Tell a long-time client your rate is going up, warmly and firmly

About this exercise

You're a freelance web developer raising your rate for Corwin & Daughters from $85 to $100 an hour, starting February 1. Write the email under 120 words. Say clearly that the website relaunch already booked stays at $85. Don't apologize or say sorry, and don't offer a discount. End with the sign-off "Ines". Plain text, with line 1 exactly "Subject: Rate update for 2027".

Common mistakes when you ask AI for this

• Over-apologizing. AI softens bad news with "I'm so sorry" and "I hate to do this", which makes it sound negotiable. Try: Add: "Don't apologize or say sorry. Warm, direct, confident."
• Offering a discount. The AI tries to soften the blow with a loyalty discount. Try: Add: "No discount."
• Leaving the booked work unclear. The AI forgets to say what happens to the project already quoted. Try: Add: "Say the relaunch stays at $85."
• Burying the number. The AI explains for a paragraph before giving the new rate. Try: Add: "Give the new rate and date in the first 2 sentences."
• Trusting the AI to count words. AI is bad at counting and runs long when you only give a total like 120 words. Try: Cap each part instead, like "4 short paragraphs, each under 25 words," so the total lands well under 120.

What a strong prompt includes

• Gives the rate and date
• Protects the booked work
• Bans apologies
• Sets the tone
• Sets a size

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