Talking about how much money you make has been taboo for as long as I can remember. But we live in a different time today. A time of radical transparency. I don’t know if that’s what led social media consultants Mack Collier and Chris Brogan to post their rates, but what drove them to do so isn’t as interesting to me as the rates themselves.
Brogran’s day rate is $22,000.
Can you get $22,000 a day? I don’t know. I can’t charge what Seth Godin charges for a day, or Guy Kawasaki. I charge what I’m worth.
But are you measuring against me? Maybe not a good plan.
If he sounds a bit defensive, it’s because the revelation caused something of a storm on Twitter and elsewhere. For example:
Judging the responses to Brogran’s day rate, Justin Kownacki says, “I see the public’s collective recoil as proof that no one truly believes anybody can make money online without first selling their soul to an affiliate program. Any evidence to the contrary simply blows our synapses.”
My own reaction to the information was one of reflection. Since moving to Portland, I’ve lost several jobs because of price. And my rates are very down-to-earth, let me assure you. When this happens, it’s natural to go even lower in order to land the work and get paid some something. But that might not be the best idea. One of the things Brogran says about his rate is that it helps to define what type of clients he works with. I totally get that, and can see that approach working for me and my peers.