Never Be Afraid to Negotiate!

Just the other day, I was talking to a potential client about my editing services; and whenever this portion of any consultation arises, there’s always some hesitancy on the writer’s end. That’s completely understandable, especially since the editing process of the book publishing phase can be the most expensive.

Many writers have averted the need to pay for the type of editing that their manuscript truly required; and often times, this has led to a poor execution of the book. I have read self-published books that contained embarrassing errors, which spoke poorly of the writer’s craft. (One writer substituted the name “Satan” with the word “Satin.”) Mistakes likes these can be costly in the end, especially when customers review the work. So, it’s important that every writer obtain the appropriate editing, no matter what! To assist in this, I want to give another suggestion that can allow you to gain the proper editing you need and within your budget. You can always try to negotiate with a potential editor.

Over the years, I have come across a number of potential clients that wanted to use my services, but they were unable to take advantage of them because of my prices. Even though I had persuaded them that their manuscript needed the type of service that I provided, they chose to pay for something else within their smaller price range. Little did they realize that like so many other freelance editors, I was willing to negotiate if they had presented this as an option.

You may be thinking, Well, why didn’t you tell them to negotiate? For me, presenting this as an option to a potential client is more of a sign of desperation on my end. I view it as begging for work, which can diminish the effectiveness of my brand. (This is for me, but surely can be a different feeling or experience for other editors.) But when it comes from a client, I view this as the potential for a powerful business transaction.

Consider how other businesses work with their customers. A few months ago, I contacted Sprint, my wireless carrier, about a charge on my account that I had not agreed to have. When I contacted the customer representative the first time, she gladly removed the charge and wished me well. The following month, the same charge came back, and I proceeded to contact Sprint again to remove it. This time, however, a different representative would not agree to what I wanted. The charge remained, and I eventually paid it; but I was determined to leave a negative feedback with Sprint about my experience. Just last week, I received an email from the company, stating that it was sorry that I did not receive what I wanted, and issued me a $15 credit to my account. To be honest, that simple gesture of $15 made me want to stay with Sprint, regardless of my previous experience. I knew that Sprint could deliver on what I wanted because I understood that negotiating with this organization was not only possible but I was sure to get what I wanted if I simply asked. There is something that I have come to learn as a customer and consumer: Businesses want you!

In like manner, a writer should present a negotiable offer to an editor if he or she is truly willing to work with that editor. In my case, building lasting relationships is priority to me and my business. Building a strong clientele is paramount to my company’s success, and without it, LiyahAmore Publishing would not stand. People are its most precious commodity. If you come across any business with this same philosophy, you will find that those running the company will always be willing to negotiate with you if they want you especially as a client. So consider the following suggestions if you ever decide to negotiate with an editor:

1. Demonstrate to the editor that your work is valuable and a great match for the company. With LiyahAmore Publishing, I work specifically with writers of positive, uplifting messages. In addition to editing or writing portions of a client’s work, I also help promote the piece on the blog/website and on the Facebook Business Page. For this reason, I am always looking to provide services to clients who create works that my company believes in and supports. In this light, I would be willing to negotiate a price range that is doable for me as well as for the client because my interests are really in the work.
2. Present your project as if you’re selling it to an editor, not as if you are begging for a cheaper price. Remember that publishing your book is a business, and you are the CEO of your book. As best as possible, think of a strategic way to negotiate with an editor that will not insult him or her. I’ve had experiences where an individual tried to ask me to do developmental editing for the price of proofreading. At that point, I stopped listening to that writer because obviously she didn’t take her own work seriously, let alone my expertise. In essence, she wasted my time. Instead, think of how you can work with the editor of your choice to obtain her services in a way that works best for you both. This could be from arranging a payment plan to even adjusting the price slightly to fit your budget. The key here is to be professional and courteous, not insulting and disrespectful.
3. If you have something to offer in exchange for services, be courageous enough to present that in the negotiations. I had a client who was a superb marketer. She had established herself as a strong expert in this field, and it was actually something that I needed when I set out to publish my first book (Fear, Faith & Patience). She, on the other hand, needed a strong editor, which I was. We made a deal to exchange services to one another for a certain time period, and in doing so, we actually helped each other’s business grow. We were able to share clients and even partnered to conduct writing workshops, which generated more business. You may find that you can do the same with an editor if you possess something that she needs.
4. A final point is to be honest with the editor. Let him know that you truly want to work with him because you value his experience and expertise, but the pricing is too much for you. Do what you can to establish a positive relationship at the beginning because more than likely, you may get what you want.

So, I hope these few pointers will encourage you to consider the power of negotiating with an editor about your book. You can even use these same techniques for other expert services such as graphic designs, book layouts, and more. By no means am I guaranteeing that every expert will negotiate with you, but that’s why you will want to generate a list of experts as you move through the manuscript process. But never be afraid to be aggressive in this business. You have the power to create a dynamic business relationship for years to come.

If you can generate more ideas on how to negotiate with experts, leave me a comment on the post.

And as always…Let’s grow together!
Felecia

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