportunities for me. I’ll go over some basic vetting practices to make sure you aren’t getting the short end of a very imaginary stick.

    3. Them vetting you; or the double edged sword. Basically, this will talk about how they are probably going to grill you over, well, everything. Can you prove how good your readership is? What’s your engagement rate? Social shares? Granted, they’ll have a pretty good idea of this already, but don’t be surprised by a thorough audit. They are sleeving money on you, after all.

    4. Negotiating actual price. Alright, this is your big moment. Usually, the value of online properties is determined by a handful of factors, by they are broadly the same as any other valuation. Revenue and potential for revenue are generally your two major considerations. Also, as with any brand, you have to prove why they shouldn’t just go and copy you. For that, you need to prove reader attachment and loyalty. Which is hard. Let’s talk about it.

    Once you have that settled, it’s time to get ehat you deserve. Namely: as much money had possible. I’ll cover the basics of negotiating, but with transactions like these, you generally don’t need to drive too hard of a bargin. Being honest and sincere will make this a more profitable relationship.

    5. The nitty gritty. You thought the negotiation was tough? Just think about transferring the domain, needed files, and any copyrights you might have registered. You ain’t seen nothing yet, kids. And don’t even mention getting paid ( bit don’t worry, I will mention getting paid).

    6. Addendums and extras. Do you still want to keep a foot in the door of your old enterprise? Maybe in a more creative and less administrative role? Speak now or forever regret losing years of effort.

    While I know this is bound to be an unusual circumstance for most BAFBers to be in, it’s good to know about to have something to shoot for. And I’m sure that some readers will one day have a blog that evokes some financial interest.

    Why am I uniquly qualified for this post? I run a handful of blogs, and I feel an ownership over what happens to them. I would be heartbroken to see one of them turn into some cheap SEO blog (not that there’s anything wrong with SEO blogs, just cheap SEO blogs).

    At the same time, I understand why those who buy blogs tend to push back against the demands of blog owners. They run blogs like a business, often more so than even the most professional blog creator. It’s not evil or wrong or bad. It’s just a different way of operating. Understandkng the difference helps grade the wheels of a transaction.

    Reply

      • Very unique pitch, Jasper! Certainly a topic we’ve never covered here on BAFB, but still in line with what we do here. Well done!

        And don’t worry too much about the typos at this stage. It’s good that you acknowledged them (that shows us you’re paying attention and willing to make edits!). Just make sure to proofread any drafts you send us if you get chosen. 😉

        Reply

        • I like this, but I think you should sell it to someone with a specific audience of moderately successful blog owners. Because (1) you’d probably get paid more for the closer reader-to-topic match, and (2) it’ll actually reach more of those people than it would here. Just a thought ( and if you do it, let me know so I can help promote the post)!

          Reply

  19. Hi,
    My name is Daniel Pintilie and I am extremely happy that I am part of this community. It’s my first participation here at Pitchfest. I hope that my ideas will help you do what you like; I don’t like to negotiate and I don’t do it!
    Here is my pitch:
    HEADLINE:
    How to Avoid Negotiating Your Rates with ALL Your Clients
    OPENING LINES:
    Every freelance blog has tons of posts teaching you how to better negotiate. Without a doubt, it’s an important matter! But maybe you are shy and negotiating is a real burden; you prefer writing a 5000+ word article (you read tons of articles about the art of negotiating and such a task is a piece of cake for you) instead of negotiating your rates.
    I must confess, I won’t teach you how to be a better negotiator but I am sure that I will offer you a truly original perspective. My idea is simple and effective – you should use in your life only the parts you like. If you don’t like to negotiate, don’t do it! I agree that to some extent it’s impossible to avoid negotiating with clients, but these cases should be rare exceptions. Many will say that you are crazy…it’s possible but “it’s better to be a pirate than join the navy” (Steve Jobs).
    Without any further ado, here are five points to help you avoid negotiating your rates with ALL your clients:

    1. Make a True Friendship with “NOPE” and “ALL”
    If you don’t want to negotiate with clients, be prepared to miss some opportunities. Yeah, it means losing money. In the long run, you will win much more by respecting your standards. If you truly want to avoid negotiate your rates, write at least once a month an email like this, “NOPE! Thanks for your time.” This kind reply should be applied to ALL the offers that are below your standards. “NOPE” and “ALL” are your new best friends!

    2. Stay Committed to Your Principles
    Regardless of why you don’t want to negotiate, some clients will believe that your desire to avoid negotiating is, in fact, a strategy. Be prepared to receive some proposals from clients that you had previously informed that your rates are non-negotiable. It’s important to resist these temptations. However, I don’t advise you to reject all the clients that want to negotiate. It depends on your budget, the name of the client, and the quantity of the work to do. You should be flexible and understand the needs of the clients. It’s fine line between flexibility and negotiation – the more experienced you are, the clearer is this for you.

    3. Think in Advance
    Many freelance bloggers and clients avoid establishing the complete details of the partnership from the start. It’s a common mistake and a tricky partner may profit from this situation. For instance, the client may ask for additional tasks that weren’t established when signing the contract.
    The old you (the you before reading this post) hated to negotiate and you will accept these tasks. The new you (the you after reading this post) is smart enough to ask the clients to stipulate in the contract all the details, including the payment for the additional work.

    4. Be Clear and Polite
    To avoid any form of negotiation of your rates, it’s mandatory to be clear and polite.
    Clarity
    You don’t want to waste time with discussions or emails trying to negotiate the price. Be clear from the start. A line like, “Rates are non-negotiable” saves your precious time.
    Politeness
    I must admit that saying “nope” isn’t polite! I am working on this and I try to decline the offers below my standards as politely as I can. You should do the same. Being impolite has no excuses and doesn’t bring you any advantages.
    Saying “NOPE” in a polite way lets the potential client know that you are an educated freelance blogger that respects his/her standards and there’s a high chance that they will raise the rates to satisfy your requirements. Many people agree with paying more for reliability, honesty, and politeness.

    5. Provide Quality Services
    Providing quality services is easier said than done but you should constantly struggle to underpromise and overdeliver. The quality of the services is your best advocate. Good testimonials from satisfied clients convince potential clients that you are the best choice regardless your rates.

    It’s not easy to avoid any form of negotiation. It will be difficult in the beginning but don’t forget – no pain, no gain!

    Waiting for your feedback,
    Daniel

    Reply

    • Hey, Daniel!

      Welcome to Pitchfest! Glad you decided to join in. 🙂

      Your intro was pretty weak. It rambled on a bit and the wording was awkward at times. However, your follow-up points were pretty good.

      My concern is that you might have blown your wad in your pitch (you wrote a LOT here) and that you might not have a lot left to offer in your actual post. Our word count for guest posts is 1000+ words — do you still have things left to say that aren’t filler?

      Also: We’d like to know a bit more about YOU. That’s why we encourage all of the Pitchfest entrants to include a small bio at the end of their pitches. We like to know who our potential guest bloggers are and why they’re the perfect person to “rock” at writing the post they’ve pitched.

      Reply

  20. Hi Lauren and Sophie,

    Thank you for this opportunity. Whoever you go with, this has been great practice for me, so I appreciate your support with this contest.

    The following is my pitch for a guest post on the theme of negotiation:

    How to Negotiate With Your Spouse Before Leaping to Full-Time Freelance Blogging

    (Intro) You’re having great success with your freelance blogging, but something holds you back from leaving your day job.

    You’re afraid your spouse won’t be on board.

    Even though your spouse may be 100% supportive of your freelance blogging, he or she might struggle to see financial security in it as a full-time job. (Transition into the following 6 points.)

    1. Brainstorm. Plan how you’ll save enough money to back you up in paying your share of the bills if you have an off month in business. Think ahead of time of all the questions your spouse may have, and be prepared with answers.
    2. Be confident. Throughout the conversation, be enthusiastic and show that you believe in yourself and your business. Show no signs of doubt.
    3. Listen. Hear out your spouse’s points and don’t interrupt. Express that you understand his or her concerns and address them appropriately.
    4. Make compromises. After hearing your spouse’s thoughts, be willing to meet his or her needs. Offer to cut back on certain spending areas to show how seriously you take this.
    5. Think of the win-win. Express how your freelancing will also benefit your spouse. Your working from home is likely to add some bonuses to your spouse’s daily routine as well.
    6. Work together. After you’ve both heard each other out, be willing to work together to determine how much you should plan to save and when you can afford to leave your day job.

    Assuming that a great number of BAFB readers likely hope to take their freelance blogging full time, this topic is beneficial for the BAFB blog because it addresses a complicated issue that often comes with making the leap. I am a freelance writer and blogger who recently took the leap to pursue this career full time. Having gone through the negotiation process with my husband, I have fresh experience in this topic and valuable insight that can help your readers in this situation and ultimately lead them to further pursue their passion for freelance blogging.

    Reply

    • Hey, Michelle!

      This is a very interesting take on the theme. 🙂 I don’t have a spouse (yet), but I support my roommate and our two cats and I certainly had to convince him that I could make this life “work” for us. And I know a lot of our readers live with their parents and have a lot of the same issues.

      If you do write this for us (or anyone else), I would suggest making it a little broader than just convincing a “spouse” that this is the right decision. Naysayers come in all forms and they’re often the most important people in our lives.

      Reply

      • Hi Lauren,

        Great idea! Thank you for helping me see the broad side of the story. In most cases, there is someone, and not necessarily a spouse, to convince that freelance blogging full time is feasible. Here is my revised pitch:

        Negotiating With Others In Your Leap to Full-Time Freelance Blogging

        (Intro) You’re having great success with your freelance blogging, but something or someone holds you back from leaving your day job.

        You’re afraid of the naysayers.

        Whether it be your spouse, parents or roommate, the people who are closest to you might be your biggest supporters, but they may also struggle to see financial security in blogging as a full-time job.

        (The following 6 points will show how the reader can negotiate with the people they live with and prove that they’ll be able to pay their share of bills.)

        1. Brainstorm. Plan how you’ll save enough money to back you up in paying your share of the bills if you have an off month in business. Think ahead of time of all the questions they may have, and be prepared with answers.
        2. Be confident. Throughout the conversation, be enthusiastic and show that you believe in yourself and your business. Show no signs of doubt.
        3. Listen. Hear out their points and don’t interrupt. Express that you understand their concerns and address them appropriately.
        4. Make compromises. After hearing their thoughts, be willing to meet their needs. Offer to cut back on certain spending areas to show how seriously you take this.
        5. Think of the win-win. Express how your freelancing will also benefit the other person. Your working from home is likely to add some bonuses to your roommate’s or spouse’s daily routine as well. Definitely play the pet card if you have one. “Think of how happy our dog/cat will be if he has me home with him all day!”
        6. Work together. After you and the other person have both heard each other out, be willing to work together to determine how much you should plan to save and when you can afford to leave your day job.

        Assuming that a great number of BAFB readers likely hope to take their freelance blogging full time, this topic is beneficial for the BAFB blog because it addresses a complicated issue that often comes with making the leap. I am a freelance writer and blogger who recently took the leap to pursue this career full time. Having gone through the negotiation process with my husband, I have fresh experience in this topic and valuable insight that can help your readers in this situation and ultimately lead them to further pursue their passion for freelance blogging.

        Thanks again for this opportunity!
        -Michelle

        Reply

  21. Headline: Freelance Blogging Success Starts with Trust

    Opening Lines: Googling “freelance blogging success” can feel like being stampeded by a pack of wild advertisers eager to sell you their webinar, book or training program. But what if finding freelance blogging success was as easy as putting together one of those giant wooden block puzzles. Those are pretty easy, right? Use this fact versus fiction guide to discover how trust will make all the difference in your freelance blogging career.

    1. The Myth of the Mill- There’s such a dense cloud of freelance blogging advice out there. There’s plenty of suggestions on doing your time in content mills as a way to generate samples. The questions you have to ask yourself when stooping to these low paying gigs are simple: Will this content be usable in my portfolio? Will I be proud of this work? Will it lead to better paying work, or will this website just find someone else willing to get paid pennies in exchange for hard work?

    Trust Quality over Quantity: Respect your work and swing big. Do a ton of research on blogs that you enjoy reading. Start analyzing the blog content- identify their tones and themes, look at the websites of their guest bloggers, look for areas where you can fill in any gaps you might see in their content. Read their guest blogging guidelines ten times. Taking these steps is how a quality pitch begins to take shape.

    2. The Myth of the Sell- Okay. This one is a little tricker. Yes, at first you are selling your pitch. You want to make it look out of this world. You want ideas that are unique, you want polish and shine. You want to make it easy for your editor to get in and get out, sure.

    Trust your Gut: Yes, this is all true. And selling your ideas shouldn’t be difficult if you really believe in them and really spent the time to research them. After a sale goes through (your pitch gets accepted), it’s important to recognize our next point…

    3. The Myth of One-Blog Stands- Establishing a rapport with an editor is really important. Just like a good friend, let them know they can count on you.

    Trust your Work- Don’t just say you submit work on time. Actually submit your work on time, offer feedback on your own work and invite a discussion. For example, “XYZ is pretty fleshed out, but I felt ABC could stand some beefing up. I’m curious to hear what you think” rather than “I’m looking forward to your feedback”. At the end of the day, it’s the editors call, period. But letting them know that you care about the article and see areas of improvement means you actually have investment in your work doing well for their website. This also invites future opportunities to blog for them, as you’ve established yourself as more than just a guest writer. Now you’re a comrade.

    4. The Myth of Robots- Be wary of SEO. Don’t turn your nose up at it, but be wary. If you find that a blog only wants SEO heavy content, review the blog some more. Are you gaining powerful information?

    Trust from readers- If the blog you’re writing for has steady readership with members who are active and engaged, they are going to sense an SEO-dense article like sharks on blood. Sort through reader comments, how do they feel about the content already in place? Would your work fit in, do you want to be part of the community? If so, let the readers know how you identify with them and their favorite blog by creating quality content. SEO will be easier with reader rapport and quality content in your arsenal.

    5. The Myth of Annoyance- Editors are inundated with submissions, existing writers and their own pile of assignments. Many people think this means you should just leave them alone.
    The truth is, if you leave them alone completely, they may just forget you.

    Trust the Follow-up-Remind the editor that you exist, look at the website, read an article and compliment someone else’s work. Be part of their community, take a stance and ask them about the progress on your submission. Have another pitch idea on the back burner to suggest down the line, show investment in making more contributions.

    6. The Myth of No Experience- The hardest part of freelance blogging is starting. There are so many channels to write for, so many shiesty alley ways for you to get ripped off in, so many wrong roads you will most certainly take.

    Trust yourself- At the end of the day, this is about you. If this is something you genuinely want to do, find a way to make it feel good. Trust what matters to you, take the time to discover the subject you could blog on every single day. Be honest about your lack of experience but show you’re paying attention by following pitch guidelines and having great ideas. Start your own blog, generate amazing posts and watch yourself eventually get invited to do a guest post on another niche site.

    My name is Jillian Shea and I’ve fallen for scams, tried to fit into blogs where I don’t belong just to make a buck (Trust me, it went horribly wrong. Don’t mess with video gamers if you’ve never played a video game). Most importantly, I’ve watched freelance bloggers give up and stop trusting their own voices. I want to help freelancers feel confident in their work and their career choice by offering solid advice that actually moves the financial needle. Airy advice without specific steps can feel insulting and tiring when trying to get a leg up on a highly competitive field.

    Reply

    • I realize that I didn’t include negotiate directly in the text, but my goal was to imply that you have to negotiate with the myths that exist in the blogging world. I also realize this is a very lengthy pitch, I felt like my bullet points would be too generic sounding if I didn’t flesh them out a bit more. Thank you for the opportunity to share and see pitches by other bloggers!

      Reply

      • Hey, Jillian!

        Your “pitch” was about 850 words long. If you’d included about 200 words of an outro, you’d have written your entire post right here! lol. Definitely too long.

        Also, you’re right: The negotiation theme didn’t really come through in your pitch at all.

        That said, not to be too down on you, your post idea is a nice one. I’m not sure if it fits with this particular contest (since it didn’t stick to the theme and was too long to be a pitch); however, I think it would make a nice post. If you don’t end up writing it for us, I hope you write it SOMEwhere. It’d make a good read! 🙂

        Reply

        • Thank you so much for the feedback. After I hit submit, I realized I got pretty ahead of myself. Would I still have the option to refine and resubmit?

          Reply

            • Headline: There is a Freelance Blogging River to Be Negotiated

              Opening Lines: Say you’re at the edge of the Freelance Blogging River and you have no supplies. You can’t simply go around, or build a bridge across . You’ll have to swim through the raging waters to success, which is waiting on the other side. This handy guide will help you negotiate your swim through the sometimes muddy and dangerous freelance blogging waters.

              1. Steer clear of the mill- The mill is full of sweaty writers who are churning away content for pennies. The people running the mills are trolls under the bridge, trying to get you to pay a toll to get across. Trust me, this isn’t the only route you have to take.

              2. Search for a mentor or editor who will help you along the journey- There may be a friend who is coursing their way through the waters, or someone on the other side who has made it across before. Seek them out for guidance.

              3. Beware of Robots- First off, robots and water do not mix. Second, robots can speak in strange keyword terms that make it difficult for them to seem relatable or knowledgable. Seek out quality content instead. SEO is a tricky art.

              4. Trust your gut, despite your inexperience – It may be that you’ve never tried getting across a treacherous river as mighty as Freelance Blogging, but you probably know how to swim. Rely on your instinct to take on that first project and work with what you know.

              My name is Jillian Shea and I’ve fallen for scams, tried to fit into blogs where I don’t belong just to make a buck and I’ve waded through the Freelance Blogging River for some time now, I want to lend my hand on the other side and pull other writers up and onto the other side.

              Thank you for an opportunity to re-craft this pitch, I think it will be more concise and specific to the prompt.

              Reply

  22. “The Art of Negotiating on Your Terms”

    It’s an epidemic.

    Freelance bloggers are succumbing to the plague of the “make clients happy” mindset. Yes, while pleasing your clients is an essential part of your job, it’s equally important to make sure your needs are being heard – especially when you have the flexibility to negotiate. Here are a few tips to do it on your own terms:

    1. Consider your priorities: Even before you accept your first client, you should know what’s most important when it comes to your work. There’s no wrong or right answer, but knowing your priorities will help you make the right decisions for yourself.

    2. Be direct: Now that you know what your priorities are, communicate them clearly in your initial conversations with the client. Being able to ask for what you want makes you look like a well-seasoned professional and ensures everyone is on the same page in terms of expectations.

    3. Clarify your role: It sounds weird, but clients often have no idea what you really do. Yes, they know you’re a blogger, but they may also think that you’ll run their social media, revitalize their website and polish their shoes (kidding) – so unless you’re willing to go that extra mile, make the boundaries of your role crystal clear.

    4. Push back when needed: You’ll have times when a client won’t like what you’re trying to negotiate. It’s up to you to decide whether you’re willing to compromise, or if this is a situation you’re going to push back on.

    5. Know when to call it quits: Unfortunately, not all clients are pleasant to work with. Knowing when to cut off a toxic or draining client relationship is also an important part of negotiating on your own behalf.

    6. Don’t be afraid to be “selfish”: Whether it’s asking for a more reasonable deadline or raising your rates, don’t shy away from asking for what you need out of a fear of being selfish. You are your only champion and shouldn’t be afraid to speak up for yourself!

    As someone who works in a heavily client-facing communications job, I wholeheartedly empathize with the “make clients happy” syndrome. We get so caught up in pleasing the other side that we often forget to address our own needs, or we find ourselves afraid to negotiate on our terms because we don’t want to risk losing business. This post will empower freelance bloggers through the process of negotiating on their terms from start to finish.

    Reply

  23. Negotiating Time for Yourself

    When you work solo as a freelance writer, you are constantly looking for your next project, meeting deadlines, and trying to land more work. There are plenty of articles about how to make yourself more efficient or land more work–all very important, but it’s important to understand that caring for yourself is caring for your most important resource.

    1. Workload: Negotiating your workload means assessing realistically whether you can take on more work at a particular time. It also might mean asking for more time on a project if you feel it will improve the outcome.

    2. Reading and study: You need to negotiate with yourself for time to replenish the well. The best way to creatively spark yourself is to spend time reading, researching, and studying your craft and your business. It’s not wasted time, it’s essential.

    3. Exercise: Exercise improves cognitive function. You also won’t get much work done if you fall ill.

    4. Meditation/Time alone: Slowing things down and spending time with your own counsel helps you to see things in new and different ways. and ultimately makes you more efficient with less stress.

    5.Social Activities: Going to a movie or meeting a friend for coffee is essential to your mental well-being. Spending pleasant time with others is both energizing and relaxing/

    I think freelance bloggers will be interested in and welcome some thoughts about how to be sure they care for themselves and invest in their ability to do their best work. The negotiating comes in when you have to convince yourself that the activities listed above are not time-wasters. Negotiate yourself some time today!

    Reply

    • Hey, Marshall! Interesting take on the theme. 🙂 Time for ourselves is definitely important. If you were to write this for us, I’d want a paragraph in there somewhere about how taking time for yourself can actually end up earning you MORE money in the end. (You already kind of did this when you mentioned that we’re our own most valuable resource, but I like points like that to be really “in your face,” you know?).

      Reply

  24. Pitch: 6 Surefire Ways of Arm-Twisting Your Clients to Pay You What You Want

    There is no worse place to be than to be stuck with a low paying project. Too bad for you if you have a difficult client who makes your life impossible with rushed deadlines and is never willing to pay in time. Many freelance bloggers, unfortunately, find themselves in this situation, especially when just starting out. Projects seem scarce, the competition too stiff, and no serious client with a serious budget seems to notice you. You feel like giving up but the thought of bills push you into taking up these slave jobs.
    There is definitely something you can do about it. This article outlines five actionable strategies that you can implement immediately to increase your rates. When you follow these steps, you can literally arm-twist that client who insists on paying peanuts into paying you some serious money on a regular basis. You can use these strategies to fire that client who never appreciates your effort and is keen on killing you with loads of work.
    As a freelance blogger, you are running a business ad you have to look at it with the seriousness it deserves. You are working to solve people’s problems and get rewards in the course of doing your work. You are the professional and you must act like one. This includes valuing your time and skill set. When you reach out to a client, your aim is to add value to his life. Your service should help the client overcome the problem he is currently facing.
    1. Do not go there in the first place
    Do not let the fear of bills push you into the rut; you may never master enough courage to get out.
    2. Ask the client about his budget estimates.
    With the budget, you know that the client is serious about the project and is ready to spend money on the project. You can also use the budget to gauge how much value the client pegs on the project. Use the budget as the reference point and then use point number two to make adjustments as necessary. You may be surprised the client quotes a value many times higher than what you thought. If that is not the case, explain to the client what his current proposed budget will cover.
    3. There is always get a better deal, get it.
    In some instances, the client quotes a rate that is slightly lower than what you can work with. Do not write him off immediately. After you have clearly made it known to him that the rates are lower than what you usually work with, “force” him to give you more work at that rate. What you gain in volume far outweighs the value of high-priced projects from clients whom you might never get to hear from again.
    4. Over deliver.
    Whenever you land a project, commit yourself to going the extra mile and do that one thing that the client never asked for. It shows the client that you value your work and you have a clear picture of the entire project. You may be surprised that the client ends up paying more than the agreed amount. I recommend this strategy for freelance bloggers who still do not have a lot of industry exposure.
    5. Be in charge.
    Analyze the client’s project and provide an outline of the features that will need tweaking. Advise the client why you think he should make the changes you suggest and how such changes will eventually help him achieve his goals. Let the client know that you know what you are doing. You must learn to say no when you think you are at a disadvantage. Remember to use a positive language that does not cut the conversation short.
    6. A little arrogance is not bad after all.
    Let the client know your boundaries before you start the project. When you find a difficult client whom your gut tells you may never be good for you, let that client go. When you do this, act professionally every step of the way. Let the client know that there are alternatives and give them the freedom to choose whether to work with your provisions or go for the alternative.

    Reply

    • Sorry, my browser submitted before the last part saved.

      Here it is:

      I believe this blog post will help freelance bloggers to avoid poisonous clients who are not willing to pay for value. At the same time, they will learn about how to stamp their authority and demand for the reasonable rates that are commensurate with the value delivered.

      Thank you very much.

      Reply

        • Thank you for your observations.

          Kindly take a look at my revised pitch below.

          Hi Lauren,

          I believe all is well.

          I love the way you and your team BAFB are trying your best to help freelance bloggers ace their game.

          I would love to add my voice to BAFB blog through an article that will help freelance bloggers negotiate higher pay for the value they provide.
          Here’s the pitch: 6 Surefire Ways of Arm-Twisting Your Clients to Pay You What You Want

          There is no worse place to be than to be stuck with a low paying project. Too bad for you if you have a difficult client who makes your life impossible with rushed deadlines and is never willing to pay in time. Many freelance bloggers, unfortunately, find themselves in this situation, especially when just starting out. Projects seem scarce, the competition too stiff, and no serious client with a serious budget seems to notice you. You feel like giving up but the thought of bills push you into taking up these slave jobs.

          There is definitely something you can do about it. This article outlines five actionable strategies that you can implement immediately to increase your rates.

          1. Do not go there in the first place
          Do not let the fear of bills push you into the rut; you may never master enough courage to get out.

          2. Ask the client about his budget estimates.

          With the budget, you know that the client is serious about the project and is ready to spend money on the project. Use the budget as the reference point and then use point number two to make adjustments as necessary. You may be surprised the client quotes a value many times higher than what you thought. If that is not the case, explain to the client what his current proposed budget will cover.

          3. There is always get a better deal, get it.

          In some instances, the client quotes a rate that is slightly lower than what you can work with. Do not write him off immediately. After you have clearly made it known to him that the rates are lower than what you usually work with, “force” him to give you more work at that rate. What you gain in volume far outweighs the value of high-priced projects from clients whom you might never get to hear from again.

          4. Over deliver.

          Whenever you land a project, commit yourself to going the extra mile and do that one thing that the client never asked for. It shows the client that you value your work and you have a clear picture of the entire project. You may be surprised that the client ends up paying more than the agreed amount. I recommend this strategy for freelance bloggers who still do not have a lot of industry exposure.

          5. Be in charge.

          Analyze the client’s project and provide an outline of the features that will need tweaking. Advise the client why you think he should make the changes you suggest and how such changes will eventually help him achieve his goals.

          6. A little arrogance is not bad after all.

          Let the client know your boundaries before you start the project. When you find a difficult client whom your gut tells you may never be good for you, let that client go. When you do this, act professionally every step of the way. Let the client know that there are alternatives and give them the freedom to choose whether to work with your provisions or go for the alternative.

          Kindly let me know what you think about this pitch. I believe it will help freelance bloggers to know how to identify and avoid poisonous clients who are not willing to pay for value. By mastering these strategies, any freelance blogger should be able to stamp his/her authority and demand premium rates that are commensurate with the value delivered.

          Reply

  25. Freelancers- stop being so damn polite!
    Are you a people pleaser, easy going, afraid of confrontation?
    Or maybe you only just started to get freelance clients and don’t want to scare them away by being pushy.
    If you refuse to negotiate and advocate for yourself and your interests, who will?
    A step by step guide to negotiating without being a tool.
    I will include tips on how to suggest further services, increase your rate and let go of low paying clients without giving yourself an anxiety attack in the process.

    I am a freelance writer who started at the bottom and now am very close to charging my dream rate, I am British, if I can do it with our famous inability to say what we actually mean, then anyone can!

    Reply

    • Hey, Fiona! I like what you’ve got so far — the general idea for this post is great, and I like your writing style. However, it’s hard to make a decision on whether or not this post is going to be a good fit for us because you haven’t outlined the points you’re going to make, research you’re going to use, etc.

      Try rewriting your pitch, this time with bullet points/sub heads that describe each point you plan to make in your final post. Thanks! 🙂

      Reply

  26. Headline: Upping the Ante – Negotiating Your Way to Higher Pay

    First Lines: Your freelance career is gaining momentum. Perhaps you started with a low introductory rate. Maybe the demand for your services is becoming higher than your capacity for projects. Whatever the case, you’ve determined it’s time to up the ante with your current clientele but aren’t sure how to broach the subject.

    Outline:
    1) Meeting Format – What’s the best medium for this discussion? Email, phone call, or face-to-face?
    2) Make Yourself Indispensable – What have you done to help grow this business? Why do they need you? Why is this important?
    3) Prepare to justify the raise – Be ready to talk economics with your client. Outline the math to justify your raise if required.
    4) Allow room for fluctuation – Your client may come back with a counter offer. Here are some tips on how to prepare and subsequently deal with this event.
    5) Timeframes – Change approvals often move forward at a glacial pace in businesses. Here’s how to set up a mutually beneficial critical path, and avoid getting lost in the bureaucratic chaos.
    6) Rejection- Sometimes, no matter how well you negotiate a client will be unable or unwilling to budge. Here’s how to deal with this issue, and how to know when to walk away.

    “Upping the Ante” would be a perfect fit for Be a Freelance Blogger as it offers timeless career-building advice that can be used by both new and seasoned freelance writers. I am the perfect person to write this article as I have negotiated three successful pay raises in a career setting.

    Thanks in advance for your consideration and feedback!

    Reply

  27. Title:

    Life is Full of Negotiations. Get Good at it

    Opening:

    Life is full of negotiations right from the beginning.

    Babies cry. Mothers nurse. The baby has negotiated.

    Almost every achievement involves some sort of negotiation.

    If you’re a new blogger, behind on your rent, with a car that won’t
    start, you definitely need to understand negotiation.

    Here’s how:

    1) Personal SWOT analysis. (Strength, Weakness, Opportunity, Threats)

    It’s a negotiation with yourself to understand how to get from a weak, unfulfilling
    current position to one of relative strength and comfort.

    2) Implement Your Analysis

    Commit to a rigorous learning schedule. Address each of the analysis items.
    Write your goals for each day, each week, and measure progress.

    3) Get a negotiation education

    I have a friend who is an international trader. His entire life is a negotiation.
    If you ask him a question, he often doesn’t say a word. Just a fixed stare, waiting
    for your anxiety to blossom. He loves uncomfortable silence.
    What a prick sometimes.
    Learn the pieces of a negotiation, and practice.

    4) Study sales

    Negotiation and sales go together. Learn to sell. A sale is a successful negotiation
    between an editor and a blogger.

    5) Study the blogs (market) you want to write for.

    Who will you sell your words to? What to write and who to write it for?
    Learn about editor guidelines.

    6) Be Humble and Grateful

    The Universe will always reward hard work. It’s important to understand the equation.
    Blogging is a career some of us chose. It’s full of highs and lows. Be committed, and
    practice a lot.

    Conclusion

    This is a great post for BAFB because many readers are at the beginning of their careers,
    and may be struggling with negotiating themselves into the business.
    It’s a journey. Keep tapping the keys.

    I’ve encountered many negotiations over the years. It’s a great psychological exercise
    and always a learning experience.

    I’m a small business owner and freelance blogger. I write mostly in-house material
    about procedures and marketing.

    Reply

  28. Hey Lauren,

    So here’s what I’m thinking.

    TITLE:
    Weird Science – Using the Wacky Psychology Behind Negotiations To Your Advantage

    If you’ve been blogging for any amount of time, you’ve probably run up against the experience of negotiating. If it went well, congrats! But if it left you stressed to post traumatic proportions, consider the following questions and the psychology behind them.

    1. Are you going in loaded for bear?

    If so, quit it. Negotiating from an aggressive mindset puts you at odds with the client – called “positional bargaining.” It’s a no win situation.
    But don’t be a pushover either.
    In cooperative negotiating, you and the client work together to create an outcome that’s beneficial to both.

    2. Can you control the logistics in any way?

    So here are some crazy facts. Negotiations tend to go better when the weather is nice, when the client’s blood glucose levels aren’t low and when the negotiations happen earlier in the day. Hard to determine with email negotiations, but could give you some wiggle room on the face-to-face.

    3. How much are you willing to share?

    Ancient doctrine dictated that one should never disclose personal information during negotiations. But this doctrine was created by predominantly men socialized to show no emotion. Current protocol calls for some self-disclosure. It’s effective in building rapport with the client.

    Of course, TMI will only build a wall with the client so unless you’re blogging for a drunken party website, refrain from the drunken party stories.

    4. Do you hear yourself?

    Watch what you say.

    Avoid this sort of noise:
    “Well, I know this might sound like a lot, but …”
    “I really hate to ask for this, but… ”
    “Would you ever maybe consider…?”

    Your client wants a blogger who is confident and self-assured. Confident and self-assured does not mean “a raging jerk,” though.

    5. Are you making yourself clear?

    What are the terms of your negotiation? Is the client showing interest in a single blog, or several blogs per month? Does the client expect you to spit out content like an SEO word machine or are the deadlines realistic? Get all of the terms in order and negotiate them on a bundle basis – like your cable-internet provider. Or a White Castle crave case.

    6. How does this make you feel?

    Well, not this post – though you’re more than welcome to comment on that.

    Showing emotion proves to the client that you’re not a robot blogger. And this can come across on the phone or in an email too. A positive mood at the beginning while establishing rapport could be followed by disappointment or worry when discussing the terms. Research has shown that these can lead to larger concessions.

    7. Are you afraid to toot your own horn?

    Maybe you’ve been told too many times to stop showing off. Well, screw that. You know how to play the damn horn, so play it.

    Disclose to the client the other companies who are coveting your stellar blogging skills. Make the first offer. Then, unless it’s generous (i.e. what you actually deserve to get paid) counter their offer. Play the game. Show them you’re worth it. They’re far more likely to value you if you value yourself. It’s a win-win for everyone.

    Maybe you have some tips for negotiation I forgot? Feel free to join the conversation!

    I chose this angle because I continually find it fascinating how psychology relates to our every day existence. In the past I allowed paralyzing self-doubt to take me out of the game. Only after years of studying psychology – not to mention many more years of therapy – did I see how much I misread myself and others.

    Since that time, I’ve found the courage and confidence to step up to the plate. After all, negotiating is a game.

    Reply

  29. HEADLINE 1: Use the WOW FACTOR to get paid what you deserve.

    HEADLINE 2: How to rock the socks off your client AND demand the highest rates.

    HEADLINE 3: 5 tips on how to blow the competition out of the water and negotiate the terms you are worth.

    OPENING LINE: So you’ve been shortlisted for an interview, get this part right and you’ll be able to negotiate the terms that ensure that you can make a sustainable living from writing without spending your life glued to a screen.

    Use these 5 techniques to win the competition before the game has even started.

    KEY POINTS:

    1. KNOW THE COMPANY/CLIENT INSIDE OUT. Research their history & development, explore their media coverage, look at and test (if possible) their products, read their social media/blog posts, review their clients, and show that you understand their needs by spending just a little time utilizing Google. Be over prepared and you’ll be ready for anything.

    2. PUT THE MAGNIFYING GLASS ON THEIR COMPETITORS. What works for the competition and where are they missing the jump? Are there any gaps in the market that your client can utilize? Call up their competitors and pose as a customer by asking revealing questions about their services & products, and pay attention to their customer service, response time, knowledge, website, marketing, branding, and design.

    3. IMPRESS WITH THE MOST CURRENT MARKETING, SEO, AND PRODUCT KNOWLEDGE. Wow the client with the most relevant and up to date data on the current article & social media trends. Share the cutting edge techniques that make Google happy. Show them how they can rank highly in the search engines and get the edge on their competitors.

    4. WHAT MAKES YOU SO SPECIAL? How can you specifically help their business? What personal and professional experience do you have that makes you stand out from the crowd? Maybe you won the fight with cancer and you can offer inside knowledge on the psychological techniques you used to win the day. Know what their clients needs are and how they can meet them. Highlight how you can make a positive impact to their business through your writing and social media skills.

    5. MAKE IT ALL ABOUT THEM. Throw down the gauntlet and smash the opposition by discussing the companies sales, marketing techniques, and successful future. Ask them about their short & long term goals, figures, results, and target audience. Show that you care about them, their business & their clients, and how you can solve their problems.

    WHY THIS POST?

    RAPPORT IS KEY. By dedicating just a few hours to research, you will show your potential client that you care about their business, you know your stuff, and that you are dedicated. You can never be under-prepared. By confidently taking the client through the processes in which you will add quality and value to their business, they will become putty in your hands. Letting them know that you genuinely care about their business needs and can solve their problems, will put you in a strong position to confidently and emphatically negotiate favorable terms. You might cost more than the monkeys that deliver banana skins, but quality isn’t paid for with peanuts!

    WHY THIS BLOGGER?

    Having gone from zero experience or background to demanding at least $100 per 1000w and $30 per hour in less than 6 months, I understand the techniques and strategies necessary to go from dream-writer to real-writer. My ultimate writing aim is to inspire, educate and motivate readers to achieve success in whatever their niche is. The techniques used here can land you the job no matter what industry you are in.

    Reply

    • Hey, Drew! I really like the points you make, but I’m concerned about whether or not you’d be able to tailor this post specifically for freelance bloggers. Our niche is very specific, so I want to be sure that this post is directed to our audience, and not just people applying for jobs in general. 🙂

      Reply

      • Hey Lauren,

        It is very much tailored to freelance bloggers. How do I know? I use those very techniques to impress at interview and it always works. In fact it hasn’t failed yet.

        I can alter it somewhat to make it more obviously aimed at bloggers.

        For example: when looking to impress the client, as a blogger we can do our research and explain how specific posts such as top 10’s, long form articles and even quizzes are the current trend and will score them highly in the social media circles and highly with Google.

        The idea is to let the client know that you understand how Google and it’s bot’s work (including the newly updated Penguin 4.0) so that you can produce the effective posts that will bring traffic, and thus business, to their site.

        If you recommend I edit it to make these points more clear on the pitch I can do that no problem.

        What do you think?

        Reply

  30. Ready to Discover your Blogger Within? – This Could Just Be the Extra Source of Income You Need

    Shifting from salaried work to Freelance self- employment can feel challenging and conflicting. You know it is something your heart longs for 24/7, but the mind chatter of your inner critic is saying you are crazy and bound to fail. Let me help you negotiate an inner plan to win over your inner critic and allay its fear.
    1. The secret to success is small non-threatening steps that continuously move you forward towards your goal. Stay under the radar so you don’t activate your bodies adrenal alarm system
    2. Initially write in your spare time. Move sideways like a crab so you still maintain a certain amount of regular income from your salaried work. Be patient and gradually gain experience.
    3. Create short MeTime spaces in your busy day. 15-20 mins at a time when you can spend writing and planning your blog. Carry a small A6 notebook with you to jot down ideas and/or download an app to your phone to save ideas there .
    4. Begin to put aside some of you salary each month to pay for online blogging courses.
    5. Google the web for ideas and blogs that are looking for posts in your area of interest.
    6. Read the comments on blogs you resonate with and begin to add comments yourself .

    3 reasons why this is a great post for Be a Freelance Blogger and why I feel I am the right person to write it.
    • A lot of women want to work part time when they start a family so they can spend more time with their children. Freelance blogging is work they can do from home and organize their work hours around their children.
    • This guest post encourages them to have confidence in themselves and offers practical steps and online resources they can take to make a start right now even if they are TimePoor and heavily involved at the moment in looking after small children . The post offers simple ideas and actions that they can begin to use right now . Taking this sort of gentle baby steps creates engagement and inner confidence, It lays the ground work for more involvement and training as their children get older .
    • I feel I am qualified to write this sort of post as I originally trained as an Occupational Therapist and now work in private practice using Kinesiology and Mindfulness to help people clear self-sabotage and limiting beliefs that are holding them back . I have also written an online Selfcare for Busy mothers course that focuses on helping mothers create MeTime spaces in their busy lives to care for themselves and make time to stay in touch with those interests and creative activities that they love.

    Reply

      • Thanks Lauren for your feedback.
        Can I rework the pitch and re submit it ?
        My negotiation theme is about inner negotiation . I would be writing to encourage the wanna be bloggers to have the confidence to negotiate with their inner critic ( that part of themselves that creates self doubt and lack of confidence) so they can feel justified to take the time to learn how to blog and feel confident and empowered to be doing this for themselves. I know when you talk about negotiation people don’t usually think of inner blocks so much as external limiting circumstances but I find that inner resistances and lack of self confidence can also be a problem that holds people back.
        Your feedback has really helped . I will re work it and wait to hear back from you how I can resubmit it and by what date .

        Reply

        • Dear Lauren – It looks like my repitch maybe out of time but I will post it quickly and chance my luck as I am really keen to enter the contest and value your feedback.
          The only changes are that

          a) I have added a paragraph on inner negotiation second para in starting “This post is about Inner Negotiation……………. need to navigate to successfully achieve you goal.”
          b) I have rewritten all of point 1. From” The secret to success is to negotiate……………… and reassures your inner critic that you can be trusted to do this and not mess it up!”
          The rest of the pitch is unchanged

          Ready to Discover your Blogger Within? – This Could Just Be the Extra Source of Income You Need

          This post is about
          Shifting from salaried work to Freelance self- employment can feel challenging and conflicting. You know it is something your heart longs for 24/7, but the mind chatter of your inner critic is saying you are crazy and bound to fail. Let me help you negotiate an inner plan to win over your inner critic and allay its fear.

          This post is about Inner Negotiation. People usually think of Negotiation as an External process with an external contract being the thing to focus on. But when you want to do something that your heart longs for, some inner negotiation to reach agreement with your inner critic is often where you have to start. Giving yourself permission to be true to your heart builds an solid inner platform of confidence and courage that will support you and enable you to deal with the external steps and circumstances you need to navigate to successfully achieve you goal.

          1. The secret to success is to negotiate in a non-threatening way with your inner critic so that it does not feel threatened or unsafe (this is often due to fear of failing or criticism and judgement from others is you do fail). The thing to do is to take small non-threatening steps that continuously move you forward towards your goal at a pace that the skeptical part of you can adjust to easily without becoming anxious. The secret here is to stay under the radar so you don’t activate the bodies adrenal alarm system. Take the steps listed below one step at a time and take time to congratulate yourself and celebrate each time you complete a step. This acknowledgement is important as it builds your confidence and reassures your inner critic that you can be trusted to do this and not mess it up!

          2. Initially write in your spare time. Move sideways like a crab so you still maintain a certain amount of regular income from your salaried work. Be patient and gradually gain experience.

          3. Create short MeTime spaces in your busy day. How to steal 15-20 mins at a time when you can spend writing and planning your blog. Carry a small A6 notebook with you to jot down ideas and/or download an app to your phone to save ideas there .

          4. Begin to put aside some of you salary each month to pay for online blogging courses.

          5. Google the web for ideas and blogs that are looking for posts in your area of interest.

          6. Read the comments on blogs you resonate with and begin to add comments yourself .

          3 reasons why this is a great post for Be a Freelance Blogger and why I feel I am the right person to write it.

          • A lot of women want to work part time when they start a family so they can spend more time with their children. Freelance blogging is work they can do from home and organize their work hours around their children.
          • This guest post encourages them to have confidence in themselves and offers practical steps and online resources they can take to make a start right now even if they are TimePoor and heavily involved at the moment in looking after small children . The post offers simple ideas and actions that they can begin to use right now . Taking this sort of gentle baby steps creates engagement and inner confidence, It lays the ground work for more involvement and training as their children get older .
          • I feel I am qualified to write this sort of post as I originally trained as an Occupational Therapist and now work in private practice using Kinesiology and Mindfulness to help people clear self-sabotage and limiting beliefs that are holding them back . I have also written an online Self-care for Busy mothers course that focuses on helping mothers create MeTime spaces in their busy lives to care for themselves and make time to stay in touch with those interests and creative activities that they love.

          Reply

  31. Dear Sophie and Lauren,
    Negotiation is necessary in everyday business as conflict is bound to arise due to difference in people’s choices, opinions, priorities, etc.
    This is how a blogger can negotiate their way out of an unfavourable deadline.
    6 Ways to Negotiate a Deadline With Your Client
    1. Inform them early. Don’t wait till the day before the deadline to tell them else you come off as unprofessional. They probably have their own deadline to meet.
    2. Prepare for rejection. When requesting for a deadline push from your client, they would probably reject your original preffered date. Prepare (a) reasobable alternative(s) that would suit all involved.
    3. Give fair and honest reasons why the deadline should be pushed. It could be for reasons like; more research information needed or other work related reasons. However, make sure it is the truth and keep it professional.
    4. Ensure a win-win situation is reached between you and your client. Don’t reach an agreement with your client that you know you can’t keep. Also, don’t make it all about yourself.
    5. Do not postpone the deadline again. This will put a blemish on your blogging career since your client will no longer trust you. Keep to the date you requested for.
    6. Finally, make it worth it. Make sure your post justifies the deadline change. It must follow all guidelines and show depth of the research done.

    The desire for a raise is not the only thing that needs negotiating between bloggers and their clients, deadlines are sometimes a major cause of stress to a blogger usually due to inadequate research information needed to write a good blogpost. This is the relevance of this post to freelance bloggers, so they can be well informed.
    Since I pitched this post I believe I should be the one to write it, however, it is entirely up to you choice, Sophie and Lauren.
    Thanks for the opportunity.
    Sincerely, Chinasaokwu Sunny-Joe.

    Reply

  32. How to Negotiate with Four Different Types of Clients

    Negotiation is an art. It takes practice to always come out on top. To negotiate as a freelancer, you always need to make it seem like the client is getting the winning deal while you sit on your end of the computer screen with a smile, knowing that you protected your time and integrity. I’ve had to negotiate with a variety of client types and once you begin to see the differences, you can negotiate with a smile and create a work environment that you love.

    -The Time Waster
    This client asks for blue when they really wanted red. They don’t understand that all of your time is important, not just the time that you spend physically writing. Negotiate with this type of client with your contract (always use one). With each blog, send them a “final outline” document that they need to sign. This makes them feel like you’re thorough but in fact, you’re just protecting yourself.

    -The Disappearing Act
    This client says that they’ll get back to you in a day but a week goes by before you hear from them (and receive payment). Now they want more work but you don’t have time for their sloth-like pace. This is a tricky client. Negotiate with them by adding extra milestones and only continuing the work once payment is made. Let their pace affect them as well and they’re sure to speed up.

    -The Intruder
    This client sends emails and calls at all hours. You hear from them at night, on weekends and even holidays. Negotiate by responding once and letting them know your available hours. After that, you’re off the hook. If you respond once on a weekend, they will always expect you to. Don’t keep giving in! If they need you during the weekend, your fees should be at least double.

    The Cheapskate
    This client always wants a deal or something for free. Negotiate by offering them package options with different prices. Let them make the choice. They can purchase a blog post but with only 1 revision for one price or a package deal for 5 blogs for another. Give them options and they’ll feel like they won.

    Negotiating isn’t always about discussing terms and policies. Sometimes you have to negotiate without the client knowing that you’re pushing them towards what works best for you.

    I’m Rochel, a freelance writer with a decade of experience. I think this would be a great blog to read because so many freelance advice blogs and books focus on a “one size fits all” approach to clients. Each client is unique, just as each project, and it helps to have an idea of how to approach each situation.

    Reply

      • Thanks for the feedback, Lauren! Here’s two more types to consider.
        -The Dreamer
        This type of client wants 10,000 words by tomorrow. He doesn’t understand the research, brainstorming and editing that goes into a blog. Negotiate with an unrealistic client by reminding them how important thoroughness is and then offering them the option of doing part of the project themselves. If they can provide you with a detailed outline, you can get it to them sooner. Let them see first hand what goes into the project and they’re likely to relax in the future.

        The Micromanager
        This client wants to know every little detail about how you’re working. Where are you on research? What’s the current word count? What color are your socks? He forgets that you’re providing a service and are not an employee. To negotiate with this type of client, beat them to the punch. Before they can ask, send them an update. Send them a rough draft. When you stay a step ahead, they begin to trust you and you can breath.

        Hoping this comes through okay-typing on my phone. Thanks again for the feedback!

        Reply

  33. Headline: What Can You Bring to the Freelance Blogging Table?

    Pre-internet, finding good information was like finding a lone plant in the desert, but now, it’s more like trying to find a rare plant in a forest. The trick is to translate what you have to offer amid the noise of everything else, and figure out what you can bring to the freelance blogging table.

    The first step is to repackage your usual information by reaching audiences in places they don’t expect. As an example, in my library work, I had to let college students know that it was worth their while to sit for fifty minutes while I talked about library stuff. Not an easy sell. So instead of making it about the library, I made it about time. I said, “I can probably find something in five minutes that would take you an hour.” I went on to say, “My job is to help you save time, something most of us don’t get back.”

    Outline:

    1. What are some unexpected ways you can help others?

    2. Are there places where you can find overlap in your skills?

    3. Who is your audience, and how can you frame what you have to offer in a way they haven’t heard before?

    I’m Karen; in addition to my library experience, I’ve been writing full-time since 2008, including finding ways to make content as digestible as possible. It’s difficult for freelance bloggers to stand out in online arenas, especially when readers already feel like they’re drinking from a fire hydrant whenever they go on the internet. This article is intended to help freelance bloggers think about the content they provide, and how much of an impact it might make.

    Reply

  34. Hi Sophie and Lauren,

    Here’s my pitch:

    Headline: Potent Negotiating Lessons We Can Learn From Hostage Movies

    Alternate Headline: Can hostage movies teach freelance bloggers negotiating Tips? (Yes, I snagged some good ones!)

    Intro: Negotiating for a high rate as a freelance blogger is a scary ground for most bloggers; especially newbies. When I was starting as a freelance blogger I didn’t know better so I went on to negotiate with a client based on only my instincts but mostly using lessons I learned from watching hostage movies. The Basic idea I got from most of the movies I saw is that the hostage taker (client in our case) and the negotiator (freelance blogger) don’t agree on how the hostage scenario (rate negotiation between the freelance blogger and the prospective client) will be dealt with. 🙂

    In this post I will discuss the steps, we, as freelance bloggers, can learn from hostage movies that we can apply in the blogosphere; particularly, negotiating for a higher rate.

    Basically I will answer the question: How do you try to persuade prospects to consider paying you a higher rate using negotiating lessons culled from hostage movies?

    In my post, I will introduce what most negotiators in hostage movies apply in their negotiating scenes. They use what’s commonly known as Behavioral Change Stairway Model that was developed by the FBI’s hostage negotiation unit. The BCSM consists of 5 stages to get another person to see your point of view and ultimately change their course of action. In my post I will show BFAB readers how to apply this in their freelancing business.

    1. Apply active listening techniques.

    Understand their pain. You can start by listening to their side of the bargain. Then point out that you are all ears to their concerns and what they’re saying; make them aware without any doubt that you’re intently listening.

    2. Empathize with your prospective client.

    Aim to understand where they’re coming from, how they feel, and realize that they are making an effort and investing their time by talking with you.

    3. Rapport.

    Basically, what you feel is empathy. Once they feel it back, you have established rapport. At this stage, you somehow have gained ground because they now act more comfortably with you. In fact, they start trusting you.

    4. Influence.

    In this stage, you have earned the right to collaborate with them; now they can allow you to help them solve their predicament, and you can even suggest the best thing to do at this point. Or, you can put it this way: now that your prospective client trusts you, you start recommending a course of action that they can believe will be good for both of you.

    5. Aim for Behavioral Change.

    They act in favor of you. And maybe even decide to give you the rate you desire!

    This post is essential for freelance bloggers especially newbies because they can pick up a proven model on how to negotiate effectively. Dealing with a client, unlike dealing with a hostage taker, is not a life and death scenario but we can definitely apply this kind of negotiating model into the business world; specifically in negotiating for better rates as freelance bloggers.

    Thank you for this opportunity to join your pitchfest!

    Reply

    • Hey, Anthony!

      I really like this idea! And your points/sub-heads were really solid. 🙂

      However, you forgot to write your opening lines for the post. We like to get a feel for your writing style and how guest bloggers intend to open their posts.

      Also: I’d love to get a few of the movie titles you’d be referencing. Or did you scrap the movie idea and decide to just go with real life FBI techniques? If so, that’s fine, but your pitch would need to be revised to show that.

      Reply

      • Thanks for the feedback and the suggestions, Lauren!

        Please give it a check now. 🙂

        Headline: Surefire Negotiating Tactics Freelance Bloggers Can Learn From FBI Agents

        Opening Lines:

        Most bloggers freak out when they hear the word negotiate.

        I should know. When I was starting as a freelance blogger, my palms would sweat, my gut would squirm, and I would be at a loss for words each time I thought of going to the negotiating table with a client.

        Days before the scheduled appointment, I’d be fidgety and would have restless sleep.

        A brief description of my post…

        This post will answer the question: How do you persuade prospective clients to consider paying you a higher rate using real life negotiating tactics learned from FBI negotiators?
        I’ll talk about what’s commonly known as Behavioral Change Stairway Model that was developed by the FBI’s hostage negotiation unit. I’ll explain how to use the 5 stages of BCSM to persuade clients to see your point of view and ultimately convince them to pay you higher rates.

        The Subheads:

        1. Apply Active Listening Techniques.

        Understand their pain. You can start by listening to their side of the bargain. Then point out that you are all ears to their concerns and what they’re saying; make them aware without any doubt that you’re intently listening.

        2. Empathize With Your Prospective Client.

        Aim to understand where they’re coming from, how they feel, and realize that they are making an effort and investing their time by talking with you.

        3. Establish Rapport.

        Basically, what you feel is empathy. Once they feel it back, you have established rapport. At this stage, you somehow have gained ground because they now act more comfortably with you. In fact, they start trusting you.

        4. Wield Influence.

        In this stage, you have earned the right to collaborate with them; now they can allow you to help them solve their predicament, and you can even suggest the best thing to do. Or, you can put it this way: now that your prospective client trusts you, you start recommending a course of action that they can believe will be good for both of you.

        5. Aim For Behavioral Change.

        They act in favor of you. And maybe even decide to pay you the rate you desire!

        This post is essential for freelance bloggers especially newbies because they can pick up a proven model on how to negotiate effectively. Dealing with a client, unlike dealing with a hostage taker, is not a life and death scenario but we can definitely apply this kind of negotiating model into the freelance blogging world; specifically in negotiating for better rates.

        I hope the revisions made my pitch look better! 🙂

        Reply

  35. THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED!!!

    Big thanks to everyone who entered! 😀

    If you haven’t received a reply for your pitch yet, hang tight! I will get to you.

    Sophie and I will make a decision within the next few days and post the results here on October 6th. Stay tuned!

    Reply

  36. Aargh! OK, this is my bad. I put in my calendar that we were announcing the winners October 8th instead of October 6th.

    So Lauren’s been waiting for me to let her know who I vote for… sorry folks! I just now sent her my votes, so sit tight and she’ll announce the winners as soon as she’s compiled the results.

    Reply

  37. THE WINNERS ARE:

    1st prize:
    Anthony DeJolde, negotiate like hostage movies: http://beafreelanceblogger.com/negotiation-pitchfest/#comment-187987

    2nd prize:
    Stephanie Mayberry, negotiating a mid-project upgrade: http://beafreelanceblogger.com/negotiation-pitchfest/#comment-187367

    3rd prize:
    Steph Ruopp, psychology of negotiation: http://beafreelanceblogger.com/negotiation-pitchfest/#comment-187735

    Other people whose pitches we feel are ready to draft:
    (If your name’s on this list, we encourage you to either pitch your idea to one of the sites in The Ultimate List of Better-Paid Blogging Gigs, or write a full draft and submit it to lauren@beafreelanceblogger.com for publication as a traditional, unpaid guest post on Be a Freelance Blogger.)
    * Rochel​
    * Melissa Ricker​
    * Michelle Chalkey
    * Tee
    * Paula
    * Katherine Swarts

    Congratulations and well done to everyone who entered!

    Reply

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