3 Common Mistakes and Pitfalls When Negotiating

Have you ever had a brand ask you to send over your "media kit" or "rate card" for what you "typically charge for partnerships?"

Don't do it.

If you have a page with rates in your media kit or a page on your site where you allow brands to "book an ad slot" in your podcast or newsletter without even talking to you first…

I want you to drag those pages into the trash can right now.

For extra catharsis, print your media kit out, douse it in lighter fluid, set it ablaze, and maniacally dance around it.

This will symbolize a new beginning for you.

You'll no longer price yourself in a vacuum based solely on your audience size, views, downloads, or any other arbitrary vanity metric.

Why?

Imagine for a moment that you go to the doctor.

You get ushered into a little room and twiddle your thumbs until they arrive.

The doctor opens the door, sits down, and smiles.

You open your mouth to start telling them about your symptoms…

"Sssssh," they say, winking.

The doctor pulls out their little pad, and before learning anything about what problems you're experiencing…

Writes you a random prescription.

They hand it to you, open the door, and leave.

What just happened?!

This is precisely what you do when you provide "standard pricing" to a brand without first asking about their challenges.

Why should you care about the brand's challenges and objectives?

Because, depending on the brand's objectives, your pricing has to change.

3 Common Mistakes and Pitfalls When Negotiating

❌ Having "standard pricing" that you send to every brand

❌ Charging the same as your friends or peers

❌ Not tying the brand's goals to each package in your proposal