Rates

What I charge for my services.

Keynotes & Webinars

For professional speakers, pricing is more of an art than a science. There’s simply no magic formula to determine how much to charge for a talk, seminar, or workshop. That doesn’t mean, however, that I just pick a number out of a hat or random number generator.

Against that backdrop and in no particular order, here are some general rules of thumb that I use when quoting my speaking services. Note that all of these include the proviso “all else being equal.”

• Number of attendees: This is elementary. I charge more for speaking to large groups than when I speak to smaller ones.
• Type of attendees: I charge more for speaking to groups of senior executives than when I speak to non-execs.
• Length of talk or seminar: Again, this isn’t rocket surgery. I charge more for a 60-minute keynote than a 30-minute one. Ditto for a two-day seminar vs. a half-day one.
• Type of talk: I charge more for keynoting than I do for a breakout session.
• Location/Travel: The closer the event is to my home in Arizona, the less I will charge.
• Specificity: I charge less for a generic talk than I do for a very esoteric one. For instance, a talk in which I provide an overview of The Nine differs from one on how telecom companies can embrace AI, automation, and blockchain.
• Previous talks: I’m a data guy. I use fees from my previous talks as rough proxies for future talks.
• Timing: You can lock me in at a lower rate by reserving me five or six months in advance. Put differently, I’m more likely to quote a higher fee if the engagement takes place relatively soon.
• Nature of organization/ability to pay: Government agencies and nonprofits often lack the same funds and resources as for-profit corporations. I charge more for speaking at events and conferences held by the latter.
• Book purchases: I charge less for my talk if the hosting organization or event sponsor buys copies of my books. Note, though, that the total cost of the engagement may be higher.
• Market/comparable speakers: This is Compensation 101. I follow what other professional speakers in my cohort routinely charge.
• Year: I charge more for my talks than I did five years ago. I suspect that the same will be true five years from now.
• Topic: On certain subjects, I possess a unique and particularly valuable perspective. Examples include citizen development, the future of work, communication, data visualization, platforms, IT project failures, and Big Data. 
• Advance notice: Last-minute bookings typically require me to rearrange previous client commitments. A two- or three-month window makes it easier for me to work effectively with my clients and keep myself sane.

Writing

Full-length blog post on my site or yours

Up to 500 words on a mutually acceptable topic on your site or mine. If on my site, a sponsor note and link will follow the post.

Cost: $600 (USD)

Four full-length blog posts on my site or yours

For each post, up to 500 words on a mutually acceptable topic on your site or mine. If on my site, a sponsor note and link will follow the post.

Cost: $2,250 (USD)

White paper

Up to 3,000 words on a mutually acceptable topic. You can choose whether or not you wish to attribute the paper to me.

Cost: $9,500 (USD)

Ghostwriting

This depends upon what you have in mind. Factors such as word count, timeline, and subject drive how much I charge here.

Cost: Variable

Everything Else

One hour of remote coaching

I will record our sessions on Zoom, and you can watch them as many times as you like.

Cost: $350 (USD)

Consulting (daily rate)

I work on a retainer basis. I’ve been consulting long enough to know that billing issues occasionally occur, and a retainer helps me mitigate them.

Cost: $3,200 (USD)

Notion Training

Hands-on in-person or virtual training on Notion—my current favorite low-code/no-code tool.

Cost: Variable

Expert Witness Testimony and Preparation

I assist lawyers and, if necessary, provide an expert opinion on technology-related matters.

Cost: $500/hour (USD)

Notion Development

I’ll build you a kick-ass Notion database or system or enhance your existing one. Note that, depending on what you’re trying to do, four hours might not be nearly enough time to complete the project. More info here.

Cost: $250/hour (USD)