Jacob Wells: I've been doing consistent work for a new news journalism client who originally mentioned a retainer after a trial period. Now that I'm frequently doing extra work outside the budget, I need to figure out what to propose to him since he just texted to discuss that retainer model.

• Frame the retainer agreement as how this saves them time, money, and stress, not how it helps you feel secure or creative.
• Study their publishing cadence, content volume, and complexity. Reverse engineer if your ideal workload even fits their needs.
• Stop overthinking future scenarios. Catch the ball first by having the conversation, then decide on retainers, discounts, or structure after you have enough information.
• Do not commit on the call. Gather insight, buy time, and return with a thoughtful proposal that reflects their needs and your value.
• Have a better understanding of their budget rather than basing your assumptions and numbers on your needs. Anchor negotiations with your ceiling and floor then start at what you think they can afford.
• Focus on secure opportunities first. A bird in the hand creates stability while you explore bigger, uncertain possibilities later.

I reached out to someone on Linkedin who runs a successful Youtube channel and he told me to email him. How do I prepare for the call / follow up since he hasn't responded yet. It's only been a few days though.

• Meet them at their availability and make it as simple as possible to get micro-commitments.
• Offer specific time options instead of asking for availability to reduce effort and increase response likelihood.
• Make every conversation about them. Know more about their goals and their obstacles.
• Check applicable Hot Seats under Meeting Prep in the Office Hours Archives.

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