I just walked away from a lot of money.
After two months of research, proposals, and negotiations I turned down a deal that would have brought my freelance income to a new level. But I would have been miserable.
My prospective client had no shortage of funds. There was nothing shady about their business. I just
Didn’t want to deal with them
I used to say “Yes” to everything. I took on any client that would sign on the dotted line. In my zealousness to build a Indian Business Fax List business, I neglected to find the “Right” clients and settled for anyone who would cut a check. This led to sleepless nights, wasted time, and poor results. In my opinion, a successful business deal isn’t just getting paid. Success is when both parties (client and consultant) can agree on realistic goals; once those goals are met, both are satisfied with the results.
You are the professional. You know what will work and what won’t work
If you give the client whatever they ask for, it’s not going to help their business in the end. Learn how to balance input from the client about their industry and business goals with a reasonable plan of action that you produce.
Value your time…And the client’s. In my Email Lists recent experience, I made the mistake of conducting keyword research and competitive analysis for free. I did this as an act of good faith, since there was a lot of business on the table. But without any skin in the game, the prospective client was indecisive and nit-picky over just about everything.
Takeaway: if you are in negotiations and want to sweeten the deal, charge for your research upfront. If the client signs, then you can credit a percentage of that fee towards the first month of their bill. Treat it like a deposit. Essentially, my prospective client wanted me to act as an seo.