Get paid for your ideas.
April 5th, 2006
“So, what are your hourly rates?”
Man, I hate that question. Because when you sell your time by the hour, you become just another commodity.
Let’s take naming, for example. We have a process, and we know that to go through that process for a certain size company will take, say, four-to-six weeks. But when it comes time for name creation portion within that process, sometimes the name jumps right out at you… and other times it doesn’t.
So if we think of a great, industry-shattering name in an hour, should we only charge for that hour?
Of course not.
So when people ask us what our hourly rates are, my response is always, “We don’t get paid for our time. We get paid for our ideas.” And that statement helps that potential client start thinking about us and our services in a different light. Do they always like the response? Nope. But we are taken out of the commodity category completely. And that, is a start.
Other posts by Spike.
frank says:
kudos
April 5th, 2006 at 7:21 amDavid Burn says:
I’m not convinced “commodity” is the right word here. “Vendor,” maybe.
I know many of us seek to be a “partner,” not a vendor, but does it really matter at the end of the day? As long as we get paid fairly and have the respect of the client, I’m not sure it does.
April 7th, 2006 at 11:01 amDominick Gladstone says:
When it comes to getting paid for ideas, I can relate. I am a PR consultant and I am constantly educating clients about the value of an idea. It does not matter how long it really takes…although most of the time it does take a while for the “right” idea to surface. What does matter is the value of the idea.
April 27th, 2006 at 4:29 amIf you are doing marketing, advertising, and PR, ideas are the foundation of success and implementing ideas is day-to-day task work…ususally. The value of a good idea or a great idea is far higher than the hourly rates attached to execution.
Clients, however, want you to come up with the great idea…before they hire you. “Bring me some ideas and then we’ll start paying you to implement them.”
NO…you hire me because of my experience…and I mean before I even lift a pen…then I will come up with some ideas…and charge accordingly.
I might charge $5000 for the idea and $50 per hour to execute the idea. Ideas are the money makers. They are worth more.
…or so frustrated and looking for the great “idea” as to how to overcome the “idea” game…we deserve to get paid!
Spike says:
Great comments and insights, Dominick. You are a kindred spirit in this department…
Thanks for participating!
April 27th, 2006 at 10:41 amsinead foley says:
im always havin trouble with the button on my jeans. i have a terrible reaction to the nickle in the button. i think there should be a fold of material that goes across the button. saves a lot of heartache and scratching.
May 8th, 2006 at 4:49 pmCJ Pruitt says:
How do I tap into a company that will pay you for your ideas?
September 9th, 2006 at 3:47 amDave says:
Great article. I’m a marketing student finally graduating, and I love it to death. I need thought one day I would be working for someone and enjoy it that much. It’s all about the way you market yourself to your client, and I’ve been doing the same thing ever since my first year of college. To me, it is really simple, my brain owns the best ideas (until someone prove me wrong). And believe me, I get paid as soon as I start brainstorming. I think the best advice that I got was from a well-known Marketer in New York City. He said: ” Marketing is all about self-esteem. If your idea is to have a mall on the moon, who else can judge the idea but you, especially if you know you have the perfect implementation.” Marketing takes time, and requires a lot of free work. Nowadays, people are scared to talk about their ideas. Why? Maybe because they are too easy to implement. Stay creative!
April 18th, 2007 at 8:14 pmGrace says:
How do I tap in ,to be paid for my ideas,and have the security of not having it stolen? Thanks Grace
September 25th, 2007 at 9:25 am