An anchor client recently had to adjust their 2019 marketing budget. That meant a BIG reduction in what I’ve been doing for them for three years. It also means a 142% decrease in my monthly income from that client. Not great, but it’s probably for the best.
The issue is that I’m getting emails from the CEO asking me to do these one-off things, which would have been fine under the previous agreement. But do not fall into the scope as we stand currently. These folks have become dear colleagues. So I don’t want to seem like a jerk…the things she’s asking me to do are relatively small. But, I know I have to establish the boundary. I need to send an updated agreement…just don’t want it to come across the wrong way. And I’m thinking of listing examples of the “Marketing Admin” tasks and put an hourly fee on that? Those are the random tasks she’s sending, and which I don’t really want to do.
The bigger issue is that I need to off board these folks But I’m not in a place in my business where I’m able to do that (financially) at the moment. On the other hand, I can feel my spirits dragging when I’m doing things for them.
So my questions: 1) how can I capture these misc items in the new agreement 2) should I just off board them now?
I’m putting together a proposal for a cybersecurity software prospect who told me she has budgeted $1000 per month for content help, and right now she wants pillar posts and cluster blog posts. She has the topics already planned out, so it would just be execution. I don’t want to only be doing blog posts, but I think there might be opportunity to do case studies and e-guides later, since they use them — although the budget would need to increase, obviously.
I’m planning to pitch three options:
1) a quarterly schedule of 1 pillar post (1500 words) and 6 blog posts (750 words) on related topics, invoiced monthly at $1000
2) a quarterly schedule of 8 blog posts (750 words), invoiced monthly at $1000
3) a monthly schedule of 2 blog posts (750 words), at $800 monthly
Thoughts? Ideas? Or am I falling into the trap of another blog-post-only client? Thank you!
I’m putting the lessons about thinking like a businessperson into action. I figured out a way to make the time block worksheet work for me with a few tweaks, and so far, so good—I’ve been blocking off hours for client projects, writing interview questions, etc. in my Google Calendar and love it.
However, I have tried and failed at this method in the past because I feel like if I’m not freaking out and running in circles to get it all done, I’m doing something wrong, Maybe I thrive on chaos or something, but I’d like to stick to the plan this time. I’m wondering if anyone else has this same issue, and if so how they manage to resist the impulse to multi-task, jump from task to task, etc?
3 Comments
Elizabeth Sheffield
April 8, 2019An anchor client recently had to adjust their 2019 marketing budget. That meant a BIG reduction in what I’ve been doing for them for three years. It also means a 142% decrease in my monthly income from that client. Not great, but it’s probably for the best.
The issue is that I’m getting emails from the CEO asking me to do these one-off things, which would have been fine under the previous agreement. But do not fall into the scope as we stand currently. These folks have become dear colleagues. So I don’t want to seem like a jerk…the things she’s asking me to do are relatively small. But, I know I have to establish the boundary. I need to send an updated agreement…just don’t want it to come across the wrong way. And I’m thinking of listing examples of the “Marketing Admin” tasks and put an hourly fee on that? Those are the random tasks she’s sending, and which I don’t really want to do.
The bigger issue is that I need to off board these folks But I’m not in a place in my business where I’m able to do that (financially) at the moment. On the other hand, I can feel my spirits dragging when I’m doing things for them.
So my questions: 1) how can I capture these misc items in the new agreement 2) should I just off board them now?
Thanks!
Laura MacPherson
April 9, 2019I’m putting together a proposal for a cybersecurity software prospect who told me she has budgeted $1000 per month for content help, and right now she wants pillar posts and cluster blog posts. She has the topics already planned out, so it would just be execution. I don’t want to only be doing blog posts, but I think there might be opportunity to do case studies and e-guides later, since they use them — although the budget would need to increase, obviously.
I’m planning to pitch three options:
1) a quarterly schedule of 1 pillar post (1500 words) and 6 blog posts (750 words) on related topics, invoiced monthly at $1000
2) a quarterly schedule of 8 blog posts (750 words), invoiced monthly at $1000
3) a monthly schedule of 2 blog posts (750 words), at $800 monthly
Thoughts? Ideas? Or am I falling into the trap of another blog-post-only client? Thank you!
Linda Formichelli
April 9, 2019I’m putting the lessons about thinking like a businessperson into action. I figured out a way to make the time block worksheet work for me with a few tweaks, and so far, so good—I’ve been blocking off hours for client projects, writing interview questions, etc. in my Google Calendar and love it.
However, I have tried and failed at this method in the past because I feel like if I’m not freaking out and running in circles to get it all done, I’m doing something wrong, Maybe I thrive on chaos or something, but I’d like to stick to the plan this time. I’m wondering if anyone else has this same issue, and if so how they manage to resist the impulse to multi-task, jump from task to task, etc?