HELP
I recently took on a small CPG client for $1,200/month, which includes social strategy/content creation across IG, TikTok + YouTube Shorts. This is way less than I normally charge, but I’m just starting out on Upwork and had heard that you sometimes need to lower your rates initially to build reviews/history on the platform. (I have 10 years of experience in SMM)
I’m also personally filming/editing recipe content and currently purchasing the groceries/ingredients myself without reimbursement.
Today I sent over a fully filmed + edited “burnt broccoli” recipe that took me hours to produce and edit. The recipe literally calls for the broccoli to be deeply browned/blackened in places, but she now feels it looks “too burnt” and not appetizing.
On top of that, I had a founder BTS/packaging post planned for yesterday, but she told me she didn’t like the concept based on the limited footage I had available (bc she won't send me any footage😡), so I held it. Now she’s asking me if I decided to scrap it, even though I held it based on her feedback.
I’m starting to feel like the amount of creative oversight, revisions, and production expected is way beyond what makes sense for a $1,200/month retainer. I know I agreed to the lower rate, so I’m trying to be fair, but I also don’t want to set a precedent where I’m constantly reshooting/reworking content at my own expense.
Am I being too sensitive, or would you set firmer boundaries, raise the rate, or just end the relationship?