[Hidden-tech] Re: help wanted

[Edbride-PR]

While I agree with Anthony's sentiments, I think he expressed the
price/value argument backwards. $14 might be a terrific price, but could
well be a lousy value.

If you're going to rate-compare, be sure to find similar functions.
Marketing and tech writing are quite different animals, for example. Both
require good communications skills and grammatically correct construction,
but the similarity ends there. Messaging approaches may be quite different.
And PR is yet another facet. Say "inverted pyramid" to a tech writer and
his/her eyes might glaze over.

Ed

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Anthony Vlamis" <intellagent at att.net>
To: "Edbride-PR" <Ed at edbride-pr.com>; "Jeanne Yocum"
<Jeanne at yourghostwriter.com>; <hidden-discuss at lists.hidden-tech.net>
Sent: Monday, April 28, 2008 12:44 PM
Subject: Re: [Hidden-tech] Re: help wanted


> usually i just lurk on this board. Good as it is, i simply can't find time
> to jump in an comment on every thing that piques my interest.  However, on
> Jeanne's point i had to chime in and say he words were right in the
> bullseye. I have been a ghostwriter, marketer, author and it is a constant
> battle especially in this independent contractor type of economy to get
the
> proper value for one's work.
>
> Clients need to distinguish between price and value.  If you hire someone
> for $14 per hour you may be getting a good value in terms of someone who
> knows how to string together a meaningful and grammatically correct
> sentence. But getting someone who knows how to interview the client to
> determine what their selling proposition is in the marketplace, who their
> competitors are and then crafting a message that will help to
differentiate
> the client from the other providers -- other than the fact they are local
> which is pretty much meaningless in the electronic age-- that's just not a
> service that can be bought for $14 per hour.
>
> Of course this Wal-Mart mentality isn't just limited to writing.  I have a
> few IT consultant friends who were earning around $200/hour before the
> economy started wheezing and now they find they are being solicited at
> $40/hour--and justifiably refusing to work at that wage.
>
> My suggestion to the solicitor is check with the Writers' Union and the
> Direct Mail Marketing Assoc to names just a few and see what going rates
> are. No doubt some folks will solicit a service without realizing what the
> going market rate is, or have a budget in mind  that's not in line with
> their needs, and so it's understandable that the first time one purchases
> such services, a lowball figure might unknowingly  be offered.  But this
> isn't any different than procuring the services of an attorney or
> accountant.  Would you want someone working on the legal processes around
> your business who worked for $14 per hour?  Then why would you entrust a
> service that might improve your sales and profits dramatically to, in
> effect, a copy editor.  The right person is worth many times their price.
> That's the difference between price and value.
>
> respectfully,
>
> Anthony Vlamis
> Intellagent Communications
> 845-794-2930