How To Raise Your Rates Without Scaring Away Clients

With 2015 just turning the corner, you may be thinking of raising your rates… I know I am! Many independent business owners,  especially in the beginning, set their rates too low. You probably already know that you want to earn more for each hour of your time, but it can be hard to break the news to your clients – not to mention the fear that comes with the idea of many of them leaving you.

Let’s face it – you are probably setting your fees and your rates too low. You wnat to raise them, but you may be worried about loosing some people. I know that I used to feel that way as well. You should never sell your services on price alone! If you try to do that, someone else will always win out (think fiverr.com!)

Here are four tips to help make raising your rates easier:

1) Give Current Clients Plenty Of Notice

It’s never a good idea to send an email, out of the blue, announcing that you’re raising your rates right away. Instead, aim to give your clients around a month’s notice and send out emails letting them know they can order at the current rate until a set date. This can even work in your favor: try offering a “buy now and save” offer where they can book you in advance at the lower rate.

 

2) Be Honest

If you’re raising your rates by a huge increment, let the client know that you’ve developed as a writer since you first started working with them. Maybe you were just finding your feet and are now established in the market, or maybe now you have extra skills to bring to the table. Be honest and your clients will appreciate that fact. And remember that you’re perfectly entitled to ask for more even without a reason, and you don’t need to apologize for it.

 

3) Know That It’s OK If Some Of Your Clients Stop Working With You

The good news is that most clients will understand and want to stick by you when you do raise your rates. There will, however, be a few who can’t afford it. Don’t worry about it! Remember, even if you’re only raising your rates by a couple of cents per word, it still means earning the same amount of money for less work. You can afford to lose a few clients right away: it’ll fill up space in your schedule for those that want more writing, or you’ll find new clients in time.

 

4) Have Confidence In Your Abilities

When you write online, it can be easy to think you shouldn’t charge too much for your content. Yes, there is huge demand for $0.01 per word articles (or even less!), and many writers do compete at this level. However, it doesn’t take much to stand above these cheap writers.

As long as you communicate with your buyer, you let them know upfront when there’s going to be a delay, you don’t just disappear on them, and you know that you can write, you are more than deserving of a rate that pays you well for the hard work you put into your writing. So if you’re stalling over sending that email to your clients: don’t! Remember, most will see the value in your work and continue to work with you.