Effective negotiation strategies for freelancers

In principle, a business negotiation is always a good sign in the life of a freelancer. This stage generally precedes a project proposal. However, everything is not yet won: both providers and clients must agree on collaboration terms (price, scope, and deadlines). The first business negotiations can be especially intimidating for a freelancer. Here are 5 tips and techniques to increase your chances.

One should not arrive at the meeting unprepared, risking feeling unsettled during negotiations. Take note of the points to discuss with your counterpart and prepare to defend your offer.

Before the meeting, research on social media, online news, and your client's website. Stay updated on industry developments through ongoing monitoring.

Understanding their market will give you an advantage during the business negotiation: beyond being a freelancer, it will highlight your role as a consultant and expert.

Managing the client relationship starts with the first business meeting: the freelancer should guide the conversations to gradually present their offer and highlight the added value. Otherwise, the prospect may attempt to negotiate the price downwards.

The business meeting is structured in several stages:

To negotiate successfully as a freelancer, it's crucial to have a clear idea of the services offered and your daily rate. A PowerPoint presentation, portfolio, detailed profile, or website will contribute to strengthening the credibility of your offer. A well-prepared meeting helps make a good impression. However, this alone isn't enough to achieve a successful business negotiation.

Each meeting should have an objective. Learn to qualify it to "guide" it. Provide examples of goals.

Without goals, how do you know if you've succeeded? Set goals for each business negotiation related to your freelance services. Your goals should be "SMART": Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Timely.

Example: Sell 10 days of services for a total of €4000 and start the project within the next two months.

Don't expect to sign in the first business meeting. The sales cycle, i.e., the average time between first contact and purchase, can be lengthy. In this case, each new meeting should serve to move towards closing the deal.

A freelancer's business negotiation should only happen once the client has made a decision: they want to work with you! Now, it's about reaching an agreement. Skipping stages can decrease the perceived value of the service. The freelancer might seem to be lowering their offer too quickly, similar to a door-to-door salesman.

To succeed in your first business negotiations as a freelancer, it's recommended to reflect on the flexibility of your offer, what's acceptable, and the boundaries that shouldn't be crossed.

The main advantage of freelance work is flexibility. You should anticipate some flexibility, considering satisfactory alternatives in terms of price, deadlines, and project scope. However, the concessions made should not compromise the success of the project. As an expert, you'll need to guide your client on the necessary conditions to ensure project success (sufficient workdays, realistic deadlines, etc.).

Here are some examples of negotiation levers in freelance business negotiations:

To succeed in negotiations, it's crucial to find a balance between concessions and commitments. The golden rule? Never give without getting something in return.

Generally, parties involved in a negotiation are affected by different aspects of the same issue. The other party isn't an adversary but a collaborator. The common enemy is the difficulty they must face together. In fact, this approach, theorized by Chris Voss, allows crisis negotiators to free numerous hostages. The goal isn't to win but to co-create an agreement where both parties benefit.

How to apply this logic with your clients?

Remind them that as a freelancer, there are few economies of scale since you're selling time. Negotiating price can be challenging, but on the contrary, it's always possible to draft a proposal based on a budget.

Pay attention to these mistakes that often trap independents:

A handshake doesn't signify the end of negotiations. Until the contract is signed, the prospect can retract from their agreement. In this case, a freelancer would benefit from maintaining a connection with their prospect.

Few clients proactively commit to the purchase on the spot. When it seems an agreement has been reached, it's necessary to finalize the sale with a signature.

To achieve this, simply ask one of the following questions:

Following up with a client can continue until you get a response, without fearing rejection. It's better to know as soon as possible if a project won't happen. This allows you to have more energy to pursue new opportunities.

Prospects often seek to negotiate prices with their providers in competitive markets. This is due to significant differences in daily rates (TJM) among freelancers with similar skills (in the client's eyes).

How do you move away from this comparison and succeed in negotiations? The power dynamic improves when your counterparts see you as an expert and consider you irreplaceable.

To achieve this, you must build a strong personal brand around your freelance work. This way, you become THE freelancer to hire for the job, rather than being just another option in a long list.

To create a memorable personal brand, you should choose a niche: it could be a specific profession, a method, a language, or even an industry.

This specialization goes against the intuition of freelancers. However, it actually expands opportunities for experts who inspire greater client confidence.

A specialist label will help you stand out.

This technique, popular among communication professionals, involves publishing original content online to connect with your target clientele.

It's often a highly effective strategy as it multiplies contract signing opportunities by six.

Newsletters, videos, podcasts, blog articles, or social media—choose a communication channel that suits your audience. In recent years, many freelancers have successfully applied this strategy to highlight their skills or services.

It's important to note that content should not serve solely for direct sales; it should establish you as an authority in your market. Subsequently, gently guide your audience to your website or profile on platforms like Malt.

Posting content sporadically isn't enough to develop a strong personal brand that can withstand competition. Ensure your posts reach your prospects' screens.

Each platform, site, or social network operates under different rules dictated by algorithms. These algorithms favor content that engages users and can increase your visibility.

The frequency of your posts generally influences algorithm assessments of your profile quality. However, setting an unrealistic posting schedule isn't helpful.

Choose a plan that feels achievable. Write down your goals in a calendar or editorial schedule to stay on track.

Lastly, consider repurposing content across different communication channels. It may be labor-intensive initially, but it builds a foundation from which you can draw ideas later.

The recipe for successful business negotiations as a freelancer may seem simple at first glance. All you need is:

In theory, everything seems easy. In practice, the first business negotiations of your freelance career will certainly be laborious. Don't be afraid! Sales skills, like the art of negotiation, are acquired over time. Selling is, in a way, the science of the already seen.